Longhammer IPA--Ick.

Bleh. This is the kind of IPA you'd drink if there were literally no others left in the fridge...which is exactly what will happen with the remainder of the six pack currently junking up the back of my lower shelf...unless I can convince some unsuspecting or non-elitist visitor to partake and rid me of the damned stuff.

Let's see: bland, unbalanced, and not a bit of crispness. Yawn.

If you really must, you can read the falsehoods concerning this beer here.

Beer Consumed at: home

Beer Consumed from: bottle

Beer Rating: 2

Bell's Two Hearted Ale

First, it has two pretty, grey fish on the bottle. SOLD! I am a sucker for an artsy label, after all.
Still, pop the cap and this is a delicious, complex IPA. The first sip is a little stringent, but the follow through is slightly bitter and absolutely delicious. Like all Bell's, it is best decanted into a glass (leave the last 1/4 inch in the bottle to avoid the backwash looking swill).

From the Bell's website: "India Pale Ale style well suited for Hemingway-esque trips to the Upper Peninsula. American malts and enormous hop additions give this beer a crisp finish and incredible floral hop aroma. (7% alcohol)

Beer Consumed at: Home

Beer Consumed from: Glass

Beer Rating: 9

Harpoon IPA

I'm finishing off the last of a six pack of Vermont's Harpoon India Pale Ale. It's got everything I'm looking for in a brew: it's hoppy (what you expect from an IPA), crisp, and wicked refreshing.

I like a real variety of beers, but I'm especially partial to IPAs. This one is a great one.

Beer consumed at: Home

Beer consumed from: Bottle

Beer rating: 8

Cottonwood Endo IPA

I have to admit, I am a sucker for a good IPA (just look at my reviews so far). I tend to gravitate towards beers with heavy hops and a nice bitter bite to them. So is it any surprise I picked up and consumed and very much enjoyed Cottonwood's ENDO? It is from a brewery in Mooresville, Carolina Beer and Beverage Company (they also make Carolina Blonde). Oh, and I kept wondering why the King on the label had a bike helmet on, well here's what the website said: “Endo” is a term mountain bikers use for going “over the handlebars,” and we feel that once you try this IPA you will agree that we definitely went over the top with the hops.

Beer Consumed at: Monkey Lord's Cookout and Board Gaming Extravaganza

Beer Consumed from: Bottle

Beer rating: 9

Hop Devil

I was on a quest to find out exactly which end of the beer spectrum I most enjoyed. So I began my quest (and perhaps ended it too) on the "hop" end of the beer tree. The beer I chose was Hop Devil, the website describes it as: "Menacingly delicious, with the powerful, aromatic punch of whole flower American hops backed up by rich, German malts. HopDevil Ale offers a roller coaster ride of flavor, coasting to a smooth finish that satisfies fully." It was awesome!


Woohoo! Go Hop Devil go!

Beer Consumed at:
Home

Beer Consumed from:
Bottle

Beer Score:
9