Trying my first Pipeworks brew this weekend. Picked up some Ninja vs Unicorn. They had a bunch of other varieties but I didn’t know too much about them and I had heard of the Ninja before. Open to suggestions from them as I’ll likely go back to Tenutas on a regular basis this summer as they easily have the most eclectic selection around. Stuff Woodmans doesn’t carry up here.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Good stuff.

Any thoughts on Noon Whistle? It's expensive, but it sells like crazy here.

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I don't remember half the time if I'm hiding or I'm lost

Haven't seen them up here in Kenosha yet.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

They're mostly known for their "gummy" series of beers, which are all pretty great. The rest of their beers are okay, nothing fantastic.

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I've been drinking a good amount of Finback beer lately out of NYC.

They've improved quite a bit over the past year or two and are making some nice creamy, hazy IPAs.

Definitely worth checking out. Avoid their flagship "Finback IPA" but anything else should be really good.

NYC is definitely raising its beer game:
Other Half is one of the best breweries in the country. And Sand City, Interboro, Finback, and Single Cut are also doing some impressive things.

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Hop Butcher Double Grid is a better NEIPA that literally anything by Tree House.

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Hell yes it is. I got a box from my east coast guy yesterday (River Roost, Alchemist and TreeHouse), and will be sending him some Double Grid in return.

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-- source

You've had "everything" by Tree House, including Juice Machine and Very Green?

Those are the two best I've had by Treehouse, but I haven't tried everything by them, especially their very limited releases.

Have you sampled anything by Other Half (NYC)? They are making phenomenal IPAs in my opinion.

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What'd you get from River Roost? Sound the Horns and Martian Moonhouse are my favorites from them so far.

What about Treehouse? They've had some interesting releases lately.

I still think Heady Topper and Focal Banger are very good beers, but Alchemist has lost a lot of ground in the Vermont brewing scene.

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As far as East Coast brewing goes, I think Other Half is a step ahead of just about everyone else right now for IPAs.

Like I said, though, I haven't been able to try all of the Treehouse stuff. Trillium isn't exactly my thing either, even though I like them a lot.

Canned Heat in Falls River, MA, is a very impressive newcomer and definitely worth checking out.

I really like some of the things Sand City and Finback (both in NYC) are doing.

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Let me put it this way. Julius is a drain pour compared to Double Grid. It is literally poison to me now.

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I think Julius has been equaled or surpassed by a bunch of breweries across the country, including Treehouse. It's probably not even a top-tier Treehouse IPA at this point. The craft brewing scene is rapidly evolving. Julius was great for 2015, but it doesn't hold up compared to the top IPAs coming out now. That said, I still enjoy drinking it.

I agree with you in general about Hop Butcher, though. They are a great brewery. While I haven't had any Double Grid, I've been impressed with what I've tried.

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I'm goofing buddy. Pretending to be a Midwest homer trying to hype up breweries unknown to the trading community.

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For me Hill and Alchemist are still a cut above the rest of the pack in both Vermont and the rest of the country. I just find their IPAs a lot more complex and interesting than the vast majority of NEIPAs that seem to emphasize juice and only juice (which I imagine is why John Kimmich from the Alchemist is always talking about how much he dislikes the style in general whenever he's interviewed and credited as one of the founders of it).

The best newish place I recommend is Fox Farm in Salem, Connecticut. They might already be the best brewery in the state despite being open less than 3 years. They're not at Hill's level yet but remind of them insofar as their hoppy beers are all well varied and on point and they're already excelling at lagers, sours, and dark beers as well..

Lol, there are a fair number of people on some of the craft brewing groups I read who classify Julius as a drain pour. Lots of backlash against them.

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Yeah, Hill is amazing in just about everything they do. I'm not as enamored with Alchemist, but I haven't sought out their full lineup either. I'll have to check out Fox Farm. I don't think I've heard anything about them. Have you tried New Park in West Hartford? Lots of hype surrounding their releases.

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Midwestern New England IPAs > New England New England IPAs.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I did one trip to New Park a couple of years ago. I enjoyed the sours I tried more than their IPAs but haven't been back because I was kind of turned off by the on-site prices they were charging and the requirement to purchase one of their own growlers to get beer to go. I did like their beers more than Fat Orange Cat though, which appears to be flooding a ton of markets with their Twelve Percent contract brews. Then again, I'm wary of anyone contract brewing with Twelve Percent, including Nightmare which I've heard good things about but haven't tried yet.

Revolution Cryo-Hero tonight.

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Gummypocalypse, Hop Prism Blue and Fuzzy Smack as part of a little day drinking at Noon Whistle. Picked up Gummypocalypse and Edible Gummy to go. Headed over to Guitar Center, but the snare drum I wanted was gone. Fortunately, the Toppling Goliath King Sue at Sal's was not. Got in a quick practice session at the Preserve at Oak Meadows on the way home.

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Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

I sell those Noon Whistle 16 oz cans for 8 bucks, they are the most expensive beer on my beer list, and I still can't keep them in stock.

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I don't remember half the time if I'm hiding or I'm lost

I tried one yesterday. It was great. I'm not surprised they go fast.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Noon Whistle does some serious walk-up business. Been there twice and there is always a line at the carryout counter.

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Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

Finback out of NYC keeps knocking the IPAs out of the park.

Just had some Double Something Citra by them. Amazing beer.

They seem to be distributing fairly widely now.

Check them out if they make it to the Midwest. Definitely worth trading for.

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Tried the new release by New Glarus called Break o Day Juicy IPA two weekends back. I believe this is their take on the Hazy IPA. They don’t list the APV but I didn’t find it very strong or very good either. Tasted too “orangy “ for my tastes and I generally really like orange flavor. I think I’ll skip this one in the future. A four pack was like $11 which was also disappointing

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Did a weekend road trip to Montreal and took a little detour coming home through Vermont. Spent around 3 hours in Burlington. Was able to enjoy a few drafts at Foam Brewing and two Lawson's beers during lunch at Farmhouse.

Beers were good. Actually enjoyed Foam's sour IPAs more so than their standard IPAs (not knocking their IPAs; it's just the sours were very well done).

Wasn't able to try Alchemist, Fiddlehead or any Von Trapp beers which were available but we had to keep our wits for the drive home.

My takeaway from our brief pit stop is Chicago NEIPAs aren't far off if at all if Foam is considered one of top players. Good to know a couple Chicago (and Old Nation!!!) breweries make NEIPAs that can hold up with the big boys

Of course Montreal had outstanding beers as well. Paid a visit to Dieu du Ciel and had a wonderful pampelmousse IPA. If I didn't know better I would've thought it was a grapefruit shandy. After a half day of walking it was the perfect beer. Of course grabbed myself a small pour of Peche Mortel. A classic.

The surprise of the weekend was a NEIPA brewed by Boreale. Never heard of the brewery but supposedly their reputation is for average beers except for their NEIPA. It reminded me very much of M43.

What local NEIPAs would you guys recommend? Let something I can walk into a Binny's or Mariano's and find fairly easily.

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That's a tougher question than it should be. The issue is 3 of the better breweries making NEIPAs don't distribute the stuff. Forbidden Root, Corridor and Maplewood are primarily tap-only but do growlers and crowlers. Best bet would be a Noon Whistle "Gummy" series (Gummy Vortex, Gummyacolypse, etc) or a Hailstorm "Cloud" series (Cumulus, Stratus, Cirrus).

Pipeworks dabbles with NEIPAs occasionally but they don't release a seasonal or year-round NEIPA.

Don't bother with the two biggest beer nerd breweries right now: Hop Butcher and Phase Three. Losers in Chicago camp out at liquor stores waiting for the delivery truck to appear for their beer. Very sad

Either of those from Noon Whistle. Also Sketchbook Insufficient Clearance. Revolution has one now too, something-or-other Hero. I was trying to get it, my guy was out of stock.

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I don't remember half the time if I'm hiding or I'm lost