It's nice when you are pleasantly surprised.

As my wife and I rolled into Hamilton, MT on our way to our hotel, she suggested we hit up the local brewery for dinner and drinkies later. I was completely neutral in this turkey shoot but she was told they had good beer AND good food (which was most likely her motive as she hates beer).

As you guys know, I'm not easy to please when it comes to my beer. So when someone with no beer clout suggests a brewery, I'm pessimistic to the core. Besides, this is rural Montana. I'm used to Pacific NW beers. I've come to think there is a difference. Oh well, when in Rome right? After all, I can't be considered legit at this if that is my attitude.

Well I'm glad we stopped by. I was pleasantly surprised by their offerings as they had 4 IPA's, an imperial Red, and many others that had street cred but that I couldn't remember because I had hops on the brain. The bartender was great, having no problem giving me more than a couple tasters before I made my pick. Aside from their standard IPA, they also had a single hop session style IPA, a white IPA, and a black IPA. Honestly, I could have had any one of those as they were nicely balanced and very citrusy (with the exception of the black which I didn't try). I decided on their regular IPA for reasons that will become clear.

Bitter Root IPA - Bitter Root Brewing Co.

Wow, I was not expecting that. What I got was full on NW IPA. Wonderfully chewy malt without being sweet, no doubt aided by the lack of filtration. The hop profile was nicely bittered enough to be considered legit to hop head snobs but the real beauty was the citrusy backbone that encapsulated the beer from the nose all the way to the finish. If it sounds (and looks) similar to another beer that we at Lopezbeer shamefully plug, well that's because it is. As I probably won't be back in Hamilton anytime soon, I can rest easy knowing there are people in western Montana that get to partake in what I consider to be, a proper IPA.

Until Next Time

Lopez Jas

I was showing a friend the beer blog and realized it had been over 4 years since my last post. Well, that got me thinking that maybe it was time....or maybe it was the nice beer in my hand. Either way, it had been awhile since I'd had this beer.

Hop Stoopid Ale (IPA) - Lagunitas Brewing Co

At 8% and 102 IBU's, you should expect certain things. What I forgot was the wonderful nose that fully embraced my face. So pleasant. It smelled like the inside of a hop bud as you peel back the layers. Definitely grapefruit and pine. The malt and hop balance was a surprising symbiotic balance of love and affection. To sum it up, it worked.

Until next time,

Lopez Jas

I really don't know what to say here...

Sometimes I feel like all I ever do is talk about IPA's. I wonder if you guys reading this would ever like to hear me talk about something else. Well, if you want me to talk about something else....just comment. Until then, I am feeling like talking about my executive meeting with Brother Joe at my favorite La Conner hang out....the pub at the Nell Thorn. I love this place for its intimate ambience. It feels like you are in the galley of a old, wooden sailboat. So check it out...its a great place. Oh yah, it also has the best burger and fry combination I have ever had.

I had a pint of the Gospel IPA (filtered on the right) and Boundary's (unfiltered on the left), both of which I have spoken of before. They represent two very different styles. Boundary's is my favorite and is citrusy (grapefruit), piney, and otherwise floral....just wonderfully balanced. The Gospel is a kick in the teeth. Although I may not prefer it over the Boundary style, I appreciate it for what it is....the epitome of what the alpha hop represents. Based on that alone, it is always worthy of a pint.

Cause for self-reflection

After having two trusted beer friends tell me (on separate occasions) that they are sick of Bbay IPA for its over-hyped and average quality, I have decided to look inward. What brings on this disdain? One of these friends told me that they have had it only once because they are sick of everyone worshiping that beer. I've got to be honest, that is kind of how we all view the mass-produced American pilsners, so I kind of understand that standpoint. As I write, I can't help but think that I have become the Yankee fan of the microbrew world. Case in point, just about every establishment in the valley has it on tap at one time or another....the P-house has it on always and it is their biggest seller. The other friend, upon my prodding, started talking about a certain detectable mold in beers that they get out of Boundary's IPA. I don't know about that, but I will say this....I have never had a reason to distrust that person previously. Maybe my revelation is that beer appreciation is much more subjective than I even gave it credit for. Ironically, they both have a fondness for Stone's IPA and Elysian's Immortal, so they aren't blowing spoke. In conclusion, what makes Lopez Jas....Lopez Jas, is that he really digs aggressively hoped, citrusy unfiltered IPA's. If its wrong, then I don't wanna be right!! Ah Yeah!!

And....Until Next Time

Lopez Jas

Sorry if some of you are getting tired of hearing about IPAs, BUT...

Here are some more!!! AAAHHHH YEEEEAAHHH!

Moylander Double IPA - Moylan's Brewing

Pretty much what makes me happy in a Double IPA. Understandably sweet with a well balanced hop profile. They call it "fat and resiny, with aggressive and excessive hops swinging on an enormous malt backbone like naughty monkeys on a vine." Yup, I can definitely see that. One more thing I should mention...I didn't finish the whole double deuce (22 oz) last night because I ended up having to do more revisions to our (graduate cohort) unit plan than I thought and I needed the majority of my wits. Soooo...I put the rest in the fridge (uncapped). Fast-forward to this evening. I was watching Man v. Food and lamenting the fact that I am not Adam while finishing the last of that beer. Flat but cold, halfway like a cask, but definitely still worthy of a positive experience. It reminded me that yes, definitely sweet, but really well hoply balanced (you know what I mean).

As I am writing this blog, I am working on this one...

Whoop Pass Double IPA - Silver City Brewery

This one, along with the Ballz Deep, was what my lovely wife picked up for me during that trip to the south sound. What can I say about this one. The malting character is a little less meaty than the Moylander. The hops are earthier and chewier, possibly from a more pronounced yeasty background. I could be way off on this, but you're not paying for this review anyway. A nice drinking experience, just a step behind the Moylander in my opinion.

Now, back to my beer...and one of my other vices, Storm Chasers!

Until next time,

Lopez Jas

Just reporting the facts...

Being the devoted grad student that I am, I nearly forgot about my other almost-as-important duty....getting out to North Sound for the 1st batch of the imperial and relaying the message of good beer. With that said, let me begin.

To Hell in a Hop Basket Imperial IPA - North Sound Brewing

At 10.7% and approximately 130 IBU's, this was quite a brew. Obviously sweet, but surprisingly well balanced for something on the fringes of beer. The hop balance was nice as well, nice and citrusy. Then again, if you add hops every 5 minutes in a 90 minute boil and dry-hop it...what do you expect. I'll tell you what to expect, a frickin' rad beer!! As if my experience wasn't good enough, Kurt had a bit on cask as well. Simply Wonderful!

Of significant importance as well...

The Gospel IPA - Skagit River Brewing

Most of you know, I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way for Skag-beer, but this comes as a suggestion from other well-informed/cultured hop-heads. Arlen (a local brewing institution) had lent his services to one of our local breweries and the result was pretty damn good. Of significant importance was the hop balance...very angry... as I like to say of an aggressively bitter IPA.

Special thanks to Casey at the Nell Thorn for putting it on.

Until next time,
Lopez Jas

Beer "catch-up"

Ok, this is as much for you as it is for me.

Hop in the Dark (Cascadian Dark Ale) - Deschutes Brewery

Not impressed - Hop balance was negligible. Dark roasted malt flavors but just a "plain" bitter hop profile. Gave the rest of the bottle to a friend.

Which leads me to our next one (and one that I have had before at the p-house).

Racer 5 (IPA) - Bear Republic Brewing

Ho-hum. Kind of more of a session IPA, medium strength hop profile, also somewhat "plainly" bitter. Malting was nice but a filtered beer, leaving me feeling it to be a bit anorexic. And no, I'm not going to open a third one.

Here are a few more that I have had over the past few months...

Double Dry-hopped IPA - Boundary Bay Brewery

Wow, heaven-sent. Paul and Karen, over at the Trumpter have pulled a definite coup with having this one on tap....all the time. Its basically Boundary's normal IPA (which we all know is my favorite) but with some added hops that I have been told are grown around the brewery and the final product sold to only a handful of accounts (could someone confirm that?). Its basically my favorite beer...but slightly better. 'Nuff said.

Here's a good one for ya.

Devil Dog Imperial IPA - Laughing Dog Brewing

Ooooo, so nice. Big, nicely malted, and frickin' hoppy. The cloudiness added to its chewiness, which I liked. Pay no attention to the wine bottles in the background. This is a beer blog, so I don't think I should be talking about them...however, that doesn't take away from the fact that they were nice as well.

Also worth adding to the collection...

14th Anniversary Emperial IPA - Stone Brewing

And yes, only the arrogant bastards down in Escondido can get away with calling their imperial an Emperial. However, I will let them because it is a damn good beer. It is the epitome of the extremes that England has to offer. From the (as it says on the bottle) imported white malt to the most pungent hops Kent has to offer, this one was definitely worthy of another.

Don't quote me on this one, but....

West Coast IPA - Greenflash Brewery

At least I think so. If it is indeed that beer, then you all need to know about it. Bruce, the godfather of Mt. Vernon alehouses, really knows his IPA's...and so I have ample reason to stop by the Empire and check out his IPA lineup. It was very similar to Boundary's...again, 'nuff said. I also want to give a shout-out to my peeps up at Little Mountain Elementary...in the blue hall, for including their student teacher on the Friday milk-and-cookies meetings. (And yes, I was damn proud of my tie that day)

And one more

Ballz Deep Double IPA - 7 Seas Brewing

Ok, I have to admit...my wife picked this one for me (love my wife) while down visiting old friends in her childhood stomping-grounds of Gig Harbor. Not a stretch here, but the best IPA in a can I have ever had. And no, it was not consumed in the ferry line in the Lopezbeer primary mode of transportation (2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette Premier)....to the best of my knowledge anyway.

Until next time,

Lopez Jas