Brewtopia Events LLC
www.ClassicCityBrew.com


Elite Eight Beer
Bracket Challenge:
American-Style IPAs

Part II - April 2015

Mark Hall and Sachin Patel (owner of Five Points Botle Shops)


Kateri and The Beer Wench dive into the hoppy IPAs.
 Owen Ogletree (director of Brewtopia Events LLC) gathered together fellow craft beer lovers Dean & Gail Graves, Hugo Collantes, Kateri Bertran, Sachin Patel, Mark Hall, Georgia's Beer Wench and Nick Allen in Athens, GA to sample and comment on several outstanding American IPAs and do a head-to-head bracket challenge to determine "best of show." The IPA bracket tasting was completely blind, with brands not being revealed until after the brackets and winner were determined. Products were informally commented upon and ranked according to Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) style guidelines. Drop Owen an email to share your comments and opinions.

These amazing IPAs were also poured at our recent, 20th anniversary Classic City Brew Fest in Athens, GA!
Brewtopia Events LLC



 


More Blind Beer
Evaluations



Beer Guides to Cities
Around the World



BJCP


 

Here's how the brackets went down...




Comments from the Tasters...

SIERRA NEVADA HOP HUNTER
Chico, CA

Spicy hop aroma; hop flavor is pleasant but light; big bitterness on end; citrus aromas; pungent; impressive body and mouthfeel; piney hops

  

HE'BREW HOP MANNA
New York
SECOND PLACE  

Sweet malt; flowery hops; mild notes, but very drinkable; beautiful hop flavor; bitterness is balanced in the finish; pineapple, tropical fruit notes; malty; light hop aroma and flavor; bold bitterness; peach-like notes; mild hops; well-balanced; bittering hops linger; malt and hops work well together
  


GREEN FLASH WEST COAST IPA
San Diego, CA

Perfume-like hop note; sweet malt; big hop flavor; pleasant bitter finish; hops are bright and tasty; citrus notes; malty aroma; quite bitter and hop-forward; lingering bitterness; alcohol presence




GOOSE ISLAND IPA
Chicago, IL
THIRD PLACE

Sweet malt; earthy notes; thyme, herbal lemon hop notes; bitter finish; nice complexity; hops seem a bit mild; light aromas; malty; honey note; fruity; hops are a bit restrained; pear hints; light end of style in terms of hops and malt; grassy; moderate body; esters 		 

BREWDOG PUNK IPA
Scotland, UK
THIRD PLACE

Resiny; herbal; pleasing bitterness; sweet, malty aroma; honey-like notes; well-made; great hop/malt balance; dry finish; good, hoppy malt aroma; mild malty body; light caramel tone; piney resins; fresh hops



RED HARE GANGWAY IPA
Marietta, GA

Herbal, tropical fruit hop notes; candy sugar hint; hops are a bit restrained; clean and crisp; grassy; balanced a  bit toward malt for style



BLACK DIAMOND WHITE WITCH IPA
Concord, CA
FIRST PLACE

Fruity; pleasant maltiness; citrusy hops; grapefruity; hint of clove in the finish; well balanced; malty; piney; body is great for style; lemon notes; piney hops




ILKLEY MARY JANE IPA
Yorkshire, UK

Piney; mild bitterness; estery; nice bitter finish; slightly sweet body and mouthfeel; minimal hop nose; pleasant and quite drinkable


      

 
© 2015 Brewtopia Events LLC
Brewtopia Events Main Page | Classic City Brew Fest | Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting | Cool Beer Links
Place Your Banner Ad Here | Owen Ogletree's Cask Ale Basics
E-mail us with your questions or comments.
E-mail us to subscribe to our e-mail Brewsletter