Not everybody does you know. Some people want malty beers, some people just want balance and some people really just don't want much flavor at all (and they might just be happier with a vodka tonic). We hear all sides of the issue at the bar and on our Facebook site that Michelle has been updating regularly (unlike this blog which has become a little stale since the opening craziness). Generally, I land with the hopheads in my tastes although I will admit to a bit of hop-induced acid reflux here and there that makes me think twice about that. You know, I really shouldn't polarize things too much, but I do and I can't stop myself. When someone comes in for the first time, I often ask what kinds of beer they like before making a recommendation and if they don't blurt something out, I ask if they like hoppy beers. Sure, there is a great spectrum of hop-a-licious-ness out there, with every palate having a different tolerance for bitterness and aroma, but that just seems like too touchy-feely of a way to dissect beer. Big bold hoppy ales are the quintessential American craft beers whether you like them or not. They feature a unique domestic ingredient and thirty years ago they really didn't exist, around here at least. I wasn't around for the recording of Live at Leeds, but I doubt the birthplace of pale ale had anything like a double IPA to enjoy after the show.
Fortunately for the 23% of you who also enjoy the pine, grass and citrus aromas of humulus lupus (the wolf!) we are now pouring Samadhi, a double IPA that brewer Jim concocted. I don't have the recipe sheet near me at the moment, but I had one on tap today and enjoyed it to the point that I really didn't need to know which hops were used in it. Did I become one with the brew? I'll leave that heady question to you to decide should you walk down that road. If you don't, then maybe you'll enjoy Bad Man, a old rye ale going on tap later this week. It's the ying to the yang. We're putting most of that beer into bourbon barrels, but we'll have some for about a week during the Craft Brew Conference.
-Josh,
Chairman of the Party