IPA's originated in Britain yo.

IPAs weren't originally Indian, they were English and exported to India.

And I don't think it's weird at all to use "wrong" countries in describing beer style, I had an american IPA (brewed in Finland) yesterday.

Correct, I'm sure many of you already know where this term comes from but I'll retell the story anyways.

IPAs are notoriously bitter because they are brewed using a substantial amount of hops. They are also inherently stronger than a lot of traditional beer. The extra hops and booze were designed to help the beer stay fresh on its long sea voyages from Britain to India. Thus the term India Pale Ale was invented to describe beers that are extra bitter and strong.

It's weird how hops in IPAs were originally used to prevent beer from going bad over time, and nowadays the consensus is(??) that hoppy beers shouldn't be stored for long times because hops lose their edge. I guess in the old days it was more about "how long can you store it before drinking and not get sick from it?" and nowadays it's more like "how long can you store it without the taste taking a notable hit?"

I don't really know what I'm talking about, so correct me if I'm wrong

Yeah I guess I never noticed the irony in that...

On a related note my store gets Hopslam this week shipthemuddafugginsauce.

I still think Stone Ruination is the best IPA I've tried to date.

i really didn't mean to level anyone with my IPA comment.

I've never had an actual Ruination but I had a homebrewed one and wow was it good. I'm anxiously awaiting Hopslam to arrive around me.

I see what you did there. I think....

/Grunch

Need help finding a 6 pack to drink tonight. Not much of a beer aficionado because I drink far too much cheap crap.

I like pretty much all beer except IPAs.

My last 3 non cheap beers in order of favorite were:
Rogue Dead Guy Ale
Middle Ages Dragon Slayer Imperial Stout
Lagunitas Censored Rich Copper Ale

I need suggestions for something I can find in Columbus, Ohio.

If this isn't the right place for this I apologize.

http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/city/40

Find a local brewery and try something of theirs that isn't an IPA and profit. Drink local/drink fresh.

Can you get founders in Cbus?? Try their porter or breakfast stout

Thanks for the post Wraths will use that next time!

Decided on Great Lakes Taster pack. (aka couldn't decide)

Okay, bitches. This thread just influenced me (although that's not too difficult and no one has led me astray ITT yet) to shell out $20 on a six pack of Hopslam. Could've gone for a single bottle, but they were limiting the sale of the sixers, so why not?

Too afraid to open... not sure it can live up to the hype.

This years doesn't live up to the hype of years past but is still a damn fine beer and easily one of my favorites.

Beer hype is a funny thing, as different sections of the country will get absolutely no access to a decent beer and then the one person who gets a hold of it might decide that it is the greatest thing ever made and all of a sudden, perception becomes reality as people go really far out of their way to get it and then they want to like it so badly that they just do.

Good example is Heady Topper. I was lucky enough to trade for it recently and I'd say it is as good as Hopslam. Since it is impossible to buy outside of Vermont, there is a mythology around this beer that is insane. Pretty sure it gets a 100 on BA. It is a fine beer, but I have no issue with trading 3 cans for something else I've never tried.

Just tried Founders Red Rye last night, very good.

Has anyone had Goose Island Sofie or Victory Pale Ale?

i had heady topper in a bar in boston yesterday. probably the fourth time having heady topper. i have been in love with this beer, its amazing, but yesterday i couldnt help think that ive overhyped it so much in my head that i keep on expecting more from it.

either way i cant wait to have a case of this on hand at all times for the rest of my life. pulling a few cans of HT wrapped in tinfoil from my golf bag this spring is going to do wonders for my game.

I had Victory Pale Ale and it was very enjoyable. I would recommend!

Emmetts?

sofie is a very good saison IMO

Just tried heady topper for the first time tonight.

I want to live in that beautiful silver can!

It is as good as any beer I've ever had. A better DIPA than ruination

Not favorite but just a funny nazi beer which was brought to me from Italy. Tasted really good actually.

Agree with this. Heady Topper has amazing balance and maintains its character through the entire mouth. I feel like beers like Ruination/Hop Stoopid/etc. while they are nice DIPAs, they only really do their work at the front of the mouth before they lose their depth. I guess this is the difference between being a 90 and 100.

So I finally got my hands on my very own sixer of Hopslam. I had to wait until leaving the lady's to open one so the anticipation level was super duper high. My store has been promising me a sixer for like 2 weeks. When I finally get home get my glass and pour it was like there was no beer there at all...The ridic amazing floral nose that imo defines Hopslam just wasn't there. I remember the first time I had 2 hearted being blown away by the aroma and Hopslam 2010 somehow beating that but it just isn't in this one. Maybe my allergies are acting up I have sneezed a few times randomly today but i'm not stuffed up in the slightest. The flavor is still great and overall its a great beer but I need that ridic floral nose.