He Shoots, He Scores!

Made a random trip to the local liquor superstore today (the second trip this week, hmm…) and scored a brew for which I have been searching for some time. Bell's HopSlam Ale is the Imperial IPA from the brewery that produces one of my favorite straight IPAs; Two Hearted Ale. The beer only is in release in January and February, and there were only three six packs left in the store as of today (well, only two now). I was told that the liquor superstore was the only place in town that got more than they had requested and that wasn't very much, apparently. HopSlam packs a 10% ABV and an IBU of 106, and gets an A on Beeradvocate and a 100 on Ratebeer, so I'm looking forward to it. (And at $15 per six pack, my standards are a bit more stringent.)

Also new in the beer fridge are the Unearthly Imperial IPA and Hoppe Imperial Extra Pale Ale from Southern Tier. The Unearthly reportedly packs an incredible IBU of 153, so this one isn't going to be for the faint of heart.

Finally, the latest beer-of-the-month selections are in and include Lilja's Pulling Boat Ale and Lilja's Heifer Weizen. Both are identified as being from Pangea Brewing, which apparently is the same as Sand Creek Brewing, but the Sand Creek Web site makes no mention of the Pangea brews. Strange. There are two other beers that my addled brain can't recall right now.

Today also revealed that my hometown macro/microbrewer, Schlafly, has released an Export IPA. The guys at the liquor superstore tell me that Schlafly has done a nice job with it and describe it as more of a traditional IPA than the big American IPA hop bombs that I absorb. I have it on my list to try soon and may even make a trek down to the Tap Room to try it out.