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www.ClassicCityBrew.com


Elite Eight Beer
Bracket Challenge:
AMERICAN IPAs

Held at Highwire Lounge
Athens, GA

May 22, 2014

L-R: Hopheads Ian Meents, Owen Ogletree and Mark Hall.


Sachin Patel (owner of Athens' Five Points Bottle Shops) and Ashton Smith
dive into the tasty and hoppy IPAs.
 Owen Ogletree (director of Brewtopia Events LLC) gathered together fellow craft beer lovers Dean & Gail Graves, Ian Meents, Ashton Smith, Sachin Patel, Mark Hall, Pete Dasher and The Beer Wench at Highwire Lounge 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 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...





Various Comments from the Tasters...

ABITA SPRING IPA
Abita Springs, LA

Floral; cantaloupe; light; fruity; honey; clover; earthy; unfiltered appearance; fruity aromas

  

BALLAST POINT SCULPIN
San Diego, CA
SECOND PLACE  

Light aromas; very clear appearance; resiny finish; cedar-like notes; pleasant; resinous; hint of grass; moderate bitterness; burnt sugar hint in aroma; refreshing; pine; cedar; slightly sweet and malty; earthy, pungent hops; light gold in color; bitter; pungent nose; malt is in the background; nice hop flavor; musk-like hops; crisp; hop-centered
  


OSKAR BLUES DEVIANT DALES
Longmont, CO

Resin nose; huge resin taste; earthy; grassy; piney; fruity flavors; a bit dominated by resinous notes; perhaps a hint of butter; big body; caramely malt notes




ANCHOR IPA
San Francisco, CA

Yeasty; fruity; resinous American hop notes; light, fruity taste; bitter finish is nice; berry-like; nice orange color; good head retention; amber color is attractive; somewhat clean taste; drinkable; tasty; nice hop character; lemon and kiwi hints; bright in appearance 		 

ROGUE 7 HOP IPA
Newport, OR
FIRST PLACE

Hoppy; mineraly; piney; somewhat sweet; honey-like; crisp, well-balanced; nice bitterness; great hops; big malt; pine; malty; mild aromas; smooth flavors; deep gold color; hop flavor is impressive; zesty hops; very tasty; aggressive; a bit sweet; large mouthfeel; earthy hops; pleasant and complex



TERRAPIN HI-5 IPA
Athens, GA

Earthy hops; fresh, green hop flavor; bitter finish; well balanced; musk-like hops; medium gold color; flavors are nice; medium mouthfeel; a touch of astringency; tropical fruit notes; fruity



BLUE POINT HOPTICAL ILLUSION
Patchogue, NY

Hop resins balanced by soft malt; floral hops; piney; mild hops for style; caramel; clear; attractive appearance




BOULDER MOJO IPA
Boulder, CO

Bready malt; nice hops; pleasant malt character; light finish; subtle for an American IPA; doughy; medium mouthfeel; medium hop flavor; hops are a bit floral


      


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