[bluesman]

I thought it would be beneficial to have this discussion.

From my experience there is a huge smack you in your face hops presence with West Coast IPA's as opposed to a more subdued hop effect with East Coast brews. The West Coast has the convenience of the Pacific Northwest "C" hops (Centennial, Cascade, Chinook and Columbus)  pine needle and grapefruit.

Whereas the East Coast has some European influences with the use of more crystal malts which leads to more body and darker beers. There is also the combining of American and English hops which are less bitter.

Dogfish Head's founder Sam Calagione states that "ounce for ounce I use as many hops as my Pacific Coast counterparts, including extra-bitter American hybrids such as Warrior and Amarillo."

Being an East Coast guy, I find the availability of West Coast beers to be limited but I am always searching for new examples of my favorite style of beer. I love IPA's, with lots of fresh hops.

What's your take on our American IPA's ?

[beersk]

Yep that pretty much sums it up for me.  West Coast typically has more of a bitterness up front whereas the East Coast IPAs have more body and hop flavor (think dogfishhead's 60 minute IPA).  That isn't the same all around, it's not 100% divided, but in general that's how it is, I think.  You've got breweries like Sierra Nevada who doesn't have any explosively bitter beers, but explosive hops flavor.  And honestly I'm having a hard time thinking of an explosively bitter East Coast IPA, probably because we just don't get that many East Coast beers here in Iowa other than Sam Adam's. 

[beer_crafter]

Some of the newer east coast IPAs stand up to the West Coast.  I would put Ithaca's Flower Power up against anything  from the west in terms of sheer hoppiness.  Captain Lawrence Double IPA, if you blindly tasted it, tastes like something from northern cali.  Nugget Nectar is no slouch too.

[tankdeer]

That pretty much sums it up.

That being said, Pliny > 90 minute. 

[bluesman]

Some of the newer east coast IPAs stand up to the West Coast.  I would put Ithaca's Flower Power up against anything  from the west in terms of sheer hoppiness.  Captain Lawrence Double IPA, if you blindly tasted it, tastes like something from northern cali.  Nugget Nectar is no slouch too.

I will have to look out for those mentioned. Thanks. I am on the eternal search and rescue mission of every IPA I can possibly find. I should really start a log with tasting notes. It's really hard to keep track of all these beers.

[bluesman]

That pretty much sums it up.

That being said, Pliny > 90 minute. 

Well... you know what they say about opinions. 

[tankdeer]

That pretty much sums it up.

That being said, Pliny > 90 minute. 

Well... you what they say about opinions. 

That mine is always right?   

Besides, that's not an opinion. It's a fact. 

[bluesman]

That pretty much sums it up.

That being said, Pliny > 90 minute. 

Well... you what they say about opinions. 

That mine is always right?   

Besides, that's not an opinion. It's a fact. 

That's okay. It can exist as a fact in your mind. But let the truth be known. 90 minute>Pliny 

[tankdeer]

That pretty much sums it up.

That being said, Pliny > 90 minute. 

Well... you what they say about opinions. 

That mine is always right?   

Besides, that's not an opinion. It's a fact. 

That's okay. It can exist as a fact in your mind. But let the truth be known. 90 minute>Pliny 

Blasphomy. You must not have had fresh Pliny before. 

[bluesman]

That pretty much sums it up.

That being said, Pliny > 90 minute. 

Well... you what they say about opinions. 

That mine is always right?   

Besides, that's not an opinion. It's a fact. 

That's okay. It can exist as a fact in your mind. But let the truth be known. 90 minute>Pliny 

Blasphomy. You must not have had fresh Pliny before. 

Okay...How about sending me a fresh Pliny and I'll send you a fresh DFH 90min and we'll compare notes. 

[mikeypedersen]

I've had them both fresh and I would have to say that Pliny is my favorite.  However, if you are sitting in Rehoboth beach drinking a 90 minute through Randall The Enamel Animal, it might be different.  I had the 75 minute IPA (only served at the brew pub) through the Randall last time I was there and it was phenominal.

The flip-side to that is Pliny the Younger.....Fresh on tap it's nearly unbeatable.

[tankdeer]

Okay...How about sending me a fresh Pliny and I'll send you a fresh DFH 90min and we'll compare notes. 

I've had 90 minute pretty fresh, and still prefer Pliny. But I'm sure we can work out a swap sometime.

I've had them both fresh and I would have to say that Pliny is my favorite.  However, if you are sitting in Rehoboth beach drinking a 90 minute through Randall The Enamel Animal, it might be different.  I had the 75 minute IPA (only served at the brew pub) through the Randall last time I was there and it was phenominal.

The flip-side to that is Pliny the Younger.....Fresh on tap it's nearly unbeatable.

I have not had 90 minute through a Randall, but I dunno. It always seems so gimmicky to me. And Younger is a completely different animal. Truth be told I actually like Elder better, because it's suprisingly balanced for a DIPA. But I wouldn't kick a Younger out of bed. 

[bluesman]

Has anyone tried the Sierra Nevada Torpedo yet using 2-row with Magnum, Crystal and Citra hops?

Sounds good.

http://www.sierranevada.com/beers/torpedo.html

[a10t2]

Has anyone tried the Sierra Nevada Torpedo yet using 2-row with Magnum, Crystal and Citra hops?

I have, and would definitely recommend it. Not sure what "Extra IPA" means though; it's pretty restrained by AIPA standards. Hoppy, but there won't be bits of enamel in the bottom of the glass when you finish like with Pliny. Just marketing, I suppose.

[denny]

Has anyone tried the Sierra Nevada Torpedo yet using 2-row with Magnum, Crystal and Citra hops?

Sounds good.

http://www.sierranevada.com/beers/torpedo.html

I've had it and I was kinda underwhelmed.  It's not a bad beer by any means, but after all the buildup I heard I expected something a bit more intense.