[hopfenundmalz]

All were sampled at the Chicago Beer Camp last Sunday. My favorite was the Maillard, and since John Mallett is writing the book on malt I expected something good. All of the beers were drinkable, some I liked more than others.

The fest was fun, I got to talk to many people I know. There were small breweries there that I had never had a beer from, and some I never had heard of. A highlight was the Zwickelbier from Urban Chestnut, I think I had 3 tastes of that one.

March Fourth Marching Band was big fun.

[theDarkSide]

Just scored a 12 pack yesterday...looking forward to trying them out over the next couple weeks.

[MDixon]

The best of the bunch is the Double Latte. Pretty pictures here:
http://mashbang.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/beer-camp-across-america-lineup/

[udubdawg]

the Ballast Point beer is basically a double IPA. (not that that's a bad thing)
very good beer.

so I guess I still don't get the point of Imperial Pale Lager if it's gonna have a bunch of fruity hops. 
again, it's GOOD, but...

[brewinhard]

the Ballast Point beer is basically a double IPA. (not that that's a bad thing)
very good beer.

so I guess I still don't get the point of Imperial Pale Lager if it's gonna have a bunch of fruity hops. 
again, it's GOOD, but...

Totally agree there!  Good beer, but isn't still just an IPA?

[reverseapachemaster]

the Ballast Point beer is basically a double IPA. (not that that's a bad thing)
very good beer.

so I guess I still don't get the point of Imperial Pale Lager if it's gonna have a bunch of fruity hops. 
again, it's GOOD, but...

Just a way to make another IPA variant.

[fmader]

I'm drinking the IPL now. I can't agree with it just being an imperial IPA, because I get a strong lager flavor. If I bought an IPA and it tasted like this, is be disappointed. But it's an IPL, so I would expect it to taste like this. Not my favorite of what I've had so far.

[udubdawg]

that's cool, but could you define what you mean by strong lager flavor?

[fmader]

The only way I know how to explain the lager taste is by saying it tastes like a lager. I'm not a huge fan of lagers. I don't find them as crisp or refreshing as ales. I guess I can explain it as the lager yeast leaves a thick, syrupy like flavor and aroma in the beer.

[jeffy]

Sorry, Frank, but that doesn't make much sense.  Most of lager flavor comes from the malt and hops.  The yeast, if anything, makes less of an impact than an ale yeast. 
There are so many different types of lager beer that I don't think you can dismiss them all as having the same mouthfeel or flavor.

[udubdawg]

hmm, I thought you were going for an "absence of x flavor" angle.  To me an IPL hopped with significant fruity hops tastes like an IIPA with a very simple malt bill, fairly low FG, crisp and not too full-bodied, and a fairly clean-fermenting yeast.  It could be completely clean or have some esters; who can tell under the multitude of fruity hops. 
...Sorta like an Imperial Session IPA (please don't let that become a thing!)   

reiterating - I liked the beer, but I don't think I'll ever love the style.

cheers--
--Michael

[fmader]

Sorry, Frank, but that doesn't make much sense.  Most of lager flavor comes from the malt and hops.  The yeast, if anything, makes less of an impact than an ale yeast. 
There are so many different types of lager beer that I don't think you can dismiss them all as having the same mouthfeel or flavor.

Jeff, I'm not going to pretend that I'm a trained beer taster. I'm not. The point I'm getting at is that, to me, it tastes nothing like a IIPA. I taste a really hoppy lager. Whatever causes the taste I get, whether it's yeast, malt or the lagering process, does not taste well on my palette. I drank the beer before looking at the hops found in it. I was surprised, because they didn't taste the same as they normally do. I got a spicy/peppery flavor out of this beer.... I know... They are traditionally fruity hops...

So, maybe ale yeast fills the void that creates the flavor I don't like? Lol

Now in saying this, I've had select lager styles that I enjoy. Me not being able to palette lagers is a general statement.

[ranchovillabrew]

Barrelhouse and Green Flash made a "Triple double session IPA"
http://www.craftbeer.com/news/beer-release/tripledoublesessionipa

[fmader]

reiterating - I liked the beer, but I don't think I'll ever love the style.

+1.... I'll drink to this!

[udubdawg]

Barrelhouse and Green Flash made a "Triple double session IPA"
http://www.craftbeer.com/news/beer-release/tripledoublesessionipa

"I'll have a half double decaffeinated half-caf with a twist of lemon"