Harpoon Take 5
Boston, Massachusetts
Session IPA
ABV: 4.3%
A great session IPA does it all well—supportive but not overwhelming malt bill, clean fermentation that lets the hops shine, and a deliciously deep hops bill full of flavor without crushing bitterness. This new release from Boston stalwarts Harpoon accomplishes all of these things and does it with a style harder to achieve at Harpoon’s scale. The bright malt bill lends the beer a dry character that pushes the hops to the forefront, and the gorgeously subtle strawberry, peach, and melon hops flavors provide just enough bitterness to keep it drinkable. Harpoon nails an almost perfect balance in this one—it’s one of the best session IPAs I’ve tasted so far this year. — Jamie Bogner
Fort Collins Brewery Hoptitude
Fort Collins, Colorado
Double IPA
ABV: 8.5%
With a hops-heavy but delightfully drinkable character, Fort Collins Brewery’s Hoptitude is balanced out by a closing sweetness that leaves a clean, but resiny mouthfeel that one comes to enjoy with this style. The touch of spice in the malt bill complements the hoppy aroma as you take your first sip. — Haydn Strauss
Stone Ruination 2.0
Escondido, California
Double IPA
ABV: 8.5%
Sequels have a difficult challenge—can you do justice to the original and satiate the fans while still delivering a new experience that moves the franchise forward? Kudos to Stone Brewing Co. for having the stones to rethink a long-established classic such as Ruination. The result accomplishes the difficult feat of feeling familiar and reassuring while at the same time, current. The subtly juicy aroma leads with grassy and slight onion notes and just a hint of lime. On the tongue, it’s imminently drinkable (maybe a bit more so than its predecessor) thanks to the dry character and supporting but subtle malt bill. Citrus hops don’t jump out, but linger in the aftertaste. The result is a well-balanced beer that is a worthy successor to the Ruination name. — John Bolton
Fort George OmegaTex
Astoria, Oregon
Double IPA
ABV: 9.9%
If you’ve every had the pleasure of making it to Astoria, (home of Fort George Brewery), this beer embodies everything that the town represents—the culture of the Upper West Side blended with the rustic camaraderie of a small Pacific Northwest coastal town. It has a rich, dank, grassy nose with a sweet hops aroma that reminds me of the damp coastal forests. With the first taste, I was struck by the unexpected citrus note that balanced well with the alcohol and provided a full front-to-back flavor explosion. As the resinous aftertaste lingered, it left me craving more… left me craving the Oregon coast. — Haydn Strauss
August Schell’s Stag Series Cave-Aged Barrel-Aged Lager Batch #9
New Ulm, Minnesota
Barrel-aged Dark Lager
ABV: 7.7%
Before you open this beer, forget everything you know about barrel-aged beer. The normal routine of stouts, barleywines, and strong ales is not present here. August Schell Brewing Company is changing up the game and flexing its old-school cred by aging this Stag Series lager in bourbon barrels in the nineteenth-century lagering caves underneath the brewery. The dopplebock base is a great playground for a barrel, and the lack of ester fermentation lets the whiskey barrel shine through with notes of vanilla, caramel, and a slight hint of oak in both the aroma and flavor, complementing the full, dark body of the style. At only 7.7% ABV, the beer balances the original flavors of the dopplebock backbone with the barrel character, offering deep flavor without the overwhelming ABV of those hefty ales. If you’re into barrel-aged beers and haven’t fallen in love with lagers, jump on this. — Austin Grippin