I am unapologetically a Hop Head. I can’t get enough IPA. I
brew IPA’s, I drink IPA’s, I dream about IPA’s. India Pale Ales are the number
one selling craft beer style in the United States. As I have mentioned in
previous blog posts there are in increasing number of craft breweries in Germany,
but their IPA’s generally fall short of an American IPA. Entering my third year
in Germany I can safely say German craft brewers are making significant
progress and closing the gap with American breweries. I have had the pleasure
of experiencing the German hop revolution first hand.
This weekend the navigator and I joined four of closest
friends at the 4the annual Stuttgarter Craft Beer Festival. Sponsored by the owner of Kraftapaule beer bar
(A close friend) the Craft Beer Festival is a must visit for all craft beer aficionados
in the Stuttgart area. We arrived at the crack of 12 noon to find at least 200
people had beat us to the punch. Not surprisingly my first beer was a farmhouse
ale by Kesselbrauer. A quaffable saison type beer. Best to ease into things.
Naturally my second beer was an IPA. Not just any IPA but a spruce tip IPA by Lost
River Brewing. The only thing I love more than IPA is a SPRUCE IPA and this
beer hit the mark! At first sniff subtle
hints of spruce and hops tickle your nostrils. A quick taste tells me all I need to know, a well-balanced
spruce beer rivaling many of the U.S produced spruce beers. Four hours and 12
beers later I returned to Lost River Brewing for a farewell glass of spruce tip
IPA and perhaps a case of bottles to go. Unfortunately, Lost River doesn’t bottle
their spruce tip beer. Not only that they had kicked their keg, NO SPRUCE TIP
BERR FOR YOU! I cried as the brewmaster tried to console me. The brewmaster
reassured me that they would brew another batch which should be ready in 6-8
WEEKS! Oh, the humanity
Here are my top five IPA’s :
1.
Lost River Spruce Tip IPA (See above)
2.
Hey Joe Double Trouble IPA- Amazing IPA only available
on tap. A hopper stronger version of their Mad Dog IPA
3.
CAST Double IPA- A local Stuttgart craft brewery
who seem to have it figured out. Their IPA’s have improved significantly since
I first tried them 2.5 years ago/
4.
Hey Joe, Mad Dog IPA- A solid IPA and my annual “Go-To”
and the craft beer fest.
5.
Brassiere Boum’R Imperial IPA- This brewery had
five beers on tap, all IPA’s. I have had many sucky French craft beers. These
guys stand above every French beer I have ever tried. Viva la IPA!
Nearly three years into German tour one thing is
evident, Germans are rapidly figuring out the secret to IPAs and I for one am
ecstatic! As we enter the height of the European
craft beer season I leave you with a hint of my next trip:
Until next time,
Stay Crafty my friends.
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