OK, everyone has heard “An apple a day will keep the doctor away”, but what about “An IPA A Day”? To test the theory I want to embark on an IPA tasting journey. I’m willing to review an India Pale Ale each and every day, for at least 10 days (maybe even two in one day), or until I’ve had a good sampling of great IPA’s from around the country/world. It’s a tough job, I know, but someone has to do it.
But Why Do This
I know, you’re probably wondering “Why?”. Well, first off, IPA’s are some of my favorite beers. I figure that since they were created to withstand the rigors of traveling by ship from England to India, they must have some preservative powers, and I’m not getting any younger 
Also, I want to promote this site. I’m having fun doing this and it gives me a great excuse to keep trying new beers. The site is brand new and I want as many people as possible to participate.
What’s In It For You-BIG PRIZES!
In order to be successful at this I need your help, for which I’m willing to pay a(somewhat) handsome price. Here’s how you can help me, and maybe help yourself at the same time. There are two ways to win:
- Suggest-Respond to this post using the “comments” and suggest an IPA for me to review. Everyone who suggests a beer, even if I don’t ultimately review it, will be entered into a drawing for a fantastic beer book:Tasting Beer: An Insider’s Guide to the World’s Greatest Drink
- Watch-In each IPA review video, or the tasting notes in the blog post, that I do as part of this series, I will give you a “secret word”. These secret words will end up creating a nifty beer related phrase by the last of the videos in the series. In the last video I will tell you how to send me your guess as to what the phrase is. All correct answers will be entered into a drawing for a 1 year subscription to Draft Magazine plus (hopefully, if I can get some help) some other neat, as yet to be determined beer stuff.
You can win in both contests if you are lucky enough. I want to start the reviews by April 1st 3rd. So, I will close the comments/suggest a beer contest at 6PM Eastern time on the 31st of March. I’ll draw the winner either that evening or on April 1st. The 2nd contest will end within a few days of when I do the last video review. I’ll announce the exact time in the final review.
I’m hoping this turns out to be something fun. I am looking forward to trying a bunch of new beers and I hope you will help us all learn about great beers we might not have thought of by participating. I know the prizes aren’t huge, but I’m supporting this on my own dime.
(INSERT BEGGING HERE): If there are any beer companies, pubs, or publications that want to help out by providing some stuff to add to the prize pool I will be VERY grateful and be more than happy to recognize you as a prize sponsor. Email me at Mark@videobeerreviews.com and we can discuss it)
I hope to hear from many of you over the next couple of weeks as I do this series of reviews. Until then, enjoy your beer!
Great idea! I have become a real hop head recently and have been drinking a lot of good hoppy beers. I suggest, if you can find them:
Worthington’s White Shield (classic English IPA)
Meantime’s IPA (a modern classic in the English style)
BrewDog’s Punk IPA or Chaos Theory (American-styles from Scotland – great brewery)
And my faves from the US:
Stone’s IPA or Ruination (both incredibly good – the Ruination was the beer that turned me over to the power of the hops)
Entry #1
give jockamo ipa from abita a try
Entry #2
I suggest the Lagunitas IPA. Not their Maximus but their regular IPA. Quite good.
markdredge is right, the Ruination is damn good too.
Entry #3
Moylan’s Brewery makes an awesome Hopsickle.
Russian River’s Pliny the Elder – yum.
…and of course Green Flash.
Entry #4
Lots of good choices out there.
You must try Hair of the Dog Blue Dot.
Also Port Brewing Wipe Out IPA and Hop-15.
If you want even more hops try Green Flash West
Coast IPA.
Joel
Entry #5
Hey there! I just wanted to add a suggestion on your IPA quest…
Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop^3
(hop cubed…but not in a lame anheuser busch way)
Hope it’s a new one for you and enjoy!
Oh, and I don’t know if you can get it, but Highland Brewery Kashmir IPA is a favorite standby of mine, and Highland is based in Asheville, NC and they are the NICEST group, totally hospitable when people stop by unannounced, not that I would be so rude
Entry #6
Mark,
Try the Lagunitas “Undercover Investigation Shut-Down” Ale, let us know your thoughts.
Entry #7
Also, try the Sierra Nevada “torpedo ale”, I am digging it!
I’m Also surprised that no one has mentioned Pliny the Elder from Russian River. One of the very best hoppy beers anywhere…
Joel
Columbus Brewing Company now bottles their IPA: http://www.columbusbrewing.com/
My friends and I consider this to be a “session” beer, that is, you could drink it all night, which is rare for an IPA.
Entry #8
Here’s another vote for Russian River’s Pliny the Elder (Younger is better but not available in bottles). You might also try their Blind Pig IPA which is also fantastic.
I’d recommend checking out Three Floyd’s Dreadnaught, AleSmith’s Yulesmith Summer, Bell’s Hopslam, and Stone’s Ruination – although all of those might be considered a double IPA.
Hi Ben,
Pliny is an excellent beer, I reviewed it back in June: http://www.bikebeerbbq.com/russian-river-brewing-blind-pig-ipa-and-pliny-the-elder-ipa/ I’d love to try the Younger sometime but I need to head out your way to do that.
I also reviewed Ruination, check the blog for the link. As for AleSmith and Three Floyd’s they are on my list to try if I can get my hands on them. We get Bell’s here in GA so I’ll pick up some Hopslam at some point.
Hi Mark,
Thanks for reading! I’ll check out my local stores to see if any of those are available. The BrewDog Punk sounds good. I’ve had the Ruination and it is a very good beer. I’ll do an “official” review of it as part of this series.
You’re also the 1st entrant in the contest for the book. Good luck!
Hi Lain,
I will check that one out and add it to the review group. I should have no problem finding it here in Atlanta.
Thanks for reading and tell a friend!
Javi,
Thanks for reading and suggesting the Lagunitas IPA. I haven’t had it yet so if I can find it (shouldn’t be too hard to do) I’ll add it to the rotation.
Hi Isa,
I’ll have to call around and see if I can get either one of those here in Atlanta. If I can I’ll add them to the list.
Thanks for reading and spread the word about us!
Joel,
Those all sound good. I’ll check and see if I can get them here. If so, I’ll review them. if not, you’re still entered in the contest.
Thanks for reading and tell a friend!
Hilary,
I haven’t either of those beers yet. Hopefully I can find them here locally. I’ve had a couple of the Highland beers and have been impressed with them. I’m going to Asheville in August and will definitely stop by.
Thanks for reading, and commenting, and please tell everyone you know about this blog!
Hi Ronnie,
I just picked up Lagunitas’ regular IPA today. I’ll try to find the “Undercover….” as well. It looks like I’m going to have a decent list of IPA’s to review which is good. Oh, and I agree with you about the torpedo ale, it is very good. I’m actually drinking one right now. I am planning on doing a review of it.
Thanks for participating and tell a friend!
Hi Andy,
That sounds like a good IPA. I don’t think I can get here in Atlanta though as it looks like they only distribute in Ohio. I will be sure to add it to my “road list” of beers to try when I’m in certain areas.
Thanks for reading and tell your friends about us!
Joel,
Actually, Isa mentioned it a few comments earlier. It sounds like I need to find it and give it a try!