IPA Day 2017 - If I Owned a Bar
I'm seeing all sorts of posts from back in Houston and other major cities and breweries about celebrating IPA day. Meanwhile, here in Ithaca I haven't seen a thing. So, it got me thinking. What would I do? If I owned a bar in Ithaca, what local(ish) IPAs would I have on tap? So, I made a list.
Without further ado, here's my 10 tap lineup of NY IPAs, plus a few on backup, because obviously we'd blow through at least a few kegs. I kept this to ~2 hours from Ithaca--essentially Cooperstown to the east, Syracuse to the north, Binghamton/Elmira to the south, and Rochester to the west.
Whew. That was tough. And these kegs will be priced to kick. I'm thinking $3-4 per pint and $2-3 per half pint--because not enough places do half pints! Now here's my back up selection:
Ideally, I have more than ten taps to dedicate to this in which case I take this further out, yet still in NY. Here's some of the other breweries I would add in if looking beyond 2 hours: Sloop, Newburgh, Equilibrium, Grimm, Barrier, Threes, Other Half, Finback, Big Ditch, Thin Man, Community Beer Co, and Southern Tier Beer Co.
New York sure has come a long way with its beer in recent years. Is this list unreasonable? I don't think so. Just need a place that'll put it all together. But maybe the demand just isn't there? Price it right and they will come.
What am I missing? Where have I gone wrong?
Without further ado, here's my 10 tap lineup of NY IPAs, plus a few on backup, because obviously we'd blow through at least a few kegs. I kept this to ~2 hours from Ithaca--essentially Cooperstown to the east, Syracuse to the north, Binghamton/Elmira to the south, and Rochester to the west.
- Flower Power by Ithaca Beer Company. I can't possibly have IPA Day with the local pioneer. Afterall, Food and Wine Magazine even included Flower Power as one of the "most important craft beers ever brewed".
- Mass Riot by Prison City Brewpub. This one may be a longshot, but how special a tap would that be to have in town? Mass Riot by Prison City in Auburn was rated the best IPA by Paste Magazine in a 2016 blind taste test. This would be an ideal beer on tap.
- The Ruckus by Aurora Ale & Lager. This nanobrewery out in Aurora packs a punch with this IPA.
- Falcon Punch by Lucky Hare. Quite possibly my favorite brewery in the nearby region. They do a variety of styles and do them very well, including this IPA.
- IPW by Upstate Brewing Company. One of my favorites when I can find it fresh, which is too rare. Marriage of an IPA and a wheat and on this tap list provides a nice contrast, while still packed with IPA flavor. (If could get a special keg of a smaller release, like their Oat IPA for instance, I'd take that too!)
- The Big Broadcast by War Horse Brewing. This is a big one (9% ABV). Teddy Roosevelt don't play.
- Andromeda by Galaxy. A really solid IPA from an underappreciated brewery in the area. They seem to have a new direction as of late, with a much more active social media presence and live music. I hope they are sticking around, as they've done some nice things with hops.
- Blight Buster by Good Nature Farm Brewery. Was going to do their Annie here, but thought one of their more recent smaller releases would be a nice treat. Also considered their Non-stop Hop Onslaught to bring a session IPA to the table.
- Space Kitty by Rohrbach. Let's get another double on the list. Considered Horseheads here (can't see their fugly labels on a tap), but reached out to Rochester with this one.
- Fricken Wicked by Full Boar. Curveball here. I expected my tap list would include Empire, but it was a tough cut down. At the end of the day, Fricken Wicked was just too fricken good to leave off. Another Syracuse brewery I would consider here would be Willow Rock, as they have been churning out some good beer.
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| My #IPAday tap list includes the Ruckus by Aurora Ale and Lager. Wanna fight about it? |
- Naked Pilgrim by Ithaca Beer Company. I'm just going to hope they have this or something similar. Replaces either Flower Power as the local option or Fricken Wicked as a NEIPA option. The other "local" I'd consider here? Another Lucky Hare: Millenial Falcon Punch -OR- Aurora Ale and Lager: Rakau the Chef.
- DIPA by Horseheads Brewing Company. A lot of folks love it, and as I mentioned, if it's on tap you can't see their hideous bottle labels. Steps in for another DIPA.
- Too Kind by Three Heads Brewing. A solid option, reaching back up to the Rochester area. Another DIPA replacement.
- Nirvana by Ommegang. It's Ommegang and it's, of course, well-made.
- IPA by Swiftwater. Another Rocherster brew.
- Alleghany IPA by Four Mile. Just a bit over the 2 hour reach, so this will end the list. I've heard good things, but only had one chance to try it...but picked Sloop instead. Which brings me to...
Ideally, I have more than ten taps to dedicate to this in which case I take this further out, yet still in NY. Here's some of the other breweries I would add in if looking beyond 2 hours: Sloop, Newburgh, Equilibrium, Grimm, Barrier, Threes, Other Half, Finback, Big Ditch, Thin Man, Community Beer Co, and Southern Tier Beer Co.
New York sure has come a long way with its beer in recent years. Is this list unreasonable? I don't think so. Just need a place that'll put it all together. But maybe the demand just isn't there? Price it right and they will come.
What am I missing? Where have I gone wrong?
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