Beer Tasting 38: Red Hook Long Hammer IPA from Seattle, USA

[heelhook80]

hope to see some more beer reviews!  Especially IPA's, euro style pilsners, some Sierra Nevada beers or some Boulevard Beers (kansas city brewery). Cheers

[wess357]

hey buddy redhook is owned by Widmer now and the flavors are changing toward the widmer way

[ajyerage]

"Beat me anytime with that long hammer" hahahahahhahah!

[handyallen]

love this beer but of course i love ESB

[Mooktopia]

your face has a lovely glow

[mixcatcom]

I love that beer.. Very good thanks for posting!

Have a great weekend.

[Chad9976]

what's with the audio/visual synch problem?!

[NicholasDAZ82]

I just tried this beer and it is good, however I believe it quite toned down compared to other IPA's. Two of the best IPA's i've tried are Stone IPA and Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA. Long Hammers is just not quite hoppy and bitter enough for me, but I would recommend this beer to anyone who is new to IPA's.

[ziggy577]

I like the Long Hammer IPA, although I've never tried Dogfish.

[motoring7111]

damn good beer. tastes like the original version of Hops Infusion that had more of the citrus notes. Yummy!

[Roadnotaken]

Just started tasting different northwest beers. What are some other good ones besides red hook IPA?

[saturnhexagon]

Try Redhook ESB. It's very good and quite similar to Sam Adams, not hoppy at all but does have character and a good finish.

[crazyleg2006]

Thanks for the review...

I am enjoying a Long Hammer as I type now.

I like it...

[heelhook80]

michael, like your vids. My first pale ale was Sierra Nevada, which ten years back I thought was too hoppy! Now the most assertive IPA's I can get my hands on are my favorite, meaning Lost Coast's Indica IPA is now my favorite, I haven't found its match. Bought long hammers today, a drinkable hopped up beer, but not nearly as extreme or tasty as the Indica Pale Ale, I don't think anything is going to match the sheer hops overload that baby contains, was pleased to see you mention that beer.

[dreamininflux]

my ipa's of choice happen to be dogfish 60 and southern tier. East meets west....

[michaelyblam]

I like Dogfish too but it's a special occasion drink rather than a everyday user friendly IPA as it's BIG and BOLD Dogfish 60 is OK Dogfish anymore is really quite OTT). I also like Lost Coast Indica IPA from Eureka that I got to drink and atste lately.

[kevinbluth]

I like the Redhook Long hammer IPA!

[orecul42]

Big Time Brewery in Udistrict of Seattle makes a nice IPA. Elysian make the Immortal IPA a farely famous in Seattle enough. I have found a way to drink hoppy beer if you might want to try. Mix with ice cold Spicy Carrot V8. Hope you like. Tis the way we do it in Seattle.

[michaelyblam]

I love the beers from Big Time in general. They make some really tasty, robust ales. I had their Nitrogen ale once many years ago winter time and it was most memorable - smooth a silk.  Love the Elysian beers also. Had various samples and participated in the Oktober Fest before. Also, love the Pike espresso stout but only when I was in the right mood. Come up and try Central City's beers as well as Dix and various others.

[MrBadassButch]

@orecul42 Ugh nasty dude. I am from seattle and we NEVER put anything in beer.

[jonathansd]

by far the WORST IPA I've ever had. They might as well call it bud lite IPA. If you want a real IPA try Steelhead, Stone, Inversion, Bridgeport, Lagunitas or others that come from a real microbrew line. That stuff is crap and I refuse to call it an IPA.

[michaelyblam]

I have tasted numerous IPAs in my life time especially NW style IPAs. It depends on personal preferences: Some are over the top, some are insipid, some are one dimensionally bitter, some are reasonably complex but not assertive enough. Some are upfront others are more backwards. Sadly, many great ones are not readily available like a limited wine. The Redhook IPA, in my humble opinion, stands out fine for a commerical brew. Steelhead, Lagunitas I tasted - excellent stuffs indeed!

[pirateale]

i gave this beer a second chance the other day, ie trying to buy beer at vons. i agree with jonathansd, this is easily the worst IPA i have had. and red hook hasnt done anything new in ages. over it!

[nebonzo]

Not interested in Red Hook since they sold out to the cartel group called Bud, who would love to control the whole beer industry. Have you tried the farmhouse IPA by Coast Range Brewing Co. as well as many others...?

[mjurney]

I love your brew review. Have you ever tried Dogfish Head?

[michaelyblam]

I have but the Dogfish, for me, is only for the SPECIAL mood.  It's so rich and concentrated that this OTT (Over the Top) style ale is reserved for the right moment. I can drink gallons of Red Hook IPA as my everyday 'tea' but the Dogfish is only suitable after I have been running under the cold, rainy and windy weather...perfect after a hot shower afterwards as a reward!

[michaelyblam]

Sure I have. Would you like to drink undiluted Ribena? I like it but only when I have the mood and setting for it. Super bitter, super concentrated IPA...cannot be drunk at the wrong mood/occasion. IPA is meant to be a everyday thirst quencher but not reserved as a winter warmer...I like to trade a Dogfish with bottles of 'Drink Me Lots' IPA.

[pirateale]

wow, your right. they keep changing the name but its the same beer. i remember drinking it back when it was called Billiard Bitter, like it was English. just goes to show how much your palate can change. interesting that the "long hammer" has aprox 38 IBUs where Sierra Nevada APA has aprox 37 IBUs and both use Cascade. of course these are different beers, Red Hook has a slightly higher OG and is dry hopped, but i still consider the long hammer a light session ale.

[michaelyblam]

This is purely my palate: the NW style IPA is a style of beer I naturally love. However, many IPAs (Double, triple, Xtra-long boil) in my humble opinions are way overhopped. I am looking for the balance between aroma, bitterness and malty sweetness. Of course, mouth feel and finish are equally important!

[pirateale]

im sure you know your beers, you seem to have a very developed palate. i was wondering if you have ever tried Anderson Valley's IPA? i find it quit enjoyable. it is high in alpha acids (aprox 60-80 IBUs) but has a strong malt backbone, great mouth feel, aroma like drinking flowers.

[pirateale]

i was very disappointed in this new Red Hook IPA, then i was delt another blow to find out the "long hammer" replaced their original IPA. Altho the long hammer is far more palatable for average beer drinkers, hop heads beware, low IBUs simplistic hop and malt profiles overall a light session ale. this is a very small beer

[michaelyblam]

According to Redhook - the original IPA and the Long Hammer is one of the same beer. There's no difference except the name.