Long Hammer IPA

If you hang around me and my friends for long enough, you will find out a strange but true fact: we keep a beer spreadsheet. What does this say about us? First, that we are the kind of people who use spreadsheets in our personal lives, which is either cool or weird or sad or all of the above. Second, that beer is important enough to keep track of on a regular basis. See this blog for further proof of that fact.

So while this blog is still in its infancy, be assured that the tasters I rely on for its sage criticism are well versed in a variety of beers. When they tell me that a beer like Long Hammer IPA is "okay" then they're basically giving it a C on the midterm, three out of five stars, one thumb up, et cetera ad nauseum.

Crafted by the Redhook Ale Brewery, the Long Hammer IPA is, as the name implies, an India pale ale, which is reportedly dry hopped. This means they add more hops at the end of the brewing process, which is supposed to make the beer--stay with me on this--hoppier. A stretch, I know. While in some beers this technique is used to great effect (see Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA for details), unfortunately it doesn't seem to do much for the Long Hammer.

Eric says it's a pretty typical example of the style, not fabulous and not terrible, but is somehow more sour than hoppy. It lacks the intense flavor of other IPA's despite being dry hopped, and may have been aiming for a citrusy flavor if other beer reviews are any indication, which could account for the sourness. Depending on your previous IPA experience, you'll either want to give this a pass because there are better options out there, or give it a try because you want to broaden your horizons. My friends will try just about anything once, but will not seek this one out in future.

Just the facts, ma'am: Long Hammer IPA, Redhook Ale Brewery, Washington, IPA, 6.5% alcohol by volume.

My cat Wash is hammered AND screwed.