Hill Farmstead Ephraim

Ephraim
Hill Farmstead Brewery
Greensboro, Vermont
10.50% ABV
Style: Double IPA

C: Clear
H: Liquid GOLD
N: Pine and Citrus Overpower the Nose

The Ferm: Big thanks to HopScotch for sharing this super popular new IIPA from Vermont. I was really looking forward to this beer. Will it live up to the hype from Beer Advocate and RateBeer?
BIG TIME! Jesus, this is what a double IPA should be. Tons of citrus and piney hop flavor, with a solid body, and a nice hint of malt/caramel on the back-end.
OK, so it lives up to the hype, but does it compare to Pliney, Hopslam, Dreadnaught, and other awesome IIPA's? Well pretty good but its not a Fresh Pliney. I'd say 2nd best IIPA I have ever had. I will be on the look out for more beers from this brewery, and will work on making a trip to Vermont.

Score: 5.0

5 C's IPA - Portsmouth Brewery

5 C's IPA
Portsmouth Brewery
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
6.50% ABV
Style: IPA

C: Hazy
H: Dark Golden Yellow (Copper?)
N: HMM Soap? Citrus, and Hints of Caramel

The Ferm: Well quite often beers bring me back to times in my life that I remember. While searching for that beer that is the "best", you often come across beers that remind you of particular scents, flavors, or just flat out memories of something from the past. I often share my memories here for your reading pleasure. That said, this beer's taste remind me of something that is quite personal.
I often travel home to see my parents and sister on the other coast of Florida. More times then not during the drive I need to swing off and take a bathroom break. This beer brings me back to all of those memories. WAIT.....noooo, not what you are thinking! You didn't let me finish.
This beer tastes and smells just like the Turnpike Bathroom Hand Soap. Yep, Pink Liquid Soap! I could not get past the taste or the odor on this, and immediately began laughing to myself. While I typically enjoy having these beers again that jog such vibrant memories, I think I will have to pass on the 5 C's. I really don't enjoy thinking about rest stop bathrooms. Sorry Portsmouth!

Score: 2.50

Upland Dragonfly IPA

Dragonfly IPA
Upland Brewing Company
Bloomington, Indiana
6.00% ABV
Style: IPA

C: Murky and Cloudy, but some sexy head!
H: Amber in color
N: Citrus hops with malt. Malt has almost an over powering dough-y odor to it

The Ferm: Not gonna lie I was supper excited to see some Upland Bottle Caps when I opened my box from Beer Universe and The Original Craft Beer Club. Ever since I read some reviews of their beers from another friends running/beer/life blog I was salivating at the mouth to get this beer in my belly. What blog is that? Well it is Cheaper than Therapy, one of my favorite daily reads! Check it out.

OK, enough plugs....you are here to read about beer not me kissing ass. Beer was good....DONE! That's what you get for not putting up with my ass kissing!

Seriously, it was a smooth IPA. The dough-y like qualities in the nose came through in the taste of the beer and sort-a over powered the hops, which was a disappointment. Regardless, it was a solid drink. I don't think it would make it into my regular routine of IPA's but it is pretty close. A good beer to drink outdoors though!

Score: 3.2199

Bullfrog Brewery Undead Ed

Undead Ed
Bullfrog Brewery
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
??% ABV
Style: IPA

C: Cloudy
H: Orange in color
N: Tons of hoppy citrus notes and hints of sour funky-ness

The Ferm: This beer was one that I was dying to get my hands on and try. Bullfrog is a very small brewery out of PA that is doing some amazing things with sours and experimental beers. This IPA is not a typical IPA, it is a IPA with Wild Yeast....yep a Sour IPA...Best of both worlds?!? Maybe!
The nose to start out was very pleasant tons of citrus notes which is what I love about IPA's and then a nice funk coming from the yeast. I had my fingers crossed that the taste would just like the nose.
OHH YEAH and it was! Damn the citrus notes of the IPA upfront then a faint touch of sour on the back end. Carbonation was nice and balanced. Best IPA ever! Well I won't go there but it was easily top 5, especially since it was sour and funky.
Score: 4.80

Magic Hat Hi.P.A.

Hi.P.A.
Magic Hat Brewing Company
Burlington, VT
6.7% ABV
Style: IPA

C: Hazy
H: Yellow Almost Gold in Color
N: Floral and Piney Hops, Hints of Citrus

The Cerveza Chica: Well I am normally a huge fan of IPA's, although this beer did let me down a bit. There was too much bitterness to this. I am sure that The Ferm will love this one, I thought it was a bit over the top. I would prefer a Dogfish Head 60 minute instead. This was just a bit over the top. It was a solid IPA though.
Score: 3.27


The Ferm: Variety Packs are the best, especially Magic Hat Packs that I can get 3 new beers. I am always happy when one of these beers is an IPA. This was big on the hops and very strong with the piney hoppy flavors. A very drinkable beer, like most Magic Hats, although this beer has a bit more flavor to it. The beer sort-a reminds me of a hoppy-er version of the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Good choice for a Hop Head.
Score: 3.46

Overall: 3.365

Ithaca - Flower Power IPA

Ithaca - Flower Power IPA
Ithaca Beer Company
Ithaca, NY
7.50% ABV

C: Very clear
H: Orangey amber
N: Citrus and piney hops and light malt

La Cocinera;I don't really have a whole lot to say about this one. It's a solid IPA, but nothing that is really memorable. I got a bunch of citrusy and earthy hops in the aroma and a bit of malt. The smell was promising but the flavor didn't really live up to the it. It was hoppy with some caramel, but a little too subtle for my taste and not too bitter at all. Would have liked more hops in the flavor. IPAs used to be my favorite style but I've become a little bored by them. This one is very drinkable though and well balanced.
Score: 3.1

The Cerveza Chica; The smell of this beer made me believe that it would be very bitter due to the strong smell of hops, but upon tasting it I was pleasantly surprised. It is a pretty straight forward IPA. Nothing truly special or abnormal about it. This is my first beer that I have had from Ithaca and I wasn’t turned off by it so would be open to trying some of their other varieties of beer. In my opinion I could drink a decent amount of this beer, but I definitely have IPAs that are bigger favorites of mine. The Ferm got this in a trade so I don’t know how much a bottle goes for but I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys citrusy hops.
Score: 3.77

Overall: 3.435