IPA Blind Taste Test: Our Panel of Mountain Bikers Picks the Best Beers

#10: Sam Adams Rebel IPA Sam Adams was arguably one of the most successful early craft brewers, and the brewery continues to put out innovative brews, albeit on a massive scale. This was another beer that three of us noted didn’t taste like an IPA–perhaps due to seemingly low hop content. In fact, one reviewer noted that …
By Jeff Barber
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#10: Sam Adams Rebel IPA

Sam Adams was arguably one of the most successful early craft brewers, and the brewery continues to put out innovative brews, albeit on a massive scale. This was another beer that three of us noted didn’t taste like an IPA–perhaps due to seemingly low hop content. In fact, one reviewer noted that its aroma was “absent.”

Judging by the light color and thin mouth feel, it’s not surprising that our crew of mountain bikers just weren’t that into this IPA.

#9: Tap Room 21 IPA

According to BeerAdvocate.com, Tap Room 21 is brewed by “World Brews, a subsidiary of Winery Exchange, […] a private label beer supplier for premium-quality beers from the USA, Latin America, and Holland.” Despite this generic description, our tasters noted the Tap Room 21 boasted a honey, caramel, sweet taste. That sweetness also seemed to give the beer a heavyish mouth feel and left the beer with very little overall bitterness.

Once again, one of our reviewers wrote, “This ain’t no IPA.” I don’t know if this just confirms that our panel doesn’t know what they’re talking about, or if it’s an actual criticism of specific beers.

#8: Sweetwater Whiplash White IPA

Sweetwater produces a very good IPA as a couple of our reviewers noted at the beginning of the test–but this wasn’t that IPA. Instead, Whiplash IPA is a seasonal Belgian-style white IPA.

This was just the second beer we tasted, and it turned out to be a pretty polarizing beer: some really liked it, others not at all. Those who enjoyed this one noted the clear, straw color and smooth, bubbly feel. A couple of us noted a sour grape taste and a refreshing finish.

Those who didn’t enjoy this beer noted a metallic taste and a slightly harsh aftertaste. Paul noted that the beer wasn’t distinctive and didn’t taste very hoppy.

 
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