Welcome to Beer Battle #7, it has been a while, but I finally have the site back up and running so I decided to bring back this fun weekend competition. This weeks beer battle is between two IPAs from the New Trail Brewing Company, a brewery that has gained a lot of traction in PA over the past year. A part of me is always cautious when I see so much hype for a brewery so I tried to go in with an open mind when trying both of these beers.
The two beers competing are:
- S.O.B Hill, 6.5%
- Tent Zipper Hazy IPA, 6.5%
After spending a solid 3+ hours clearing brush/trees and getting myself genuinely exhausted. After a much needed shower I sat back and cracked open one of the S.O.B Hill IPAs which is described as an American IPA brewed with a mixture of Pilsner malt, Light Caramel malts, and Wheats. Heavy handedly hopped with a mixture of newer American varietals as well as some “old standbys”. This IPA is meant to bridge a gap between the West Coast body/ bitterness and East Coast aromatic craze.
S.O.B Hill IPA
Appearance: A nice bright green can with yellow and black accents helps make this one stand out. The New Trail logo is huge and is flanked by a subtle topographic map. Once poured
Aroma: Fairly aromatic with heavy hops, nothing too special.
Taste: Semi-Citrus with notes of a tart peach, tropical fruits/hops and a decent sweetness from the malts.
Experience: This has a medium body with a bitter after taste. There is some sugar left on the lips, but overall it goes down easy. Drinks like most IPAs.
Next on deck was the Tent Zipper Hazy IPA, which is described as a Hazy IPA brewed with Germanic malts, wheat, and oats. Heavy handedly hopped with some of our old favorites Cascade, Centennial, and Crystal. Then hopped again with some of our new favorites Mosaic and Citra. Expect lush orange, deep piney resin, and a blend of your favorite tropical fruits.
Tent Zipper Hazy IPA
Appearance: A distinct dark green can with blue and black accents that cover a nice picture of a lake. The New Trail logo is a bit more subtle this time, which I prefer. This beer pours super hazy with a khaki brown body and a light white head.
Aroma: The aroma is strong with pine, lemon and orange. It smells pretty damn good.
Taste: Alot of citrus in this one, as you would expect from any Hazy IPA. I mostly notice grapefruit, papaya and oranges. There is a distinct sweetness that mixes well with the citrus.
Experience: From the first sip to the last this beer goes down very smooth. The body feels creamy and light with a dry finish. Not too heavy or sweet and definitely not too bitter.
Overall both are solid IPAs that I would easily recommend, but you are here for a winner. I think that the Tent Zipper IPA offers more in terms of taste and is not quite as bitter as the S.O.B Hill. It was not a clear cut decision but after having 2-3 of each I tended to enjoy my time with the Hazy IPA a little more. If you want to learn any more about the New Trail Beers be sure to check out their website here.
