Firestone Walker‘s Double Jack was chosen best in show at the 11th annual Double IPA Festival today at the Bistro in Hayward, California. The full winner’s list is below.
- 1st Place: Double Jack, Firestone Walker Brewing
- 2nd Place: Hopsickle XXXIPA, Moylan’s Brewing
- 3rd Place: Hopocalypse, Drake’s Brewing
- People’s Choice Award: Kern River Citra Double IPA
I agree with the Double Jack – top class stuff from Matt and the Firestone crew. I had tasted the Hopacolypse at Drake’s First Friday event the week before, and it is definitely worthy of a Bronze. I’m probably spoiled by being able to taste at Moylan’s on a regular basis, and I would not have ranked the Hopsickle as my silver – both Port’s Mongo and Lagunitas’ SF Fusion stood a bit above it for me.
{I also give kudos to Midnight Sun for their XXX Black Double IPA – a very nice interpretation of the “Cascadian/Dark” IPA style. But I consider that different enough from “IPA” that it’s hard to pick it above others that are in the more traditional IPA style.}
I also thought the High Water offering was pretty nice. They ran out of that Kern River Citra early on and I never got to try it!
Kern River Citra got my vote. Also lover the new offering from High Water’s Steve Altimari, now unconstrained by beer Luddites. And, the import from Cleveland’s Fatheads. So many good beers this year, best festival yet.