I tend to drink more wine than beer during the winter months and when I do drink beer, my choices tend more toward the darker beers. Still, do like India Pale Ales (IPA). So, I was intrigued when I heard the Boston Beer Company has just released two new iterations of the popular Rebel IPA, a West Coast-style IPA that was introduced in 2014. Like Rebel IPA, these brews emphasize the assertive aromatics and flavors that have come to be associated with Pacific Northwest hop varieties.
Rebel IPA uses Cascade, Centennial and Simcoe hops for its base, as do the new Rebel Rouser Double IPA and Rebel Rider Session IPA. Rebel IPA adds Chinook and Amarillo hops to bring home the fruity and spicy qualities typical of West Coast IPAs. It also stakes out territory between Rebel Rouser and Rebel Rider as it charts 6.5% ABV and 45 IBUs.
And it is worth pointing out, as Samuel Adams clarifies, “To create a Double IPA and a Session IPA that showcase the unique flavors of West Coast hop varietals, the brewers didn’t simply double Rebel IPA’s hops to create Rebel Rouser Double IPA, or cut them in half to brew Rebel Rider Session IPA.” Instead, Samuel Adams brewers conducted extensive research in their nano-brewery testing different hop varieties in the kettle and different hopping techniques during the dry-hopping process.
Rebel Rouser Double IPA (8.4% ABV and 85 IBUs)
Bravo, Galaxy, Simcoe, and Centennial hops were added to the kettle to achieve the desired bitterness. To balance that bitterness and enhance hop aromas, five American hop varieties from the Pacific Northwest – Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, Zeus – were used during the dry-hopping. Those aromatics are strong lemon and grapefruit with pine, spice and black pepper overtones. The underlying malt gives weight and a foundation for this big, flavorful brew.
Rebel Rider Session IPA (45 IBUs and 4.5% ABV)
It seems these days every brewery is making a double IPA and a session IPA. I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise they would want to capitalize on the popularity of the IPA style with variations on the theme. Rebel Rider is Samuel Adams’ attempt to capture the distinctive hop character of an IPA in a lighter body.
It is brewed with Citra, Topaz and Cascade hops. Then, it is dry-hopped with Centennial, Cascade, and Simcoe hops. Its extremely citrusy character also has a nice malty background. The flavors also showcase these bright hop notes and are accented by metallic bitterness. Rebel Rider is a nice Session IPA but it is not my favorite. But I’m not a fan of most session beers. So keep that in mind.
Double Bock (9.5% ABV 25 IBUs)
A member of the Brewmaster’s Collection, Double Bock has been a Samuel Adams seasonal since 1988. But it is a lager style that dates to the 13th century. This one is a lager brewed with over a half pound of malt per bottle. Tettnang, Tettnanger, and Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops join the Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend and Caramel 60 malts to produce sweet caramel and toffee, but also coffee and even cherry notes, finishing with subtle hop character.