Hazy IPAs have been sort of the rage for about five or six years now in Boise and one brewery that has been doing a bang-up job on the New England style is Great Notion. Out of Portland, Great Notion Brewing started as a niche brewery that would put out some amazing hazy IPAs that would create a ton of hype and lines down the block. Without outdated and silly laws that restrict them from expanding within their home state, Great Notion has opened two or three other pubs in Oregon, one pub in California, a couple in Canada, plus a couple more in the Seattle area. They have also expanded their notion of brewing to amazing wood-aged sours and stouts. They don’t screw around with wheat lagers, Belgian-style quads, or any other such nonsense that other breweries busy themselves with that don’t really sell in the market, but settles the brewer’s ego. I was lucky enough to get a mixed four-pack of new Great Notion beers to our area this week and was able to get through three, which were very enjoyable.
Great Notion Sup Dog NEIPA
Sup dog! The first Great Notion pours straw, opaque with a thick white head (this is going to come up again). Sweet pineapple, mango, and peaches dominate the nose. Sup Dog is certainly nice and fragrant, with tons of stonefruit coming up over the top of everything else. The peaches shine on the palate with just a nice dose of mango and pineapple and a nice smooth finish. Fetch it today. 6.8%. Found at Whole Foods.
Great Notion Huge Deluge NEDIPA
These all basically look the same in the glass. This one pours straw colored with a nice white head that sticks to the glass. Aroma and flavor, however, are very different from the Dog. You get lots of ripe strawberry, apricot, and sweet tart candies on the nose. Strawberry and sweet tarts come through on the palate with a hint of pineapple. Smooth finish on this one that hides the 8% + abv nicely. 8.3%. Found at Whole Foods.
Great Notion Roach Clip Hazy IPA
It’s the Michael Teeter pick of the week! Roach Clip pours much like the others, straw colored with a sticky white head. This one is maybe a little more translucent, but who knows. I get a lot of melon, think honeydew and cantaloupe, on the nose with a touch of mint and green tea. Oh, I feel my Idaho 7 hop spidey-senses going off … checking website … yup, Idaho 7 hops are used in this one. Mint, more ripe melon, green tea, and some grapefruit rind. Nice hop bill on this one, despite my issues with I7. This one is fruity with a smooth finish. 7%. Found at Whole Foods.
Bonus Boise Brewing Beers
Rye Barrel Aged Black Cliffs Stout
I am a sucker for Black Cliffs Stout. Have been since before it took home the gold in Colorado and I’m happy to ride for this great beer. The rye barrel comes through nicely on the nose with equal parts spice, sweetness and floral components adding their goodness this this beer’s otherwise amazing aroma of burnt marshmallow and coffee. Whiskey, floral rye, vanilla, and oak come through on the palate with that classic Black Cliffs flavor profile. I don’t know if Black Cliffs is the best beer made in Boise, but it certainly has the most GABF medals, so do with that what you will. 7%. On tap at Boise Brewing.
Boise Brewing Bass Line New Zealand IPA
I’m not sure if this is new, but I had it at Treefort and it tasted great. White wine, lime zest and citrus punch on the nose. Light and crisp with flavors of lime and citrus on the tongue. Easy drinker. 5.5% 65 IBU. On tap at Boise Brewing.