To learn all you need to know about At Large’s Jim Weisweaver’s love of IPAs, one simply has to check out the “Beers We Brew” section of the brewery’s website.
Of the 55 beers listed on At Large’s website — shockingly, they’ve actually brewed more than that in the past two years — 32 of them are of the IPA variety. According to Weisweaver’s math, the popular beer style makes up likely half of all beer sales at At Large.
“We go through them quick,” Weisweaver said.
Everett’s At Large Brewing will celebrate its second anniversary on Saturday with a party featuring a food truck, hand-rolled cigars and, of course, loads of IPAs.
A few months ago, that would have been a tougher task. After a few exceptionally busy weeks, At Large basically ran out of the signature beers. So to remedy that, Weisweaver will be bringing in a couple more three-barrel fermenters to keep up with demand. The new fermenters will give Weisweaver and associate brewer Dan Custer more flexibility in the brewing calendar, and potentially allow the brewery to get back to wider distribution.
I recently sat down with Weisweaver, owner and head brewer of At Large, and chatted with him about what makes a great IPA. Here are some of his answers and a look at the IPAs pouring at Saturday’s celebration:
Hazy IPA
Weisweaver: “Brilliant hop aroma. Super soft mouthfeel. More flavor and less astringent bitterness than other regular IPAs. You want it to really coat the tongue.”
Open Hatch: New hazy IPA brewed with Simcoe, Vic Secret and Bravo hops.
Driver Carries No Cash: Another new hazy brewed with loads of Azacca, Vic Secret and Citra hops.
Night Watchman: One more new hazy, this one brewed with Galaxy, Mosaic and Citra hops.
The Chicago Typewriter: This longtime favorite is brewed with Citra, Mosaic and Amarillo hops.
Harbor Haze: Brewed for the New England-themed Bar Harbor restaurant in Seattle, this hazy is brewed with Azacca, Citra and Mosaic hops.
West Coast IPA
Weisweaver: “Clean and crisp compared to a hazy. More citrus than fruity, but a real hop presence.”
Hitting On All 6: Dry hopped with Citra and Mosaic hops, this is one of At Large’s most popular IPAs.
PNW IPA
Weisweaver: “More earthy and resinous hop character. You really want to taste that dankness on the finish.”
Dankster: Brewed with a pair of old favorite Northwest hops, Columbus and Chinook, this beer has a piney and resinous flavor throughout.
Session IPA
Weisweaver: “Not overly bitter. Really drinkable so you can enjoy more than one.”
Bonnie: Aggressively dry-hopped, but at just over 4 percent ABV, eminently drinkable. Featuring Mosaic hops, this might be a lighter IPA, but it’s still full of flavor.
Double IPA
Weisweaver: “I’m not looking for a big bitter bomb. I prefer it to have that super light mouthfeel, pleasant malt backbone and not a lot of alcohol burn. It’s gotta have an intense hop aroma, though.”
In Charge: Kind of a hybrid of a New England and West Coast IPA. Brewed with Simcoe, Citra and Centennial, you’d never guess it finishes at 9.0 percent ABV.
Not in the mood for an IPA? There will be other beers besides IPAs on tap at Saturday’s event, including a Russian imperial stout aged in Heaven Hills bourbon barrels, Empty Suit, a Citra dry-hopped farmhouse ale, and Strong Extra Special Bitter.
Also on this week’s taster tray:
Blue Orchard Bee, Watts Brewing: This American-style bitter blends American ingredients and British brewing techniques to make a sessionable ale. Available on tap at the brewery and at the Bothell Summer Wine, Beer and Spirits Walk.
Berliner Weisse, Double Bluff Brewing: Kettle-soured and served traditionally with raspberry syrup. Available on tap at the brewery.
Wrong Way New England IPA and Astronut Peanut Butter Porter, Lake Stevens Brewing: Wrong Way is a hazy IPA brewed with Azacca and El Dorado hops, giving it notes of tropical tangerine and citrus; Astronut PB Porter is an experimental beer brewed with six pounds of dehydrated peanut butter per barrel. Available on tap at the brewery.
Roberta Scotch Ale, 5 Rights Brewing: The next beer in the brewery’s Z-Nation series, this ale has a bold malt bill with hints of caramel and toffee. It is slightly sweet but has enough hop assertiveness to keep it from being cloying. Available on tap at the brewery.
Manuscript, Skookum Brewery: Brewed with a ton of spelt and oats — quadruple dry hopped with Galaxy, Simcoe, Mosaic and Rakau hops — this IPA has both tropical and pine resin aromas. Available on tap at the brewery.
DRINK THIS
Driver Carries No Cash
At Large Brewing, Everett
Style: Hazy IPA
Available: On tap at the brewery
From the brewery: New England IPA brewed with Vic Secret, Citra and Azacca hops.
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