Rebel IPA

It's good. The aroma is very piney and just plain strong. You can drink it from the bottle and still get plenty. They dry hopped it like Torpedo. It's flavorful and good, never harsh. Good hop linger after a glass is gone. The issue is balance. Torpedo is like drinking a piney meadow, if that were possible. The strong piney hop aroma in Torpedo is matched on the palate, creating an experience that is unified. Torpedo is also a very strong experience and one is enough, them maybe a Nooner. Nooner is sublime after Torpedo. Rebel instead of forcing switching off to keep the palate from being numbed, softened the hit to the palate compared to the strong pine aroma. As a result, Rebel seems a little bit out of synch. In a larger sense, Sam is doing a softer Sierra here. We need the Boston IPA. Latitude 48, dry-hopped for awesome aroma, might be it. I'm not sure. I never tried 48 because Latitude 48 IPA sounds like a math problem. My hope is Sam will realize they need to be the Boston IPA company and find their way to Boston IPA as good as Boston Lager.

Agree with Dafozz. This has very good flavor but it's a little tame. Rebel Rouser is more my cup of tea. I haven't had the Rebel Rider yet, will give that a shot.

Middle of the road for Sam's Rebel Series. As west coast IPA's go, more of an intro for the first time IPA drinker. Step it up to the Rouser (Double IPA) for more intense hoppiness or ease on back with the Rider for an all day Session. All three are nice IPA's but I prefer the Rouser.