April marks eight years of open doors and flowing taps at The Propagator, as well as the release of our eighth anniversary Double IPA, Gen-8.
This 8.8% ABV modern West Coast IPA interpretation wouldn’t be possible without Gen-1, the first beer developed at The Propagator. Ever since we brewed that first batch, each successive release has taken on a life of its own, building upon the original recipe with our latest creative ideas and R&D discoveries.
Want the short on all things Gen-8? Just know that it’s delicious, it’s in our fridges, and it should be in your fridge too. In fact, you can shop it now at our Buellton, Paso Robles, and, of course, Venice Beach locations.
With that, let’s learn more about this incredible beer.
True to form, Gen-8 is a Double IPA. Hopped with Simcoe, Mosaic, Mosaic Incognito, 586, 586 Cryo, and Freestyle Riwaka Hop Kief with a base of Idaho Pilsner malt, this beer is hugely aromatic and absolutely delicious. When poured it gives off notes of Kiwi, orange, lime, and strawberry. When sipped it gives off an initial moderate bitterness followed by a wave of cold, liquid gold perfection.
And it’s not a Propagator collaboration without another brewery helping us out. We always like to team up with some of our favorite, local South Bay and greater Los Angeles breweries for these special releases, and we couldn’t have asked for a better team to work alongside than the ISM Brewing crew in Long Beach.
Founded by brewer Ian McCall last year, ISM Brewing steadies itself on three principles: family, friends, and fresh beer. Ian previously was the head brewer at Riip Beer Company in Huntington Beach, California, where he led his skilled team to win various brewing awards, including GABF, the US Beer Open, and more. So, if you weren’t sold on those three pillars alone like we were, then you can definitely get behind those sorts of industry nods.
We approached Ian and his ISM brew crew with the challenge of brewing a massively hoppy double IPA and did they ever help us come through with a certified winner. We started with a base of Idaho-grown pilsner malt from Great Western, then added a pinch of wheat and some dextrose to keep the body lean and dry out the finish. Simcoe hops in the kettle provide a firm, but balanced and smooth bitterness, while Mosaic and Mosaic Inconito in the whirlpool lay down tropical and berry notes.
Dry hopping three times with Mosaic, Columbus Cryo, 586, 586 Cryo, and Freestyle Riwaka Hop Kief layers on more fruity and dank flavors of Kiwi, orange, lime, and strawberry. Fermentation with our house yeast accentuates the tropical notes in the hops and makes this way too balanced and drinkable for 8.8% ABV.
It’s available now at all our locations in both four-packs and draft pours. Come on by and try it today.