An IPA Showdown at Volo: April 5th

Volo will once again be turing their establishment into hop heaven as Ralph Morana has announced his plans for a three round IPA Cask Challenge, the first taking place on Sunday April 5th.

18 pins of cask conditioned IPA, with some Pale Ale's, will be going to battle, head-to-head in a single elimination tournament on the first day of Volo's challenge, competing against other local breweries for bragging rights.  "There are going to be a couple of new IPA's for people to sample here for the first time," stated Morana recently over a couple of fresh cask conditioned pints of Sgt. Major's IPA. "Magnotta and Cool will be sending some IPA that will be tapped for the first time, and I imagine they will have a strong showing."

Individuals will sample from the many pins, score the beers they taste, and the winning beers will move on to the next round, which will take place on an undetermined date in May. People will know what beers they are sampling, but there will also be an eight member judging panel tasting all the beers blindly in order to score without any bias. The eight member judging panel will consist of brewers, beer writers, a member of Beer Advocate, one member of Ratebeer, and certified beer judges.

The doors to the event open at 12pm and the capacity will be capped at 100 (this includes the patio, so prepare to bring a jacket). There will be no admission fee, but tickets for food and samples will be available for purchase.  

Sample sizes will be sold in 1/4 pint or 1/2 pint sizes, though the prices have yet to be determined.

Come early, stay late, and score accordingly. The challenge runs until 6pm.

Full List of Beers:

DURHAM HOP HEAD IPA

GRAND RIVER CURMUDGEON IPA

MILL ST. TANKHOUSE PA

DURHAM HOP ADDICT IPA

GRAND RIVER PLOWMAN'S ALE 

SCOTCH IRISH SGT. MAJOR IPA

CHURCH-KEY WEST COAST PA

PUBLICAN HOUSE SQUARE NAIL PA

GRANITE HOPPING MAD PA

MILL ST. IPA  

BLACK OAK PA

GREAT LAKES SUPERIOR IPA

CAMERON’S AUBURN ALE

F&M MACLEAN'S PA

NEUSTADT DOUBLE FUGGLED PA

MAGNOTTA IPA (Rumored to be different than their True North IPA)

MACLEAN'S COUNTRY ORGANIC IPA 

COOL IPA ( NAME TBA )

**Round two will be tasted blind** Confirmed Tuesday evening.