I was so impressed with Liftbridge’s Juice-Z that I went out and grabbed a variety pack to try a few more of their beers. Included in that pack is today’s duel entry, their Hop Dish IPA. Up against it, I went back to a classic with Sierra Nevada’s Hop Bullet. These are the types of pairings I really enjoy, a relatively new brewer from the Midwest up against an experienced veteran from the West coast. I’ve been a Sierra Nevada fan for a couple decades now, and Liftbridge has only recently showed up on my radar. So comparing the two in a fun, one-on-one battle presents an excellent way to experience the beer. Let’s see how it goes.
HopDuel Survey
| Better label | Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet |
| Better aroma | Liftbridge Hop Dish |
| Better taste | Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet |
| Better finish | Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet |
| Winner | Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet |
Tell us about it
Sierra Nevada’s Hop Bullet pours a clear lemon/gold color with a solid, long lasting foaming head. Liftbridge’s Hop Dish is the darker of the two, not quite amber, but approaching it. The lacing was fantastic on both beers, and each had a nice hoppy citrus aroma. I gave the win there to the Hop Dish because it was a tad more powerful, sort of like a bigger brother.
From there, the Hop Bullet starts to separate itself. It’s surprisingly drinkable for a Double IPA. According to their website, “with Hop Bullet, we’re using a new technique, hitting the beer with a one-two punch of Magnum hops and lupulin dust—pure, concentrated hop flavor—directly into the tank to emphasize the intense pine and citrus flavors of classic West Coast hops.” This combination leads to a fantastic blend of flavors that has a very nice, lingering finish.
Alternatively, the Hop Dish was a smooth IPA, nothing unexpected with the taste, just a nice balance of ingredients. This isn’t meant as a criticism, since many believe an IPA should taste like an IPA, and Hop Dish certainly nails that. I’d recommend trying both of these and deciding for yourself which one you like more!
