Labor Day - The Dog Days of the IPA

Ahh, Labor Day again. As the summer rolls into fall, it's the time of year to put away our summer shorts, bathing suits, whites and over-sized sunglasses for another year. Of course in the beer world the holiday serves to ring in the latest seasonal brews. Already Oktoberfest seasonals, ciders, and the obligatory pumpkin-ales are popping up on taplists everywhere (please, may this blog never mention Sam Smith's Banana-Bread Ale again).

This is also the time of year when your typical alcohol content starts to rise and before you know it we'll be awash in the latest Strong Ales, Belgian Dubbles/Trippels, and, my personal favorites, Barleywines. As some of the summer's IPAs will be disappearing from shelves (and the fall's Double IPAs are appearing) I think I should take some time to mention the IPAs that I've been drinking lately and the future of the style as I see it. Over the weekend I will try and update this blog on what's been in my glass over the few weeks in the sun, bottoms up!