Odell's Mountain Standard is a Black IPA

I just received the press release for Odell's Mountain Standard Black IPA. I've never had the beer so I'm excited to try it. What I really wanted to talk about briefly though, is this never-ending discussion of whether we call a beer a Black IPA or a Cascadian Dark Ale (CDA). CDA is a term that many people in the Pacific NW are attempting to use in branding the style of these beers because, among many reasons, the hops used in these types of beers come from Cascadia, the Pacific NW. Many people outside the area don't want it called that. The distinction in the terms Black IPA and CDA are important in the beer geek world for more reasons than that but I want to share my opinion.

Mountain Standard is indeed a Black IPA, not a CDA. The press release says "Named for the time zone in which the brewery resides, Mountain Standard Double Black IPA features hops grown on Colorado’s western slope." Not only is Odell playing off the geographical debate that's taking place by naming their beer after our time zone, but they've specifically used hops from this time zone, not from the Pacific NW.

He Said/She Said: Twisted Pine's Hoppy Knight Beer Review

Welcome to the first He Said/She Said Beer Review. The goals of He Said/She said are to have a beer reviewed by both a male and a female. For the first few, I may be reviewing them with family or friends, but I hope eventually to have local beer people doing the He Said/She Said reviews. Occasionally we'll have someone who doesn't drink a lot of craft beer, sometimes we'll have someone who only buys craft beer, and sometimes we'll have major beer nerds. It will hopefully be a good mix of different ideas. I hope you enjoy the format, and if you want to do a review, please get in touch.

Tonight's Beer:
For tonight's review we are tasting Twisted Pine's Hoppy Knight, classified as a Black IPA, or a Cascadian Dark Ale, if they used Pacific NW hops. Twisted Pine is located in Boulder, CO and their beer should be available in Colorado Springs at Coaltrain's or at Spring's Liquor Outlet. These both should carry Twisted Pine beers, so maybe try calling them to see if they've got Hoppy Knight.

SHE:
For tonight, "She" is Stephanie, living in Colorado Springs. She does not consider herself a beer nerd at all. She loves wine, and when she drinks beer she prefers Lagers, Hefs, Blonde's,