I like press releases. They give me a strange sense that someone somewhere out there has thought about this blog for the seven seconds it takes to add me to their email circulation list. It's the little things that give joy, you know.

Well, this news has made me think that I may try to make a stop in around Syracuse on the way back from my Maine beer run this weekend to see if I can snab the new offering from one of my favorite upstate brewers. The Double IPA from The Ithaca Beer Company has local hops from the finger lakes region of New York state and harkens...harkens I say...to an earlier era:

The Ithaca Beer Company, using hops specially developed by Pedersen Farms of Seneca Castle, New York, will release its Double IPA style beer this month with hopes of resurrecting the dormant hops growing industry of New York. One Hundred years ago 90% of hops used in domestic beer production came out of our local counties, but Prohibition and a plant fungus ruined hop growth in the region. Ithaca Beer owner Dan Mitchell is well versed on New York’s brewing history and is passionate about rejuvenating hop growth in the state. "The Double IPA offers the perfect way of showcasing the potential of New York State hop farming."

The Double IPA has captured the attention of local residents for the past three years and will be sold in four packs for the first time this year. The beer not only captures the spirit of the Fingerlakes but is also an exceptional offering that the entire state can be proud of. India Pale Ale (IPA) is a style of beer renowned for it's hop character and modern brewers have experimented with the potency of this style, creating "Double” IPAs. Ithaca Beer Head Brewer, Jeff Conuel has crafted an exceptional IPA that "Despite its high potency, has exceptional character without overpowering the palate." The beer is a potent 10% alcohol and should be consumed with care.