Great Lakes Brewing Company's Alchemy Hour

If you’re a fan of the India Pale Ale style and live in Northeast Ohio, then you look forward to the beginning of spring for Great Lakes Brewing’s release of the notorious Lake Erie Monster, a hop bomb that unloads a cornucopia of tropical flavors that are bound to wreck your taste buds in the process.

But this year, the beloved Double IPA has been pushed back to later in the season to make room for the debut of the brewery’s latest creation – Alchemy Hour. The typical double or imperial India Pale Ale style delivers a more intense hop presence and bitterness than the traditional IPA.  

While Ohioans have grown to love Great Lakes’ contribution to the East Coast style of India Pale Ales, which typically taste more malty than their West Coast allies, brewmaster Luke Purcell decided to give a nod to the style more prominent in California this time out.

West Coast surfers have coined the term “Alchemy Hour” as that perfect time of the day when everything is just right, and they could ride those waves for a lifetime. Great Lakes’ latest contribution pays tribute to all those Northeast Ohio locals who brave the winter waves of Lake Erie to experience that very same feeling of gloriousness on our near-freezing waters.

Alchemy Hour is a hop-forward Imperial IPA, clocking in at 9.4 percent, with a balanced blend of Mosaic, Nugget and Cascade hops that gives the beer more of a West Coast taste than the average Great Lakes’ offering of the style.

Alchemy Hour can be found in 4-packs for $9.99 at Acme Fresh Markets, Giant Eagle, Buehler’s Fresh Foods, Heinen’s, West Point Market and other fine craft beer establishments. The beer can also be found on draught at your local craft beer-friendly hangout.