Thursday is National IPA Day, a beer holiday started in 2011. Across the Valley, breweries and bars will be showcasing India Pale Ales:
The Hungry Monk in Chandler will test your palate with the IPA Challenge, a blind tasting of six IPAs – Ska Modus Hoperandi, Hangar 24 Columbus, Black Market Rye, Huss That’ll Do, Nebraska, and Upslope IPA — from 6-9 p.m. The bar also will have a half-dozen other highly rated IPAs on tap.
SanTan Brewing in Chandler will have five of its own IPAs – HopShock, Negro Nitron (nitrogenated black IPA), MoonJuice (wheat IPA), KiloHop (imperial IPA), and Negra Luna (Negro Nitron aged in Mexican Moonshine tequila barrels) – on tap.
The Perch in Chandler will debut its newest beer, Mosaic RyePA. It also will be donating $1 from every pint of any IPA sold to Abby West, who is battling breast cancer.
House of Brews in Gilbert will have several Arizona IPAs – San Tan Negro Nitron, Grand Canyon Black Iron, Bad Water, Oak Creek Snake Charmer, Dragoon, Sleepy Dog Tail Chaser, Sonoran Victorian, and SunUp Trooper – on tap for $3 a pint.
Arizona Wilderness Brewing in Gilbert is tapping its Suit-n-tiePA, and will have its Refuge IPA and Lil Guy Rye as well.
The Brass Tap in Mesa is offering  $1.50 off its 40 or so IPAs available on draft or in cans and bottles all day.
Taste of Tops in Tempe will have a tap takeover with 22 IPAs: Alesmith, Black Diamond Rampage, Breckenridge Lucky U, Deschutes Fresh Squeezed, Firestone Walker Double Jack, Founders Double Trouble and Devil Dancer, Goose Island Illinois, Great Divide Rumble, Green Flash Road Warrior and West Coast, Hop City Hopbot, Odell Mercenary, Oskar Blues Gubna, Port Mongo, Santa Fe Black, Sierra Nevada Hoptimum and Flipside, Ska Decadent, Stone Unapologetic and RuinTen, and Uncle Bear’s Mutt’s Nuts.
Fate Brewing in Scottsdale will have its Double Oatmeal IPA (see story) and Fruity Pebbles session IPA on tap, as well as its hop-forward Cedar Pale Ale and Coffee Pale Ale.
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