State Champs IPA by American Solera is a fruit forward hazy IPA utilizing Galaxy, Strata and Citra hops. Citrus fruit aroma compliments fresh berries tasting notes, to produce a memorable beer. This article covers a review and relation to Steve Largent as a sports reference.
Technical Details for State Champs IPA
- Beer Name: State Champs
- Beer Style: India Pale Ale
- Brewery: American Solera (Tulsa, OK)
- Brewery website: https://www.americansolera.com
- Purchased: The Cellar in Norman, OK
- Tasted: 6/9/22
- Glass Used: Gate Keeper Hazy IPA Craft Beer Glass 15 ounces
State Champs IPA Scoring Categories
Scoring Categories:
- Can Design: nice high school football state championship ring from Friday Night Lights
- Appearance: thick yellow haze 5/6
- Aroma: citrus fruit salad and mango notes up front, sweet orange notes from middle to finish 22/24
- Flavor: peach and grapefruit juice yield to fresh berries salad, orange peel middle with some lingering lychee fruit, quite refreshing back end despite harsh orange pith finishing note 36/40
- Mouthfeel: lite, refreshing, creamy aftertaste, not chewy at all 7/10
- Overall Impression: citrus and peach notes are prevalent due to the busy hop profile, surprisingly lite flavor and mouthfeel for 7.0% ABV, could drink a ton of these no matter what time of year 17/20
- Total Score: 87/100
- Crushable IPA that is tasty before, during and after football season
Brewery Background
American Solera is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and opened in 2016. Founded by the husband and wife team of Chase and Erica Healy. Brewery is located in a 100 year old historically refurbished warehouse at 1702 East 6th Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74104. Miller-Tippens Construction did an excellent job remodeling and it includes a stylish open fermentation room.
Didn’t take long for American Solera to get industry recognition by being named best new brewery in the United States by Rate Beer in 2016. Produced one of the top twenty beers for 2020 chosen by Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine, Coolship Roadtrip. Highly rated lambic ale that was a collaboration with Jester King Brewery (Austin, Texas).
American Solera focuses on brewing foeder aged ales, hazy pales ales and hazy IPAs. Psychedelic can art is used to advertise juicy hazy IPAs that are trending in the southwest USA states. Their double dry hopped (DDH) IPAs are deceptively smooth for beers with 8.0%+ ABV. This brewery’s flagship beers are Slap IPA, Pals Pale Ale and Terpy IPA. Most batches are distributed using four packs of twelve ounce cans or sixteen ounce cans. Current taplist includes pilsner, farmhouse ale, imperial gose, hazy IPA, west coast IPA, hazy DIPA, sour IPA, Belgian-style strong dark ale, double cream imperial stout, barrel aged imperial stout and hard seltzer.
American Solera opened a second taproom in late November 2022, at The Icehouse Project in Edmonds, OK. Cool and trendy space that is a close replica to the original brewery in Tulsa, OK. If any beer geeks head to the Edmond taproom, try the excellent tacos at The Fried Taco and the unique Detroit style pizza slices at Woodward Pizza.
State Champs IPA Background
American Solera has brewed one batch of State Champs IPA as of April 2023:
- State Champs IPA- 7.0% ABV, Untappd rating 3.99
- All hazy IPAs brewed by American Solera currently listed on Untappd have an average rating of 4.03/5.00
American Solera has their hazy IPA recipes figured out due to the user reviews currently listed on Untappd. Based on how consistent their IPA batches have been to date, I’ll rush out to purchase and sample as many as possible iterations released during the remainder of 2023. Only question is do I start drunk dialing my close friends to reminisce about funny high school and random sports stories? Time will tell and the journey will be memorable.
Chase Healey does a great job describing new beer releases and tasting notes with several YouTube clips produced by What the Ale.
Sports Comparison for this Libation
Steve Largent, Pro Football Hall of Fame WR for the Seattle Seahawks. Also served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Oklahoma’s 1st district from 1994-2002. Born in Tulsa, OK in 1958 and played high school football at Putman City from 1968-1971. Matriculated at the University of Tulsa from 1972-1975. Had two monster statistical seasons in 1974 (884 receiving yards, 14 TDs) and in 1975 (1000 receiving yards, 14 TDs). Slid to the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft and was chosen by the Houston Oilers. After having a lackluster preseason, the Oilers traded Largent to the expansion Seahawks and the rest is NFL receiving history.
NFL Career Highlights
Had a stellar fourteen year pro career with 819 receptions, 13,089 receiving yards and 100 TDs. Elected into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1995 during his first year of eligibility. Seattle retired his #80 jersey in 1992, and Tulsa followed suit in 2008 with his #83 jersey. Ran technical routes to perfection while playing with an old school place-kicker type face mask. Most football fans remember when Largent got a concussion and lost two teeth on a vicious hit by safety Mike Harden early in the 1988 season. True to his hard working roots, Largent got the last laugh fourteen weeks later against Harden and football karma had been preserved.
Transitioning Into Retirement
Football players are typically remembered for their last game, career statistics, and number of championships they won. Largent had a lousy last game on 12/23/89 against the Redskins, with two receptions for 41 yards in a 29-0 loss. His career receiving statistics led the NFL until 1992, when a guy named Jerry Rice rewrote all of the record books. Largent can’t complain due to Rice being the GOAT at the WR position. Seattle was a good but not great playoff team during Largent’s career, except for a surprise run to the AFC Championship game at the end of the 1983 season.
Beautiful City of Tulsa
Much like Friday Night Lights, Largent’s high school career wasn’t highlighted with a state football championship. But Putman City learned how to win after Largent moved onto the University of Tulsa, winning state titles in 1974, 1975 and 1977. How many stories are floating around the artistic city of Tulsa about Largent’s high school playing days? This blogger would love to hear all of them while sitting at either American Solera location, wearing my #80 Seattle Seahawks road jersey from 1985 and having a few tasty beers at the same time.
Want to find this beer near you? Check out this article that tells you how to locate great beer near you.
Cheers and keep it classy everyday!
