Feelings on IPAs

The one U.S. "craft" style I craved while living in Germany was the citrusy-fruity IPA. U.S. craft styles like the citrusy-fruity koelsch, citrusy-fruity Munich Helles, citrusy-fruity Czech Pils, and citrusy-fruity Wheat/Weizen, on the other hand, I could do without for the rest of my days.

 

I've been feeling the same a little bit myself. I've really be gravitating towards a more tropical Citra and Galaxy IPA. Sometimes when I drink a run of the mill IPA it just tastes like "regular" beer. I'm starting to look for something more punchy and fruity that has a nice sweet malt.

I drank a Surly Overrated last night and although it is a good beer, it just left a lot to be desired for my palate. I guess as time goes on tastes and palates change and you want more. I'm starting to get into Sours and Brett lately although minimal. Still seeing what my palate likes and doesn't like. Plus summer is here pretty much so a nice Pils or the right citrusy IPA will be heavily consumed.

This is a nice 3 day weekend coming up so all of my heavy hitters and hard to finds are a out to get destroyed. Stoked!!!

 

I've been feeling the same way, I don't think its my pallet as much as the season. Now that its hitting temperatures in the 80s and 90s I dont want a huge DIPA, its just way to heavy. Its the season of Lagers, Pales, and Berliners for me.

 

only read OP, but

1) undercover shutdown,

2) cascazilla if it's still any good,

3) other lagunitas beers that are darker,

4) arrogant bastard,

5) got to be lots of others. i don't know, berkshire brewing company beers? double jack. i don't know. i am delirious with sickness right now.

 

I found Surly Overrated kinda dull, much prefer Furious with it's much maltier profile.

I find myself liking maltier IPA's the most. HopDevil is a personal favorite of mine. Has a bit of caramel malt flavor to go with the hops and the bitterness. I find Two Hearted to have an interesting malt flavor to it as well. Love Nugget Nectar.

 

Funny that you brought this up, I said the same thing with my beer-drinking group. Basically by buddies told me that it's time I graduate from IPAs and join the world of stouts. Funny thing is I haven't had a stout I like yet. Maybe the Dark Lord Vanilla would change my mind. Somehow I doubt it.

 

Two words if you like IPAs and are looking for a stout to enjoy. Storm King.

 

Try some APA.

 

how do you heat it up?

 

???

 

First - everybody is no doubt entitled to drink what pleases them so let's just get that out of the way and dispense with ensuing nonsense. It's a discussion, so other points of view can be, well, discussed...

Does anybody else read these threads and start linking up the common ideas? Just over the past couple of weeks, this sort of idea has surfaced a few times. More or less it is the when is enough too much concept. Could even say the Jim Koch article that drew such ire is in the same category if you remove the perceived bashing of the style and picking on a specific icon. I like the style in general, but do fell it gets overdone and a bit monotonous.

While exploring the extremes is fun, I believe (meaning "for me") it gets, well, pretty much boring. I haven't had the true icons of the category - closest is Ruination. I like Ruination - it was a revelation - but I don't want to drink it all the time. As good as I think it is, it becomes more or less monotone after a while. If the technical limitation for IBU as a relative/nominal measurement of bitterness is around 80 - 100 based on alpha-acid solubility, where do you go from there - there's no more "up", is there? Then the taste threshold maximum (the point where more doesn't chance the taste perception) is reportedly 60 to 90 IBU or so, what good is "more"? Wouldn't you then need to go back and play with blending varieties, how they are added, when they are added, etc. to start exploring some new but more subtle flavor territory? There's still plenty of leeway for playing around at the maximum edge, but I don't think getting smashed in the mouth with a hops sledgehammer is the only way to enjoy flavors.

OP - you are from Massachusetts. By your hads and reviews, looks like you haven't tried Hoponious Union yet? Seems to me that has a great malt character and a fantastic citrus profile/fresh grapefruit profile with balanced bitterness and resin characteristics. Yes - it is a lager, but it sure is tasty.

Disclaimer: the posting above is loaded with personal opinion. Any resemblance to reality, either living or dead, may be purely coincidental. Poster is returning to flame-proof bunker.

 

The 3 you mention are all great, especially Nugget Nectar, love that beer. Abrasive and Furious are Surly's standouts although I have yet to have any of their darker, maltier beers. Trying to find some Darkness or Pentagram.

 

I may not have been totally clear, in my previous post. Room temp, (normally 68-72 degrees) is perfectly fine for many ales. Slightly chilled is alright, too. You actually "get" more flavor from many beers when they're not frozen. I didn't mean you had to nuke 'em in a microwave.

 

I don't think that's a gender thing at all. I feel the same way.

 

As a semi retired 420 lover, I'll never get sick of hops and IPAs. Gateway into sours? I'll agree to an extent but give me well made IPA all day everyday. The style will never be a "stepping stone" for me.

 

I've always been a huge IPA fan since I first got into craft beer. Then I moved onto the DIPA's and I must say I thoroughly enjoy them, and as has been noted, this is largely due to the abundance of malt that balances out the hops. However, as many in this thread have already said, my beer preference often depends upon my mood, the weather, and even the meal I may be eating. I find myself wandering largely towards Imperial Stouts and Scotch ales lately, both of which I could never have fathomed enjoying at first taste. While I think IPAs will always remain my favorite style, perhaps the greatest thing about craft beer is the variety of delicious styles out there.

 

Is that a joke or did manatees write your response?

 

I enjoy gettin' in touch w/ me feminine self, too.

 

My taste buds love 'em!