Slate: Against Hoppy Beer

Actually, I would have never seen such an interesting stupid bit of journalism had it not been posted. This is a bar to not fall below.

 

I've seen far worse than this...

 

I liked the point she raised about an IBU ceiling, taste-wise. It's a bit like those super HD televisions that have greater resolution than the human eye can detect.

 

Got a good laugh at the people insinuating that young people or people new to craft beer are the people who obsess the most over hops. Absolute shit right there.

 

I agree here. I'm 44 years of age and drank all kinds of porters, stouts, lagers, and ales over the last 25+ years and I was initially somewhat put-off by the huge rush toward hop-forward beers over the last decade. Just too bitter were some of them I always thought..why are they doing that?

But, I took into consideration that these hoppy beers must be getting soooo popular for a reason and so I kept trying different varieties of them with differing personal results. And one day, or week, or month things just clicked for myself and the American Craft IPA/DIPA/APA variety became my favorite styles, and have been for some time now.

I still love my porters and stouts, but these hoppy styles are definitely something to rave about and they'll be around in abundance forever.

 

This same idea could have been written without the implied vitriol and been a useful article.

For example, there are some places where the only non-mainstream options are IPAs. I would like other options especially since these are the ones my hophead friends always want to go to.

But don't take the hops off the menu, just add more variety to it. And don't make obnoxious claims like everybody who disagrees with you is just trying to sound cool.

 

My wife has 2 uncles who love craft beer, one is 57 and one is 40...and they are hop heads right along with me. One of them was a budweiser only guy for about 30 years, now he really prefers hoppy beers.

I love most styles of beer...but my mouth waters when I crave a hoppy beer. It's not for everyone, but it's my preference and I certainly don't appreciate the people who happen to not enjoy the trend themselves trying to tell me that I like IPA's the best because my palate isn't "mature" enough to appreciate the less hoppy beers and complaining as if there's nothing else of any quality being brewed out there besides hoppy beers.

 

True there. I'll start a blog, "Bad Beer Writing Compendium", to keep us all honest!

 

Opinions are like beer writers.

 

Is that because everyone has one? Cheers!

 

I think most new better drinkers are looking for the next hop fix. They came from the land of the blah, and realized beer can have flavor and in most cases, that flavor is hops. Do not see it changing.

 

I've learned one thing from this thread, and that is that I really want a juicy hoppy beer right now.

 

For Bud light drinkers there is, inherently, always hope,mostly.We all started somewhere. But for me that is the extent of my concern for them.As a big hop lover as a big hop fan, after nearly 30 years of sampling craft beer, any and all styles, ie; not young, while I appreciate many, I still aim to discover the ultimate hop bomb that yes' many brewers shoot for but, too few reach the mark. I for one encourage all brewers to perservere to hit. Keep hop alive!

 

The brewers that complain about IPA's being a fad are those who don't make a decent IPA. The beer drinkers that complain are just not IPA fans. And i don't buy the IBU argument about not being able to taste anything over a certain level. Stone hops the sh*t out of "Enjoy By" and i can taste it. PTY also has a ton of hop additions and it's sublime. Ditto Sucks and Hopslam. My taste buds are not lying to me.

 

Exactly what I thought. And he seems to be a bit behind the times (you could make the same argument for sours/wild ales being the "trend') but that's just me. I enjoy a wide variety of beer. In one session I usually try three or so completely different styles. I like things eclectic, and that's why I enjoy beer so much. There's so much out there. Some of it's good, some not so good, but the thrill of the hunt is the best.

I also found it kind of sad they were in Portland, and planned on drinking one type of beer all night. Sounds like they probably just wanted to go out and get drunk.

 

Didn't really like flying dog brews,....actually sounds kinda funky.

 

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/slate-against-hoppy-beer.89868/

old news.

 

Im pretty sure we discussed this article last May.

 

I unfortunately think this writer needs to find a new line of work or look more into the culture he writes about. How about looking at bitterness vs the type of hop utilization that has come about and the evolution in the taste of beer it has brought about. Are we arguing that the different use of hops over time, thus evolving craft beer is itself ruining beer or that his friend is a closet bud drinker that makes home made rice beer?

 

I think the problem is the article says absolutely nothing. This is about 400 words of someone telling us that everything is actually something and that he has said nothing by covering everything.... yeah waste of time lol