IPAs, meh...but DIPAs, yeah!

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by ESHBG, Aug 12, 2015.

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  1. ESHBG

    ESHBG Pooh-Bah (2,099) Jul 30, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I've shared my beer journey over the many years now in a few threads but to give some background, I wasn't a fan of hoppy beers at first but over time and with much experimentation, grew to enjoy them; I eventually found some IPAs I enjoyed. When DIPAs started popping up everywhere I never really bothered because I didn't think that they would be for me because I assumed they would be even bigger IPAs and would just be more of what I didn't find enjoyable about IPAs and what took me so long to come around to. But I finally got around to trying one and...wait a minute, I actually like this a lot. Then I tried another and another and another...I was sold. Maybe this isn't as big of a stretch as I am thinking it would be because I had liked malty beers from the gate (and still do today) and DIPAs have a lot of malt, but there is no denying the big hop presence in a good DIPA either.

    So flash forward to more recently and I am finding that when I am in the mood for something hoppy, a solid DIPA is more enjoyable than an IPA to me to the point where I am passing on IPAs and reaching straight for the DIPAs. Can it be possible for one to not really like IPAs all that much but love DIPAs?!? How about you?
     
    #1 ESHBG, Aug 12, 2015
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  2. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I guess anything is possible. Personally I'm the other way in that I prefer (assuming we're talking about great examples of each) APA>IPA>DIPA. And I would also say I prefer balance. For me a lot of DIPAs aren't so much balanced as they are overly hoppy, boozy and sweet. I don't think I've had a DIPA in double digit ABV that I truly love. My favourites tend to be around 8% ABV and almost interchangeable with a regular IPA
     
    #2 rozzom, Aug 12, 2015
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  3. breadwinner

    breadwinner Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

    Definitely possible, particularly if you enjoy a little more malt/sweetness in your hoppy beers, like you noted. Ironically, I've been headed the other direction lately, finding most DIPAs just too big, boozy, and sweet for my liking. Give me a nice, dry, bitter IPA, though, and I'm a happy man.

    Either way, glad you're finding stuff you like. Beer offers such amazing variety of style and experience -- you never know what you might find yourself enjoying!

    (Also, @rollom can speak for me henceforth. Nailed it.)
     
    #3 breadwinner, Aug 12, 2015
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  4. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Haha get out of my head!
     
    #4 rozzom, Aug 12, 2015
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  5. Sweatshirt

    Sweatshirt Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2014 New Hampshire

    You like a sweetness with your hops over other options. Nothing wrong with it.
     
    #5 Sweatshirt, Aug 12, 2015
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  6. WiscoTerr

    WiscoTerr Initiate (0) Feb 20, 2014 Colorado

    I'm also moving away from DIPAs. Too heavy and sweet now. There are still a few I enjoy, especially Sucks!, but I like APAs and IPAs much more now.
     
    #6 WiscoTerr, Aug 12, 2015
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  7. ESHBG

    ESHBG Pooh-Bah (2,099) Jul 30, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    That is something important to mention and the line between IPA and DIPA does tend to blur at times. And this goes to show how different palates can be, as I find most DIPAs to be more balanced from a hops/malt perspective than IPAs. But you're certainly right, though, DIPAs are just bigger beers all the way around.

    I love a good balanced APA too.

    Absolutely! :slight_smile: That's interesting and to throw another curve ball I am and have always been a huge fan of Pilsners, which as a style tend to be on the drier side, generally speaking.

    For whatever reason with me, IPAs tend to hit a not so pleasant note and I have tried many now and I won't go so far to say as I don't enjoy them, but I can usually have one and be content. Sure I have found some I liked and revisit and at times have more than just one of, but most end up being just "meh" to me.
     
    #7 ESHBG, Aug 12, 2015
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  8. ESHBG

    ESHBG Pooh-Bah (2,099) Jul 30, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    That's interesting, I'm not a big fan of Sucks now and could barely finish a fresh 6-pack recently. I love other Lagunitas beers, though (a fan of Lil Sumpin' Sumpin' and had Extra recently, loved it) so it's definitely not just a Lagunitas thing (I feel that their beers tend to taste very similar).
     
    #8 ESHBG, Aug 12, 2015
  9. SanFranJake

    SanFranJake Initiate (0) Nov 2, 2012 California

    Try this beer and let me know if you change your mind. I was never "meh" on pale ales, but this renewed my faith
    [​IMG]
     
    #9 SanFranJake, Aug 12, 2015
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  10. ONovoMexicano

    ONovoMexicano Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2012 New Mexico

    I'm with these gentleman. I'm looking for light and refreshing with tons of fruit flavor, and not so much malt. At least for IPAs.
     
    #10 ONovoMexicano, Aug 12, 2015
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  11. ecpho

    ecpho Savant (1,183) Mar 28, 2011 New York

    I won't drink DIPAs much over 8% anymore, I find most IIPA to be cloying and sweet. I'd rather have a Belgian or a barlywine at the high ABVs. But I'm more likely to be drinking a kolsch, porter or steam these days anyway.
     
    #11 ecpho, Aug 12, 2015
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  12. CantankerousCaveBear

    CantankerousCaveBear Initiate (0) Jul 26, 2015 Canada (ON)

    Right now, I definitely prefer IIPAs. They've developed into one of my favorite styles, quite honestly.
    I like the sheer robustness nature of the style, I don't mind alcohol presence/astringency, viscous mouthfeel, or strong malt character. It is a style that delivers on multiple levels, you'll notice a lot of North American beer geeks are extremely fond of this approach if you peruse random forums, online magazines, youtube reviews and all beer review sites. It's something the 'New World' can be proud of. Ultimately, it was only natural for me to gravitate towards IIPAs, because I love malt heavy beers, and also really appreciate sweeter/fruity/juicy IPAs.
     
    #12 CantankerousCaveBear, Aug 12, 2015
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  13. surfcaster

    surfcaster Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2013 North Carolina
    Trader

    My sweet spot is 6-8%--whatever you want to call it.
     
    #13 surfcaster, Aug 12, 2015
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  14. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Mine as well- pretty much across the board, too. I'll take a Foreign style stout over an Imperial any day of the week, for example- too bad there aren't as many to choose from...
     
    #14 TongoRad, Aug 12, 2015
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  15. Kadonny

    Kadonny Pooh-Bah (2,616) Sep 5, 2007 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I went through the phase you are going through right now. More hops, more malt, bigger beers I craved. It is a phase and eventually you will settle down after your plate gets wrecked for a few months and come to enjoy and appreciate all types of hoppy beers, be it pale ale, IPA, DIPA or whatever. It's the hops cycle of love.

    PS. Grunion is freaking fantastic.
     
    #15 Kadonny, Aug 12, 2015
  16. ecpho

    ecpho Savant (1,183) Mar 28, 2011 New York

    I would drink FES all the time if good ones were available. Not "extreme" enough for American craft consumers?
     
    #16 ecpho, Aug 12, 2015
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  17. LeeEvolved

    LeeEvolved Initiate (0) Oct 12, 2010 Virginia

    I've had several meh IPAs and meh DIPAs, only to find a session IPA that rocks my socks. Sometimes I feel like they're like Pokemon- gotta try 'em all...
     
    #17 LeeEvolved, Aug 12, 2015
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  18. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thankfully I have easy access to Pike XXXXX and Guinness FES at Total Wine to satisfy the craving.
     
    #18 TongoRad, Aug 12, 2015
  19. Greywulfken

    Greywulfken Grand Pooh-Bah (5,815) Aug 25, 2010 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I definitely have IPA and DIPA phases, but never so much where one is ruled out from consideration completely - it often depends on what's around that freshest.
     
    #19 Greywulfken, Aug 12, 2015
  20. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    @ESHBG.

    My palate is different from yours. I prefer IPAs and APAs vs. DIPAs as a general rule since more often than not DIPAs are too cloying sweet for me. Having stated that there are some DIPAs that I enjoy drinking since they are atypical and not too cloying: Pliny the Elder, DirtWolf, Heady Topper.

    The great thing about the current craft beer movement is that there are lots of variety to service varying palates.

    Cheers!
     
    #20 JackHorzempa, Aug 12, 2015
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