Do you drink IPAs before or after stouts in a session?

I would drink the stout first so I can savor it before nailing my taste buds with bitterness.

 

I also vote after.

 

Most of the time before.

 

IPAs are my "settle in" beers that I have in a mandatory fashion each time I have more than one or two. What comes next (stout, barley wine, etc.,.) is based on what kind of IPAs or DIPAs I had and how much tolerance I depleted, but I usually don't suffer much palate fatigue. I do drink a lot of water though, plus whatever food I'm eating is probably scrubbing off hop damage, I would think. Being said, if I am indeed looking forward to a real big taste explosion non-IPA, I may tune my pre-beer lineup accordingly. Like nothing massive.

 

90% of the time it's the IPA or DIPA first then to a stout for the nightcap. I will start with a stout first rarely and when I do it's a blend or Black & Tan with a IPA/DIPA

 

I usually do stouts first, but more and more I try to stick to more similar styles in a session.

 

I go with an IPA first, because you can always cleanse your palette (bland British biscuits are the best!), and plus you can warm up the stout while enjoying the IPA.

Though agreed with Nick, I rarely mix them in a session unless I'm trying a flight at a new brewery.

 

I actually like to start out with IPA's and move on to the roasty stouts... However, brown ales, hefe's, lagers, etc... I like to start with those.

 

Depends on the bitterness of the stout but typically I do IPA's after everything. It's hard for me to pick up any subtleties of a beer after it's been "napalmed" with the bitterness of most of today's IPAs.

 

Always after

 

This post has been eye-opening for me. Many moons ago in my pre-craft college days I would occasionally drink a black and tan of Guinness topped with a macro-ale. Fast-forward through my “wine years” to about 8 years ago when I got into craft. I’m primary PA/IPA/IIPA but enjoy an occasional big stout now and then when the weather gets cold. I don't mix in the same session and generally don't even mix black ipas with regular ipas. I never thought of creating a black and tan with craft until this post. A big chewy stout paired with a crisp IPA. Does this work? I think I am going to try it as soon as tonight.

 

Usually after...unless I'm saving the stout for a nightcap

 

Until a week and half ago I old have said no idea or which ever I got my hands on first. But then that day I had an IPA then a stout and wow the stout was sweeter and smoother after the IPA.

So gotta go with IPA first as it, to me, made the stout even better. But I won't say this is the always method as I will prob still mix it up most of the time.

 

The IPA was beer one and the Stout was beer two and the last one. And just for the record I do not drink to get drunk.

 

For me stouts are always first.

 

I go with the IPA's first, unless it's a stout that I've never tried before. I want to make sure my taste buds are functioning correctly for first time beers.

 

I am probably only at 80%. It is usually that I want something refreshing first. I would think for taste reasons I should do it the other way around.

 

Be careful that one of the two isn't completely overpowering. I tried to make a Black and Tan with a Bell's Expedition and a FFF Gumballhead once. It was a waste of a Gumball. Expedition is thick like syrup and has extremely intense/complex flavor (and delicious in its own right). The sessionable GBH was completely lost in the mix, in my opinion. Maybe two beers that are similar in strength, might yield better results.