Is there a Midwest Style IPA?

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by Ohmmygawd, Mar 16, 2016.

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Is there a Midwest IPA style?

  1. Yes

    28 vote(s)
    45.2%

  2. No

    34 vote(s)
    54.8%
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  1. Ohmmygawd

    Ohmmygawd Initiate (0) Sep 10, 2013 Minnesota

    I've had West Coast IPAs on the west coast, I've had East Coast IPAs on the east coast but some IPAs in the Midwest (Specifically Minnesota) seem to me to run in a very specific category.

    Midwest IPA producers seem to gravitate towards a more of a sweeter malt profile and more of a floral hop smell ie: Fulton's: Sweet Child of Vine, Bells: Two Hearted and Hopslam, Surly's Todd the Axe Man, ETC.

    I guess I'm wondering, is there a Midwest IPA and/or should there be?

    Cheers!
     
    #1 Ohmmygawd, Mar 16, 2016
  2. mulletjunky

    mulletjunky Initiate (0) May 7, 2009 Minnesota

    I consider New Glarus' Moon Man to be an archetypical Midwestern IPA. Extremely balanced, Doesn't slap you in the face with hop presence. Perhaps a bit sweeter.
     
    #2 mulletjunky, Mar 16, 2016
  3. Bobandy

    Bobandy Initiate (0) May 13, 2015 Iowa

    I'd nominate Todd and Sue. Neither quite exemplifies the West and East coast styles, but aappeal to fans of both. Moon Man possible as well.

    I'd refrain from Bell's products but that's mostly because I don't consider Michigan part of the Midwest. Two Hearted is a great stylistic guidepost.
     
    #3 Bobandy, Mar 17, 2016
    LittleGus likes this.
  4. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think Todd and Sue both lean West Coast...particularly Todd...
     
    #4 ZAP, Mar 17, 2016
    nogophers likes this.
  5. mingo

    mingo Initiate (0) Mar 24, 2013 Arizona

    considering it says it right on the can...
     
    #5 mingo, Mar 17, 2016
    KarlHungus likes this.
  6. MadDawg

    MadDawg Initiate (0) Dec 5, 2015 Minnesota

    #6 MadDawg, Mar 17, 2016
  7. Bobandy

    Bobandy Initiate (0) May 13, 2015 Iowa

    #7 Bobandy, Mar 17, 2016
  8. HectorB

    HectorB Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2013 New York

    I'd nominate Furious, The Calling, and Two Hearted.
     
    #8 HectorB, Mar 17, 2016
  9. mikevanatta

    mikevanatta Initiate (0) Sep 29, 2014 Minnesota

    Isn't Sweet Child an English IPA? Either way, I don't want us claiming that one, bleh.
     
    #9 mikevanatta, Mar 17, 2016
    Ish1, sembo and hardy008 like this.
  10. djuhnk

    djuhnk Aspirant (283) Aug 28, 2013 Minnesota

    I would argue that the OP is right on the money with sweeter malt bill exemplifying the Midwest ipa. Sue is very hop driven, but has significant crystal malt character and finishes higher than 1.016 from what I've heard, that's not west coast MO. Todd is probably a west coast IPA in my mind-- probably doesn't have any crystal malt, pretty dry. however, is ferm'd with an English yeast, which is usually not West coast MO. (Unless your stone or FW, who both use very dry English strains.)

    My idea of a poster child for Midwest IPA is something like two hearted or saga. Some crystal malt, some sweetness, filtered bright, probably not that fresh usually, due to a touch of oxidation. Fresh squeezed is also coveted by us Midwestians and it has a FG of like a 1.019.
     
    #10 djuhnk, Mar 17, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2016
    sembo likes this.
  11. Otis32

    Otis32 Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2011 Minnesota

    Prefer the term Flyover IPA. Could be typical Midwest self deprecation or a subtle dig at coastal elitism.

    Always thought Sue was kind of a nod towards the recent east coast trend with the hazy glow, juicy flavors and drier finish
     
    #11 Otis32, Mar 17, 2016
  12. jimmyfishkin

    jimmyfishkin Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2008 Wisconsin

    Moon Man is a Pale Ale, but to each their own. I will agree that it is a phenomenal beer.
     
    #12 jimmyfishkin, Mar 17, 2016
  13. Ohmmygawd

    Ohmmygawd Initiate (0) Sep 10, 2013 Minnesota

    Bauhaus FTW! This is a perfect example. Beer Advocate calls their "Mid-West Coast IPA" an American IPA which in itself doesn't really mean anything, does it? They classify the Jai Alai IPA from Cigar City an American IPA but it doesn't have the malt profile or gravity like most beers from the Mid-West.

    I can't bring myself to think of the Mid-West IPA as being a combination of both East and West Coasts because the German tradition on brewing in the Mid-West is too strong. We like hearty beers and foods but we don't really gravitate towards most British styles (excluding Stouts and Porters). We prefer a caramel malt profile thus why you can find Paulaner's Oktoberfest year-round. Maybe the Mid-West IPA is really just a German IPA?
     
    #13 Ohmmygawd, Mar 17, 2016
  14. Disc_n_Beer

    Disc_n_Beer Crusader (443) Mar 20, 2015 Iowa

    So is pseudo sue for that matter. I don't see any one style of IPA dominating the Midwest.
     
    #14 Disc_n_Beer, Mar 17, 2016
    jimmyfishkin and mrpeterandthepuffers like this.
  15. jimmyfishkin

    jimmyfishkin Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2008 Wisconsin

    They do dominate my wallet at times though....
     
    #15 jimmyfishkin, Mar 17, 2016
  16. sean_mpls

    sean_mpls Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2012 Minnesota

    I think we're drinking two different beers if you think Sue has significant caramel malt character.
     
    #16 sean_mpls, Mar 17, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2016
    NellysBandaid, BrettHead and sevenzig like this.
  17. maximum12

    maximum12 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,686) Jan 21, 2008 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    You & I could be drinking two Sues & be drinking two different beers.
     
    #17 maximum12, Mar 17, 2016
    JMN44 likes this.
  18. sean_mpls

    sean_mpls Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2012 Minnesota

    I doubt they're getting the malt bill wrong down in FL if you're referring to two different breweries making the beer.
     
    #18 sean_mpls, Mar 17, 2016
  19. Ohmmygawd

    Ohmmygawd Initiate (0) Sep 10, 2013 Minnesota

    It could also differ batch to batch.

    Stop dwelling on PseudoSue unless you want to argue whether or not it should be called a Midwest IPA.
     
    #19 Ohmmygawd, Mar 17, 2016
  20. Disc_n_Beer

    Disc_n_Beer Crusader (443) Mar 20, 2015 Iowa

    It should be called an Iowa Pale Ale, unless it is brewed in Florida.
     
    #20 Disc_n_Beer, Mar 17, 2016
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