Are you STILL HOOKED on IPAS?

IPA's make up about half of the beers I drink in the Summer. I drink fewer IPA's at other times of the year but I still drink them year round. Therefore I guess I am still hooked on them.

 

Definitely still my go to style. Would venture to say they they make up the most of the new beers I try.

 

They are definitely a part of my regular rotation, but I may be slowing up a bit. I've definitely decided not to try any new ones unless I know for sure that they're not one of those NE "juice bombs" (totally not my thing, and I rather my resources be directed elsewhere than an unpleasant surprise)- but I'll certainly be sticking to old faves when they're fresh enough.

 

Michael, how many "New England" style IPAs have you tried? Has your response to these beers been universal? Have every one of these beers been a 'fail' for you?

I recently homebrewed my version of a Trillium Galaxy Fort Point Pale Ale and I have really been enjoying this batch. It has the often described aspect of being hazy/murky in appearance but it also has the classically described quality of "juicy" as well.

Cheers!

 

I've had many, from Tired Hands to Grimm to Singlecut to Rushing Duck to Hill Farmstead, and more- multiple tries from each brewery. I've given it a fair shot, and there's something seriously disjointed and underwhelming in the mouthfeel and finish straight across the board, with indistinct fuzzy flavors, in the way I'm perceiving them. No softness, no magic. It's a style thing. Plus it's looking like, in NYC at least, that you're apt to run into one more often than not lately .

 

Well, you have certainly given it the 'old college try'. Have any of those been at the source (i.e., brewpub/tasting room)?

I was at the Tired Hands brewpub (Fermentaria) last Sunday and I had an Alien Church IPA which I thoroughly enjoyed.

A case of different strokes for different folks?

Cheers!

 

Yeah, all on tap and pretty damn fresh, especially the Grimms which hit distribution extremely quickly.

I love the saisons/sours from many of those breweries, btw- so this is not a general knock on the quality of their brews.

 

I love ipas. Generally the higher ibu and abv go first for me. Though i love exploring other styles as well. Generally gose or saison comes in second.

 

Not hooked, but I still enjoy them. They are a good palate cleanser after a night of sours. Also, there are times, I just want some delicious pineyness.

 

IPA was once my hands down favorite style. As I've expanded my horizons, not sure that's true now. I love me some super malty styles like stouts and Scottish. Also have developed a real liking for Belgians. There's just too much out there to really have a favorite for me.

 

The issue is they're so saturated. I think Belgian yeasts in particular work well with IPAs and keep them interesting.

 

I wouldn't use the word hooked, but I love 'em.

 

I agree with this as well. Dull/bitter IPAs< my favorite watery, easy to drink AAL's

 

I love Pales/IPAs/DIPAs, but also love and rotate my consumption amongst nearly any/all the other styles out there in beer world. With that said those 3 styles I mentioned probably make up over 50% of my consumption, and that is because of their shear numbers and ease in availability of quality beers that are out on the market and make up styles that usually are reasonably priced.

For example, if there were the same quantity of new barrel aged stouts being released in my local shops/breweries for about same price as and quality as comparable Pales/IPAs/DIPAs, I'm sure I'd be buying more BA stouts than I currently do. Just a numbers game really since I love all styles of beer (one's that are made really well).

 

Not hooked but a huge fan. I've always kept ipas in my fridge and always will. But I have lagers, pils, pas, and a few summer releases. I love variety.


Cheers

 

I voted yes, but I have been exploring many different styles lately. So I'd say that while IPA is still my favorite beer style, I've been buying more and more other styles lately.

 

I checked the "not hooked but still like them" vote as I figure that I buy between 2-3 sixers a week or about 900 bottles give or take and probably there's at least three cases of RIS purchased, the rest are IPA's or IIPA's so...I might be in denial

 

I'm hooked and I'm having withdrawals because I just moved from Brooklyn to Oakland and the Bay area is SEVERELY lacking in the hazy, creamy, smooth, juicy hop bombs that I'm used to getting from Other Half, Trillium, Tree House ect...

I'm a fan of all styles of beer but those I really miss. Some places here come close, like Cellarmaker and Temescal but overall it seems that the bitter, sierra nevada style of IPA is most prevalent and beloved here.

I miss my resinous, cloudy dank!!

 

I am also not a huge fan of the NE style stuff. I like them, don't get me wrong, but I far prefer the west-coast variants better. Treehouse, Trillium, Other Half, whatever... I have had a bunch, I can't help but feel they are overhyped to an extent at least.

That being said, I am brewing one soon... But I consider it more of a hybrid between the NE and West Coast styles... More bittering, but still a ton of flavor and aroma from the signature mass hopping late on in the brewing process. Also using some signature west coast hops (such as chinook, columbus, simcoe, cascade and centennial) vs. all the exotic varieties all the time. Balancing act! haha... Many of the NE style I feel are under-bittered and even under-carbonated at times, which doesn't work for me.

I am looking forward to my Boston trip next month... Hitting up a ton of those NE breweries, but honestly, Jack's Abby has me most excited. Go figure!

 

How close does Cellarmaker come to Trillium/Treehouse beers? Are you just as satisfied drinking Cellarmaker beers?

Cheers!