Why so many IPAs, so few IPLs?

As others have said, ales are easier than lagers. Other than that, doubts on the part of the drinker.
( As I drink Kiwi Rising IPL....Mmmmmmm!!!! )

 

Excess didn't really seem New England style at all to me. It actually reminded me a lot of like an Alpine IPA except as a lager. I haven't had 3X Dry Hopped Hoponius, though, so I'll give you that.

 

That I can't say, because I haven't had Kiwi Rising. I keep looking for it, but I haven't seen it here locally. I hope I do find it, though, because I really would like to try it.

 

If ever I can't answer the question 'why?' easily (in any situation), the answer is almost universally 'money'

 

I think IPL's are steadily starting to gain steam. Sam Adams and Yuengling are both brewing their takes on it now, and while they may not be the standard for the style, once those two major brewers throw their hat in the ring and show the style has merit, others are bound to follow.

I've also noticed a lot more smaller craft breweries are at least attempting one or more Lager styles. I'm not sure if more people are becoming comfortable with the lagering process or what, but ales are giving up a bit more ground than was the case previously in the craft world. And all the better for it, I was pretty tired of the last hundred breweries opening "flagship" beers being a pale ale, an IPA, an amber ale, and a stout. It got real boring real quick. Adding even a basic Lager or Pilsener (or cheating a bit and having a Kolsch style beer) is surprisingly refreshing to see, and some of them are actually quite good out there.

Of course, Jacks Abby could always hit it big and start increasing their distro so I can get some Kiwi Rising down South I wouldn't be mad about that in the least

 

Speaking of IPLs, I bought this again today. I was a bit reluctant to, since it's about five months old, but I really wanted an IPL again and Jack's Abby products are very hard to find in my area, for some reason. The hops have faded a bit, but they've still held up surprisingly well. It's still crisp with a citrusy bite. When I had this fresh, I absolutely loved it, so yes, I would really like to see more IPLs.

 

Traditionally there are imperial lagers already. I think that the IPL is one of the worst beers as far as it is a type of IPA by default rather than a lager by default. The stronger alcohol will produce esters of its own. I dislike the IPL in general and I find that the extra hops and the extra abv can be less than subtle and actually taste wrong or like a cheap malt liquor. One imperial lager is the maibock. It can be very strong. The other is the dopplebock which can be golden or palER in color. .

 

Fortunately some of the IPLs I've tried have had lower ABV. If you can locate the Yuengling in your area you might enjoy trying it at 5%. The Staub at 5.6% is also tasty but probably doesn't set into NY.

 

plain and simple...IMO IPL's are terrible

 

I've really enjoyed that Straub, but it's been over a year since my last. It was a total Columbus bomb, which is just fine by me .

 

I thought maibock was lighter and doppelbock was darker?

 

I think some craft beer drinkers are turned off by lagers and their association with AALs. I enjoy lagers but I do sometimes detect hints of Budweiser even in a quality lager. This undoubtedly is my problem rather than a problem with the beer, but it's hard to untrain my palate after subjecting it to its fair share of AALs in my younger days.

 

It is but dopplebocks can be very light. I think the actual words in the bjcp are deep gold to light amber for the maibock and deep gold to coppery brown for the dopplebock.I forget which german dopplebock I poured logn ago and thought this can't be right. it's way too light in color. I was wrong.

 

The Germans will use the 'bock' term as an indication of strength as well as a style (although that can also be regional ). It's similar in Italy, where I was finding 'Doppio Malto ' in dark and light versions.

Specifically, though, a Heller Bock (Maibock ) will be lower gravity, pale and hoppier.

 

Tried some Jacks Abby? At all? They make so many of them.

 

And in related news, Jacks Abby has opened the new Springdale barrel/sour/ ALE room, right next door. Including ipas. Good things are in the future.

 

because the taste artificial and bad

 

For the same reason I wonder about some hop-heads who go nuts for barreled IPAs, like White Oak Jai Alai. I think they can be very good beers, but I don't fool myself about the hop freshness.

 

Randy,

Below is from the Cigar City website:

“A truly unique India Pale Ale, this iteration of our Jai Alai IPA boasts the addition of white oak spirals to impart sleek notes of vanilla, coconut and a touch of dill to Jai Alai’s bold citrus and caramel character. The oak also serves to temper the bitterness in the 70 IBU base beer while oak tannins elegantly dry the beer’s body to create a unique drinking experience that still remains true to Jai Alai’s unique qualities.”

Oak spirals need very little contact time to impart their flavors. Maybe they add the spirals during the dry hopping process (e.g., a week or so)?

Cheers!