Cloudy/Not Cloudy IPA Fence

You do realize that over 70% of beer drinkers drink the same exact style pretty much their entire lives, in many cases the same exact brand of that style? I guess they too are obsessed?

You and a good amount of other people sure are interested in the way some folks drink their beer, and sure do take a negative attitude. One might almost call you all obsessed.

 

Probably not the best examples. Sculpin is a relic from the days when people were in a competition to see who could take the most bitterness. Pliny is a paragon of the classic WCIPA, but it's merely solid. Stone Citracado and Bottle Logic Double Actuator are superior examples.

 

Bling Pig?

 

I don't follow.

 

Amen. Live and let live. I don't like Rauchbier, but I'm not going to knock anybody who does.

 

Sorry! That should read "Blind Pig". Where would you consider that beer to be as far as IPA examples go?

 

I actually haven't had Blind Pig, so I couldn't say.

 

Do those 70% wait hours in line at the brewery for their beer? Do they skip out of work because their beer got released on a weekday afternoon? Do they cross state lines for it? Buy trunkfuls of it to send across the country to randoms they met on the Internet? In exchange for beer that is strikingly similar to the one they just sent out? Do they take pictures of their "haul" and post it to Instagram? Do they doctor those photos so that the beer appears even awesomer? Do they worry incessantly whether their beer is too old and have endless debates with their beer-loving friends over it, trying hone in on just the right number of days when it's at its peak? Do they sell the beer on grey market websites for crazy markup? Do they claim that their beer is the pinnacle of all beer and that other beer is lacking or boring or passé?

Totally sounds like your run of the mill AAL drinker to me...

 

My stepfather used to routinely wake up at 4:00 in the morning to drive out to some random spot 100 miles away to catch a glimpse of a rare sparrow before work.

Hobbies are weird. Worrying about how other people pursue their's seems like a waste of time.

 

Hmmm,don't know, don't care, but then again I am not obsessed with their drinking habits.

 

That, and some of the new breeds of hop varietals naturally taste fruitier. A large reason why WC IPAs taste citrusy/piney/resinous is because that's how those older school American hops taste. That's obvious, though. I'm going offtrack. It definitely would be a mistake to say that NE IPAs are "less hoppy" just because they're less bitter. They're hoppy in a different way, since hopping is process and not just a bitterness perception.

 

Yes! Thank you. You described it well. The NE IPA substyle runs on hype and it's a shame seeing every NE IPA given undue praise because it meets 'x' criteria. It's a style with many, many beautiful, delicious examples, but should be evaluated and praised on their own individual merits instead of falling within hyped criteria. The same goes with West Coast IPAs, in that there are many I used to love that I no longer care for; yet the best WC IPAs I will chose over most mediocre NE IPAs.

I also agree with you on beers being unfiltered. I don't love NE IPAs because they are unfiltered, I prefer all beer unfiltered because I really do think they're more flavorful.

 

It's just an observation, which I find amusing more than anything. No need to take offense.

I'm surprised that 70% number isn't higher, if we're including all beer drinkers. Most folks are perfectly happy with their case of Bud Light every couple weeks. Where did you get this number by the way? Please send over a link. Thanks.

 

I don't think you know what obsessed means. Look it up. We're merely sharing our observations.

 

I’m not worrying, I was simply replying to Dave’s illogical 70% comparison. To suggest there’s not a level of obsession and fanaticism on this is insane. Observing isn’t worrying - it’s mere observation, one most of us are touched by as interested craft beer drinkers.

Nice punt, Dave! Jets or Giants could probably use you!

 

I do get your point as a specific rejoinder to a particular post, but generally speaking, at least around here, I find the kvetching about how other people are doing the hobby wrong much more personally irritating than the fact that somewhere, someone is waiting in line too long and maybe doesn't like the taste of a 100 IBU beer.

I used to be a metal/hardcore kid as a teen, and then a big Phish guy in my 20s and 30s. The parallels between the ways older fans in both of those worlds wrung their hands about how all the "newbs" were doing it wrong are numerous, and I found it just as tiring then as I do now.

 

I like both but there seems to be a dividing line somewhere around the Mississippi River for folks to prefer or not. West Coast IPAs used to be the sh*t, now it's those juice bombs. Can't wait for the day where we all get along (yes I'm a conflict avoider)

 

Fair enough. I can understand how the line between annoyance, poking fun at, etc. and outright disdain, judgement, etc. blurs. Won't deny I have my pet peeves and preferences. It IS tiring, as you say, which is why I don't hang around here very often anymore. When subcultures turn echo chamber, they just get, well, lame.

 

More like return of a fumble for six, but it bounced right to me.

 

I enjoy beers from both camps. The main area where I choose a side is when things head into DIPA/IIPA territory. To me, nearly every strong hazy IPA I've had tends to have a vegetal "burn" to it. Many also head into onion town and I rarely get any of the hallmark citrus juice flavors that the milder examples have.