Has Brut IPA already died...

I think I generally agree with you but hard disagree specifically.
Sweetness/body are integral to the style, but I don't think they're "the single biggest driver." In general sweeter/fuller beers are in right now, but in general Flavor is. Brut IPAs are missing a bit of that element.

People looking for alternatives to NEIPAs may just not want mediocre beer. I fucking LOVE the concept of Brut IPAs. My biggest issue with NEIPAs is the palate fatigue, the mouth-coating sweetness and shitty, powdery mouthfeel that's predominant in them. Yes, they make me crave bitter IPAs and other beers, generally, but it wasn't that Brut IPAs didn't scratch an itch as an alternative, my biggest issue was they just weren't very good. Odd off flavors I had a hard time pegging, some issues with diacetyl in a few. But the dry character never was much of an issue, and they never tasted thin in the way that Session IPAs do. My perception is people haven't really figured out how best to deal with amyloglucosidase and with sooo many rotational IPAs in the mix if you don't hit out of the park you both are reluctant to try again (when other IPAs turn out better) and people are reluctant to try it again (they can remember they didn't like your Brut IPA, they have a harder time remembering they didn't like one Hazy IPA that's just like the other (wait, was it the Columbus/Mosaic/Citra IPA or the Citra/Mosaic/Simcoe IPA or the Galaxy/Columbus/Mosaic IPA I liked?)

If it isn't clear, I'm well aware I may be over-indexing my personal opinion towards the masses.

TL;DR I think brewers have a hard time making a good version of the style and if they fail it stands out and builds negative attention, whereas hazy IPAs of middling quality fly under the radar in a rising tide lifts all boats scenario.

 

But what about a Cherry Chocolate Black IPA with lactose?!

 

I hope not just yet because I’ve only had one and it was kind of interesting. Not what I think of as IPA, but still enjoyable. I think my taste is drifting toward dryer flavors and the brut I had filled that bill nicely.

 

I do not, and I have no doubt All Day IPA still sells very well, there is in fact data to support that.

But let me ask you this, how many IPAs in your area are specifically labeled "session IPA" and have a flavor profile similar to All Day? Personally that number has dwindled considerably where I live (and I don't expect either of us to have actual numbers here either).

I have a feeling these sell well for Founders due to the low ABV, the format/price (15 packs at a cheaper price), and the fact that they showcase hops...rather than the style itself.

I wonder if Lagunitas Daytime IPA sells nearly as well?

I also have to wonder how sales of Founders Solid Gold are, and if this may surpass All Day IPA in the future.

As far as hard numbers, I do know locally Nightshift's Whirlpool IPA is a New England style pale ale at 4.5% that is in their top three sellers (might even be the best seller).

Brewer's could be tweaking recipes as we speak. I know of many brewers who take years to perfect recipes for a Helles or Pilsner.

 

It would have been a better choice to brew something good, brut or otherwise.

 

I have no anecdotal information to share with you. I am personally not a fan of Session IPAs since they are too watery for my palate; I do not even 'see' them when I walk around my beer retailers.

FWIW I am the same way with the AAL beer style. In a past BA thread some person made mention there was a brand called Miller High Life Light. I did not believe this brand existed. During my next visit to a local Retail Beer Retailer I made it is point to see if this beer was for real. Yup, in the AAL section there was indeed a stack of cases of Miller High Life Light.

Cheers!

 

I agree with this. I like the often piquant acidity and dryness show-cased, rather like a Loire Cremant. These beers have a place amidst the boring snobbishness of IPA brashness.

 

You say what I intended to say much more elegantly

 

I have tasted only a few Brut IPAs, and only liked one of them. To me, most of them smell and taste like a Pilsner with slightly more hop aroma and more bubbles/dryness. Seems like this is just another beer that adopted the "IPA" moniker that's truthfully not at all an IPA.

When making edits/additions to Total Wine's fourth edition of our Guide to Beer book that just came out, I did not add Brut IPA to the IPA section because we believe it will be a short-lived fad. Time will tell if we made a wrong bet on that.

 

Well, that was my perception of the Sierra Nevada version,

Rob, did you ever get a chance to taste Ommegang Brut IPA? That beer was a quality Brut IPA IMO. I discussed it in a past NBS thread (I tagged you):

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-727.603843/#post-6359005

An extract from the above link:

"If this specific beer is representative of what a Brut IPA should be I am a fan of the Brut IPA beer ‘style’. Hopefully other breweries can learn to produce their Brut IPAs to be similar to the qualities of Ommegang Brut IPA."

I will expound upon my above statement: I don't think the 'problem' is the Brut IPA style per se but more of a problem that many craft breweries underachieve in their brewing of this style.

If craft breweries are incapable of learning how to brew this style properly then perhaps it would be best to just let the style die?

Cheers!

 

I have, it was a pre-release sample bottle of Ommegang Brut IPA, and that was the first Brut IPA I ever had and was the one that I liked. I think it set the bar in my palate for any others, none of which has stood up to it.

 

We bury them, then invent conspiracy theories about who assassinated them

 

I had a few and never cared for them. Maybe someone else's cup of tea, but not mine. I never saw a whole lot around Raleigh to begin with though, so I can't really say whether they're in decline or not.

 

What is dead may never die.

But in all seriousness I hope not. I enjoyed a few I had. Especially the one from Stone.

 

I never had a brut IPA. Is it dry and champagne like? If so.... I'll pass.

 

The Brut IPAs I had are 'all over the place' here. Entirely up to you whether you want to try one.

Cheers!

 

Clearly the hipsters killed Brut IPA after initially being all over the new style - but quickly abandoning it for Coffee Oyster Wild Ale.

 

I rarely cry while reading posts. One of the most finely crafted posts I've seen.