New to IPAs

Stick with east coast IPAs to start; anything where the reviews emphasize "balance" is a good starting point. My first IPA was CCB Jai Alai, and I hated it. A few months later I tried DFH 90 Min. and liked it, after a couple of those I lucked up on a sixer of Hopslam, loved it, then tried a bomber of Ruination a couple months later. When I finally revisited Jai Alai almost a year later, I couldn't get enough. Time and patience to let your palate evolve is also important.

 

Just dive right in man. Racer 5, Two Hearted, Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin. I liked these before i learned to enjoy SNPA. best wishes for u on your journey. Once u go hops, u never go back. CHEERS!!

 

If you can try Sweetwater IPA and Bell's Two-Hearted, do it. Both are amazing beers. Sweetwater is severly underpriced (and I for one am overly happy about it). They could easily charge like 9-10 for a six pack, but they stick with 8.

 

I don't know how available Hopdevil is in NJ, but that's one of my favorites. DFH 60 was one of my entry level IPAs. Burton Baton is something I recently tried; it might appeal to you if it's the hoppy aftertaste of IPAs that's turned you off in the past. Sweet and mellowed. And if you find you're enjoying IPA, you've got to give Hoptimum a try. Good God.

 

I think you will enjoy Sierra Nevada's Celebration ale. It is one of my favorites seasonal ales. I think starting off with trying IPA's that come in 6-packs, would be the best way to ease in and acquire a taste. If you start off with bombers, you run the risk of finishing it without appreciating the hops.

 

I came onto this forum with a first opinion that I couldn't do IPAs.

Now I am loving them. Start easy. I started with Deschutes Hop Trip and the hops took over from there!

Currently enjoying an IPA!

 

give this a try.



Its a English IPA and is not super hoppy. I call it a Light IPA cause is very light tasting.

 

Sculpin, head hunter, palate wrecker ect. I like a hop assault when I drink IPAs.

 

I'm on board with the Flower Power

 

I was late to the IPA party too. I took a very different path starting with stouts and porters too. However, now I love IPAs, AIPAs, and DIPAs. I gravitated to DIPAs first. Sad, bad our distribution NJ vs. WI are too different for me to give a lot of suggestions, Bell's Hopslam and Three Floyds goodness. However, I have traded for some in your area or close and here are ones I've liked: Heady Topper of course (I know you can't get it but close), Flower Power is solid, Lawson's anything is great (2nd that you can't get it), and a number from Firestone Walker (Union Jack is GREAT).

 

I would suggest starting small and working your way up. Like PA to IPA to DIPA. SNPA is a good place to start and you can follow that with SA Latitude 48 (not great but simple, cheap, and readily available). As others have said, make sure you're buying IPA's that are fresh. And just to give you a few suggestions of IPA's I like (and have been able to drink enough of):

Firestone Walker Union Jack (one of the mildest, most well balanced, and probably best IPA's I've ever had)
SN Torpedo
SN Hoptimum
Lagunitas IPA/Maximus
Bear Republic Racer 5
Green Flash West Coast IPA

There are so many IPA's out there I'm sure I've forgotten many I like. Again, start small and acquire a taste for the hoppy Pale Ales. Once you get into that you can hop (get it?) into IPA's and then into DIPA's. Just don't get turned off at first. Hoppy beers are certainly an acquired taste, but once you get it it's tremendous. Welcome to the club

 

Redhook Long Hammer IPA is like an IPA with training wheels. Almost like an IPA light or something. It's also cheap so if you don't like them you won't feel so bad looking at them just sitting in your fridge. They get a bad rap around here but they aren't bad.

 

Sculpin, Pliny, Blind Pig. Try all 3 and get back to us.

 

Couldn't agree more. Longhammer and SNPA were my gateway IPA's

 

You are on the right track and have great potential! The first time i tried SN PA i couldn't stand it. I recommend sticking with Sierra Nevada and moving up in bitterness as you become more & more accustom to it. SN isn't known for blowing minds. Rather, it's known for making the perfect example of a said style. That being said, i think your next brew to try is torpedo, followed by southern hemisphere, then northern hemisphere, estate IPA, & finally hoptimum. This will gradually take you from pale ale to imperial ipa, & show you how each style SHOULD be.