IPAs that don't taste like dish soap

OP is from the Boston area...Dogfish 60 and 90 are readily available and usually fresh. To me, the 90 minute is better balanced. Jack's Abby for sure - they are well-balanced, maybe Hoponius Union which we can definitely get fresh. Maybe something from Clown Shoes, although they can get pretty aggressive too. I think we get Flower Power (Ithaca?) around the city too. Harpoon - not a fan. Hated my first IPA (Boston Beer Latitude 48). Just for the bitterness it is something you have to ease into, but the objection here isn't the bitterness.

Actually, I can understand the dish soap thing even though I don't experience it. Lots of dish soaps are citrus based and use grapefruit extracts/oils and such. Or maybe it is the floral notes in some of the big hoppy brews that makes the connection with the floral type dish soaps. So you get the piney, resinous, citrusy, sometimes floral notes from the hops (especially some of the hop bombs) - could see that connecting with a dish soap taste/smell.

Or it is possible that whatever was tried actually DID taste like dish soap...

 

Firestone Walker Union Jack is very balanced and tasty and has a nice little kick at 7.5% as well. Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin is a Wheat IPA that is also balanced and tasty. IPA's like beer itself is an acquired taste so you just have to start trying different ones until you become used to them and they really come in handy in the summer when you want to change it up.

 

Hopslam, Schlafly TIPA, dogfishhead 90 min., Sixpoint Resin to name a few

 

I only started drinking IPA's about a year ago, Before that I would have one Arrogant Bastard, and say wow too much and move on to something else. Then I started drinking Pale Ales, Widmer Drifter was the only "Craft" beer at my favorite lunch spot so I started with that. I like the citrus, Grapefruit taste and then looked for the Citra hopped IPA's, now I can drink almost any IPA and enjoy it. Even the most hopped up monsters.

I have also found just this fall that I like the 'WET' hopped IPA's they seem smoother and less slap you in the face biter to me. Bottom line you just have to try them and keep notes on what you like and what you dislike.

good luck

 

Unfortunately, since I have had soap put into my mouth when I was younger, I can say with certainty that it will not taste like Jai Alai.
Which most assuredly does suck.

 

I gave a friend of mine a taste of Hangar 24 DIPA and he commented it tasted like dish soap. Maybe that citrus smell is doing a number on your other senses.

 

IPAs should never taste like soap.

 

Good luck - I did a quick Google on IPA soapy taste, and you apparently aren't alone in perceiving IPAs (and other highly hopped beers) this way. Some people do taste highly hopped brews as being soapy. Cilantro too - my spousal unit says that (soapy and metallic). Can't confirm on IPAs though since she can't get past the bitterness (nothing much over 60 IBU for her). So don't pick up Stone Ruination by mistake, yeah? On the other hand, I went from good lord Ruination is awful where can I spit this out to holy crap this stuff is freakin' awesome in about three sips, so what do I know...

I do think there's people here interested (home brewers for one), so please do a follow up. Sometimes, as with most forums, ya need a thick skin and sense of humor

 

Get a Hop Stoopid. It is a little sweeter and very fruity so that may change your perspective. The bitterness of some IPAs may be precieved as soapy to you. I'm not sure. I know some people have a weird enzyme that makes cilantro taste like soap too.

 

Hmmm? I never get that from IPAs. I'd guess your palate just hasn't acquired the taste for them.

 

There's an idea...Hop Stoopid (high) versus Sumpin' Sumpin' (medium) versus the Pale Ale (low) - that would kinda cover the range of bitterness, although mixes style a bit, from one good brewery. Thinking it might help find where the soapy threshold is if it is hops/bitters related.

 

Your palate is probably going to need some warming up to the amount of hops. But give it some time, and make sure you drink the whole thing. I fought my girlfriend on this, then she finished a pint of an IPA once, and now all she will order are hop bombs.

 

I've never gotten a dish soap taste and I don't know which ones you've tried but Sam Adams Latitude 48 is a great IPA for breaking into them, its what got me started on IPA's. It's a middle of the road beer. Also, some easily attainable IPAs include Sierra Nevada Torpedo, Stone IPA, and Stone Ruination. These are more hop forward though!

 

You have fantastic dish soap.

 

It sounds like you're drinking old IPAs. Try some that are fresh (if it doesn't have a bottle date, don't bother)

 

Maybe try some of these and see if there is one you like?

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/116

You live in Boston, it's pretty hard to find a bar that doesn't have a decent IPA on tap.

 

Launitas makes a few varieties, all of them are pretty flavorful. I also second Two Hearted, which someone mentioned earlier

 

This thread reminds me of my first experiences of Bass . It was dry hopped in those days and definitely had a "soapy" characteristic.It's an unfortunate description because it was rather nice!
There are masses of IPAs which don't have the characteristics you wish to avoid.Try the so-called "English" version though be aware that IPA was once another name for bitter so there are lots of low hopped low ABV ones around. But I had a couple of White Shield the other day; if you don't mind a beer from Coors I can recommend it. Certainly not soapy! It's claimed to have used the same recipe since the early 1800s ..........pinch of salt taken
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3349/12627

 

I have never tasted dish soap in an ipa but genetically I can smell asparagus in pee so I got that going for me.

 

Ive actually found most IPA's to carry more of a Pine Tree flavor, and personally I do not enjoy drinking a glass of Pine Tree. However, in my opinion any sort of a wheat IPA really helps to offset the overwhelming hoppy-ness that most IPA's offer.