IPAs : What took you so long?

You are behind the times, but they are getting better with all the new hop varieties.

 

Don't know. They're certainly not popular in this house. I'd venture to say an IPA has never graced my fridge.

Not to say I've never had one, had several whilst out and about but they've never come home with me. My dollars are spent on stout/porter, sour and the occasional kriek.

I would say tho - they've been popular with other beer drinkers for a long time. To the point where I suspect with some people there's a bit of fatigue about them. They seem to be everywhere and a good chunk of discussion/threads in various fora are IPA centric

 

Their growing popularity is probably in line with the the general growing popularity of craft beer.

 

Evolution.

Remember, SNPA was "pushing it" 30 yrs ago.

 

Looks like about 10000 people noticed before you did.

 

I really got into IPAs around a year ago and have become completely addicted! I enjoy a nice dark stout or Hefe every now and again but, something about hop aroma and flavor that really gets me excites! When I smell all that fantastic hop aromas in a good DIPA, I get a chub! I wish I was joking! I really believe that hops are some how addictive! That, or I drink so many IPAs and I'm addicted to alcohol that when I smell an IPA, my brain relates the smell of hops to alcohol and releases dopamine in anticipation. Hell, I don't know but, I sure love me some hops!

 

I've been waiting for their decline in popularity.

 

Hops man, hops, what makes the palate go wow and come awake, to take you to a place that malts can't get, not the roastiest of them, nor yeast get you there, no. Some genius hops put in just right! The only way to go.

 

Agreed my friend. IPA's are what keep me going and what got me fully immersed into the craft community. Love many other styles but I live and die by the IPA/DIPA.

 

Given the relatively short timeline of craft brews it seems like IPAs have been at the forefront for a significant portion. I think new hop varietals (Citra, Galaxy) and increased use of whirlpool and dry hops has lead to more unbelievable IPAs as well IMO.

 

I didn't realize how much I love hoppy beer until I went without it for a year living abroad. As soon as I came back to the states, I was injecting IPAs intravenously.

 

I crave hops. When my supply of IPA/DIPA run low, I tweak!!!

 

I'll answer your question with another question.

IPAs: What took you so long to get over them?

 

I was a total hop head, but Bourbon County Brand Stout was my "non-IPA" slump buster. As soon I tried BCBS for the first time I realized that I was really limiting myself by only drinking hoppy beers. Now IPA/DIPA's only amount to about 10-20% of the beers I drink. I completely get the infatuation though.

 

I think the have been getting exponentially better. Getting rid of the rubber tire bitter.

 

Exactly. IPAs are what appear to be driving craft beer popularity. It's the style dominating store shelves and bar tap lines. It's often what new craft beer lovers are enjoying. So my question is, how long before you (not you specifically, anyone) discovered how great other styles can be?

 

I think for people to enjoy the hop flavors when they immediately dive into craft brewed beers is rare, the bitterness took me a little while to warm up to, now I say the hoppier the better for the most part.