Best "GATEWAY" beer for someone new to IPAs

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by fugazidps, Aug 8, 2013.

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  1. DogfishJoe

    DogfishJoe Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2010 Ohio

    Came here to say this!
     
  2. AdamsDTD

    AdamsDTD Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2011 Massachusetts

    That's why I originally suggested SN Pale/All Day/60 Min. It's impossible to simply say "name a good starting IPA for someone" because there are so many flavor profiles and individual taste preferences. To this day I don't like medicinal/herbal hop profiles, so what if that had been my first experience with a hoppy beer? If someone's entire beer experience has been BMC or easier drinking craft, would you hand them a Heady or a 90 min? No. If someone is looking for a taste of hops, but something lighter, I think All Day is a good choice. It's tough to find a session IPA that someone won't call "watery" - we aren't used to lighter malt profiles with our hop bombs. It confuses the hell out of our palates.
     
  3. VictorWisc

    VictorWisc Maven (1,355) Jan 2, 2013 Massachusetts

    Don't know if Boulevard will bring their sessionable to MA, as I haven't seen any mixed cases. But that should be high on your list to try. Not having tasted it, it's hard to guess, but chances are it may blow Founders out of the water. Or it may totally suck, but I doubt it. They are promising 100IBU, so it's certainly not going to be gateway beer.
     
  4. AdamsDTD

    AdamsDTD Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2011 Massachusetts

    Lawson's Spring Fever is great, but we all know how easy it is to get specific beers by them.
     
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  5. TheGator321

    TheGator321 Initiate (0) May 29, 2013 Connecticut

    drink only fresh ipa's. doesn't matter which one, try them all. preferably brewery fresh.
     
    jdaddy likes this.
  6. bnuno

    bnuno Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2011 California

    Lagunitas IPA
    easy to find, affordable, not to high on alcohol and not to bitter. Perfect for a gateway IPA
     
  7. bnuno

    bnuno Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2011 California

    Why are so many people recommending Double IPAs? are they really a gateway IPAs for the majority of people?
     
  8. thatoneguymike

    thatoneguymike Pooh-Bah (1,947) Sep 18, 2012 Georgia
    Pooh-Bah

    The first IPA that I enjoyed & brought me over to the hop side was Terrapin Hopsecutioner.

    One of the few IPA's that my girlfriend likes was the Stone Enjoy By. And likes Ruinten. Not much else. Go figure.

    But, I can certainly side with/agree with most suggestions that have been talked here...DFH 60 min, Sweetwater IPA, SNPA, Two-Hearted...and, while stretching it for the category, Lagunitas A Little Sumpin Sumpin, which I don't know anyone that hasn't liked that.
     
  9. Act25

    Act25 Pooh-Bah (2,741) Nov 8, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Full Sail IPA is the traditional American early days IPA - great start.

    DEFINITELY NOT DIPAs!
     
  10. Dools9

    Dools9 Initiate (0) Jul 5, 2011 Massachusetts

    I'd say SNPA or Harpoon IPA, you want something that isn't going to be overly bitter which can turn people off to the style.
     
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  11. TheBrewo

    TheBrewo Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2010 New York

    60 Minute is what tipped the scales for both of us actually, but now that I'm thinking about it, the earliest one to strike intrigue was Harpoon IPA.
     
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  12. jmwildwest

    jmwildwest Initiate (0) Mar 10, 2013 Florida

    DFH , 2HEARTED or just go straight for a Heady or a Headhunter. If you don't like those Forget about it.
     
  13. joelwlcx

    joelwlcx Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2007 Minnesota

  14. sukwonee

    sukwonee Initiate (0) Dec 13, 2011 Washington

  15. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,757) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    My first IPA, ever, was Enjoy By, so I kind of did things in the wrong order. That said, I echo what many people here have said: DFH 60.

    Alternatively, depending on what's available:
    Flower Power
    Union Jack
    DFH 90
    Jai Alai
    Torpedo

    All of them are tasty and smooth, and the hoppier entries aren't excessively astringent. There are some doubles that pass that test, too (Pliny comes to mind), but for most IPA newbies, I'd steer them away from DIPAs.
     
  16. Droogins

    Droogins Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2012 Massachusetts

    or LUNCH :slight_smile:
     
    GuitarIPA likes this.
  17. onrivertime

    onrivertime Initiate (0) Apr 11, 2013 Georgia

    Lagunitas IPA is one of my favorites. (Say "Lah Goo Knee Tuss")
    It is refreshingly hoppy, well balanced and easy to drink.
     
  18. teamwiggum

    teamwiggum Pooh-Bah (1,950) Nov 30, 2008 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    For me it was Dale's, and then Central Waters' Glacial Trail IPA.
     
  19. MrKsBeer

    MrKsBeer Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2009 Massachusetts

    Actually, my wife doesn't like hoppy beers, and loved Heady Topper. I think it has a more approachable (fruitier) hop character than some of the bitter bombs out there. I think it turns some people off to IPAs if they start with Arrogant Bastard or even 90 min or Torpedo... you have to work your way up to that intense bitterness. Start with light and fruity hops, Heady Topper, Flower Power, even Racer 5 (Bear Republic) or Hop Notch by Uinta.

    The other thing you can do is buy a hefeweisen, and mix it so that your glass is 15% wheat + 85% hoppy IPA. It'll kill just enough of the bitterness that you can enjoy the hop flavors without making sour faces when you swallow.
    Cheers!
     
  20. Rare_Man

    Rare_Man Initiate (0) May 15, 2013 Illinois

    Probably developed my palate with pale ales (plenty of Moon Man), but (D)IPA's were always too bitter for my liking. Then, one winter I discovered SN Celebration and combo this with accidentally ordering Sucks one night (thought tap list said Brown Shugga but missed the substitute part...)-I've never looked back.
     
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