What makes for a bad IPA?

Apparently nothing if you look at the ratings.

 

Not enough bitterness.

 

A good IPA is Subjective its what you like for the style

 

This. When you smell and taste cardboard, then it sucks.

 

There are plenty of good IPA's/Dipa'a, not really a lot of really great ones. They need to be fresh and balanced to some degree or it's undrinkable hop juice, and I've had a few that were undrinkable without enough malt to carry the huge hops. I expect a great IPA to be sharply bitter, more so than any DIPA. Most average Dipa's IMO are just too sweet, too much malt doesn't work either. I'd rather drink BMC than a lousy IPA or and old one,

 

A bad IPA is like a bad orgasm-there is no such thing

 

You'll have to arrive at your own answer to that question as you're the one drinking the beer.

Personally, I look at it more as a question of "what makes a good IPA" and seek out dank, hop forward aroma/flavor profiles with some contrasting, but not overwhelming bitterness, and a clean, dry or bready malt backbone to showcase the hops and add some balance.

 

I so agree with everything here, except that I just had a local Belgian-yeast IPA and it was incredibly balanced and delicious. First time for everything I guess...

 

Malty

 

Lets see:

Lots of crystal malt.
No defined hop flavors.
Tons of generic bitterness.
Overdone sweetness, booze, or both.

I think that just about covers it.

 

But when you taste a great one its instantaneous, with no thought required, and it doesn't need to be over analyzed..

 

I am easy to please with beer. I like most everything. I do remember an IPA that was not good at all and it was because it was absolutely mouth puckering bitter. No citrus, no pine, no tropical fruit, just bitter as all hell. That to me is a characteristic of a poorly made IPA.

 

To me, when an IPA tastes like Jockamo IPA from Abita. Ick!

 

Do you like it or don't you? If you like it, it's good. If you don't, it's not. Taste is subjective.

 

I don't like some single hop IPA's. I don't care for single Simcoe, Mosaic, Amarillo right off the top of my head.

 

Anything you don't like.

 

Bad IPAs tend to taste like sweaty balls and hair.

 

Not sure I want to ask how some one would know this....

 

If the malt and hops don't mix well. It isn't just balance the two flavors have to work together. Poor balance is secondary but also important. And finally the flavors have to be good. If you've got nasty malt or nasty hops get them out of here.

Oddly enough these two things are nearly impossible for most to handle.

 

Sorachi Ace?