IPA popularity

Ardbeg to the rescue.

 

This whole "let's be honest" or starting a sentence with "honestly" is out of control. Anyway I think the style has a few things going for it. They are relatively easy to make. They are also cheap to make. They are very good if done correctly. But I think a huge reason is that in the current craft, beer advocate climate IPA's are best fresh and therefore will move fast and constantly. When I first began enjoying the IPA's I had no thought of freshness. Now I want them fresh and I drink them fast. I then go to the store to replenish. If I buy almost any other beer freshness is not a factor. Now I'm going to eat a Taco.

 

As a homebrewer and beer lover, IPA is one of my favorite styles. I have to ask what is the basis for the statements that "IPA'S are cheap to make"? They are actually one of the most expensive, due to the amount of hops used. A recipe such as Pliny uses 12 to 14 ounces of hops in a 5 gallon batch. Hardly a cheap brew.

 

Because that is what most people like. You really couldn't come to this conclusion on your own?

 

I dunno- to me, that would depend on what the other half of the taps are.

 

Hops are good. IPA have lots of hops. Hulk like hops.

 

Only great IPA's are great, there is a sea of mediocre out there as well. I'd rather have a JA lager or OMB lager than a mediocre IPA, and it's not close.. but if there is a great IPA around or DIPA, it's hard to beat. The Ba stuff for me is taken like Cognac or a fine scotch or Bourbon, sipping not drinking.

 

Isn't that kinda the description of a "style"?

 

Because they smell/taste like weed, obviously.

 

Well, depending on what one means by "popular" (i.e., discussed on the forum vs. actual sales) of course, but IPAs have only been the best selling "craft" beer style for a couple of years now, if one goes by the admittedly problematic IRI sales data*. They account for about 20% of the craft beer sales today.

In 2010 or so, Pale Ale was still the top recognized style, at around 14% of the total "craft" sales vs. 11% for IPAs. It wasn't that long ago the best selling (and only IPA in top 10 craft beers) was Redhook's Longhammer (!).

And, even with their recent rise to the top and double digit percentage growth, IPA still account for about 1% of the beer sold in the US. The concept that their rise is because "people like hops" is, perhaps, somewhat overblown.

​

* IRI counts only certain off-premise types of stores, and includes some breweries that the Brewers Association doesn't consider "craft" (like CBA brands). And, they also list both "seasonal" and "variety" as "styles" and, as such, "Seasonal" still often outsells "IPA". Still, it's the best source we ("we" = people not willing to spend $1000 on a market report) have.​

Stouts, according the IRI data, are less than 1% of total craft market - maybe the 15th most popular style based on sales.

 

Is Pale Ale the "white zinfandel" of beer?

 

Sucks is at a bar? Which one? I need my IPA fix!

 

They're just great drinking beers, very flavorful and pungent without knocking you off your feet with ABV. I didn't even like the style when I first got into the scene, I preferred Belgians. 90 Minute was one of the only IPA/DIPAs I could drink. Over time, my palate just started to crave them.

 

Huh? Wow, I couldn't disagree more. Furious is much different than DFH60, which is much different than Two Hearted which is much different than Alpine Duet which is much different than HopDevil which is much different than Lagunitas IPA which is much different than Jai Aai which is much different than Torpedo........need I really go on???

Your point is a little valid (but not totally) if a couple of IPAs use similar hops like Two Hearted and Centennial and Racer 5, but even then the malt bill is totally different so the beers are still different. Honestly, I have yet to find 2 IPAs that actually taste the same or even really, really similar....and I've had a whole ton of IPAs. Each IPA is unique in it's own way.

 

It's the weed lover in you

 

The clear yellow + fresh snow white head of most IPAs is a clear indication of a simple malt bill. This is the key problem with most IPAs. They are lacking in the malt department.

IPAs with a more amber body and offwhite/tan head tend to be a more complex and enjoyable overall beer when compared to their hopcentric counterpart IPAs.

I love hops but I love them best in a balanced beer. Personally, I think Deschutes has found a great balance with Inversion and their NWPA Red Chair. Both are very hoppy and yet both have a rich malt bill. Compare either of those beers with Lagunitas Sucks. Sucks is a beautiful beer if you only focus on the hops. If you take into account, while tasting the beer, the lackluster malt bill then it's clear that Sucks is an inferior overall beer because it's taste is only one dimensional.

 

Just what I was thinking... It's not like I plow through half the taps when I go out to a bar anyway. As long as one good thing that I enjoy is flowing, then I'll be happy.

 

This is brilliantly ironic.

 

I've never heard this. Are you quoting somebody or something? Looks to me like you're engaging in push polling.

Edit: Here's a list of the top craft brewers of 2012. Only two of the top ten (#6 and #9) have an IPA as their flagship beer, with two more having a pale ale.