"Perfectly balanced"

Here is what the Bros think about the balance a IIPA is supposed to have. "...you should expect something robust, malty, alcoholic and with a hop profile that might rip your tongue out. "

Not all styles are at their best when there is a balance to the flavors. Some styles, such as Flanders Red/Brown, Berliner Weisse, and IIPA, are designed to be completely unbalanced.

 

I think kzoobrew has a good discussion point of: “I prefer to view balance in context of the style of a specific beer.”

One beer I posted about in a past thread that I found to have a very good balance was Anchor California Lager where I stated:

“The California Lager has a nice balance of American malt flavors and American hop flavors. There is nothing distinctive that I can describe as regards the American two-row malt flavors. There are some BA homebrewers who view American two-row in a less than positive light; for some homebrewers American two-row is considered inferior to imported malts. I personally find American two-row to be a nice malt and I think it has its place in beers like American Pale Ales, American style IPAs and now for American Pale Lagers. The flavor of Cluster hops is pretty different from Noble Hops. How would I describe the flavor of Cluster hops? I should state upfront that my ability to articulate beer flavors is not my strong suit; I suppose I would describe the Cluster hop flavor as being a subdued floral/spicy flavor. I have seen BAs as stating that Cluster provides a “coarse” or “harsh” aspect to a beer. I detect absolutely no coarseness and harshness to this beer. I would describe it as being balanced and overall a tasty beer.”

Cheers!

 

Balance is completely subjective.

 

It isn't a dick measuring contest. Some people, like myself, enjoy those beers based on taste. You might not but please stop overgeneralizing...A reoccurring theme I see often on this forum.

 

Since when are IPA's supposed to be balanced?

That's like saying hot wings should be balanced or cotton candy should be balanced. Makes no sense.

American IPA's should have medium to high hop bitterness and flavor. Dopplebocks should be malty.

There is a range and some beers, by definition, should not be balanced.

 

when i think balance i think boston lager or fat tire but that's just me

 

It is all about context.

There is no reason to use the term balance when comparing IPAs to other styles, you are absolutely correct that the style is intended to be unbalanced.

There are many valid reasons to use the term balance when discussing IPAs within the context of the specific style. Any beer worth drinking, regardless of style, needs to find an appropriate level of balance. An IPA that is nothing but bitter hops or an American Wild that tastes like pure lactic acid and has no depth of flavor is out of balance in terms of the style.

 

I agree that even in an ipa there is a kind of balance. They are pitting the best character of the hops against it's own bitterness and while you are not showcasing the malt it serves a purpose. The best ipa's are the ones that surprise you with a little shy bread or faint caramel. If the bitter is uncomfortable then is an ipa unbalanced?

 

"Perfectly balanced" is a myth. It all depends on taste buds and personal preference. What's perfectly balanced to you may be considered too malt-forward or too hop-forward for someone else... or too sweet... or too bitter... or too dry etc. The thing is they wouldn't be wrong either. "Perfectly balanced" doesn't exist but "perfectly balanced for YOU" most certainly exists.

 

I think we may be talking about different sides of the same coin. I also wonder if we are confusing "balance" with "drinkability".

If we are discussing beer flavor certain beers should not be "balanced".

Depth of flavor is not the same as balance.

I looked up the dictionary definition of "balance" b/c I was curious.

Balance: n. a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.

If certain beers (like an IPA) have "equal" or "correct" proportions of malt, hops, fermentation characteristics, finish/aftertaste it will not be a good example of the style.

 

Orval at 6 months is where the hops have faded some and the brett and malt are in equilibrium for me.
Many lagers are nicely balanced, SA lager is one. fat tire amber ale, was unbalanced to the hoppy side. but like anything in beer its to YOUR taste. IE there is no right answer only opinion.

I also find Rochefort 8 to be in perfect balance. Brooklyn choc stout is also perfect, with age it moves to the malty side, but damn fine beer(ale). IMHO

to me the whole Diff of an IPA is for unbalanced to the hoppy side, otherwise why would hop heads drink that pine tar stuff??? lol

yes I know there not all piney, it was a joke..

 

Redchair by Deschutes comes to mind when I think balanced.

 

Hey, I enjoy the taste of many of those beers too from time to time. That doesn't mean they're balanced.

 

Balance is a matter of perception and personal taste as well. I've had IPAs that were unbalanced but they were still great. I've had a few IPA's that were unbalanced and dry hopped to death and it was painful to drink, I suppose put in enough hops without somewhat of a malt backbone and you get hop juice. I've had Bourbon hot Porters which were IMO great stuff, no base beer but a ton of bourbon and i loved it. Just depends, but I suppose a brew like Heady Topper is the epitome of balance, it's why its so great and so very drinkable, but still hoppy as hell, but it doesn't fatigue your palate. Well you can but it takes a full week at the Beach and a case and a half to hit my threshold.

 

Didn't say they were. Just pointing out most people aren't drinking them to be cool or measure their dicks.

 

That doesn't negate what kzoobrew was saying at all; the word 'correct' implies the context he was talking about.

But why don't we just use the word 'harmony' instead of 'balance' from now on and be done with the confusion.

 

My "argument" is not based off of equal proportions but what I perceive to be the correct proportion. In my opinion, the words correct and appropriate can be used interchangeably within this definition. In a beer such as an IPA, you want the hop characteristics to be dominant but you also want an appropriate counterpoint. An IPA may be 90% Hops and 10% Malt but that 90:10 ratio is correct in terms of balance for the style.

Drinkability is more of an all-encompassing view of the beer but I will not argue that what I am calling correct balance is going to be related rather closely to the drinkability. The closer a beer is to the correct balance, in context of style of course, the more drinkable the beer will be.

I would wager that if we stripped the term balance from this conversation our opinion on beer construction would be remarkable similar. What fun would it be if we couldn't be at least a little persnickety about the definition of a term though.

 

Perfectly balanced is a full beer in one hand, and another full beer in the other.

 

Eschewing a philosophical foreword, I'm just going to throw out one that I consider to be a good example - Founders Centennial IPA