"What Is the IPA in 2014? Where Is It Headed?"

Great article, thanks for posting. I found this interesting.

"14 out of 20 (70%) specialty package releases for Sierra Nevada in 2014 that are listed on its site as of now are IPAs."

I give them tons of credit for their fall variety pack though, not one IPA in there. Not even a pumpkin ale either, which some could label as gimmicky. Simple styles that are hopefully done well (can't wait to try it!).

 

As of now the session IPA is the newest hot item. Every brewery is putting one out because, you know, American craft brewers are so innovative. Goses also seem to be picking up steam. Nothing is going to unseat the IPA though at least in any reasonable time span.

 

Are you suggesting that they are not?

 

There are innovators in the American craft beer scene (the minority) and piggy backers (the majority) who just copy the trends set by the former. So yes, that's almost exactly what I'm suggesting.

Source: The hops race, firing everything into barrels, session IPAs and so on and so on.

 

Thx for the link. Thought some of the piece was a little hackneyed; however, I did appreciate this line: "At some point in the last decade or so, hops became synonymous with 'flavor'." That's so right on. And this doesn't apply only to "old school", smack-you-in-the-mouth hop presentation, but also to the nouveau style, where IPAs are turning into Citra-infused fruit nectar. Hops can have wonderful flavors, of course, and I enjoy both the "old school" style, as well as the "new school". (If anything, I probably lean more old school myself, but I digress.) But, I've been a little disheartened at what sometimes feels like a lack of creativity on some brewers' parts. Seems the MO is: Want to make a flavorful beer? Just add hops! And then more hops! And then more hops!

Green Flash upped the hop bill and ABV on West Coast and Hop Head Red. Why? It's patronizing, really. Craft consumers want flavor, but there are more ways to achieve that than stuffing extra hops into the boil. If that's your breweries thing, and if you can do it well, I suppose more power to you. I'd just appreciate similar attention paid to the other components of a beer, so that the sum is greater than the parts.

 

Gotcha

 

No, every brewery is putting one out because if they don't they miss potential sales, but your first sentence is the real reason. American craft brewers are business people too.

 

"IPA is now a marketing term that means "hops," and so when inquiring about this style it is now necessary to ask "what kind" of IPA one is getting - " Yep IPA is no longer a "Style" It's a flavor descriptor.

 

What a business? Wait breweries have to turn a profit?

For innovation to happen breweries have to be able to afford it. Equipment, space, ingredients, labor etc all cost money.

 

Great article, definitely worth reading

 

I'm sure it will be some old style that was long forgotten, but I wish its was some completely new style

 

They can't gain other and perhaps more sales with an actual novel idea rather than trend jump? If you are late to a trend you already missed potential sales. Following already established trends rather than trying to better them or create new ones is a piss poor way for a 'business person' to go about building their brand.

 

Everyone needs to turn a profit but there are different paths to the same endpoint. I'm not one of the people who thinks craft beer is some warm hearted cuddle fest. Now, how much equipment, space, ingredients, and labor would you guess they are using trying to copy the latest trend?

 

Who is innovating beer outside of the US?

 

It's a dumbing down of craft beer. Too hard to educate new drinkers that ESB, Bitter, Pale Ale, Wheats and Ambers can be hoppy and delicious. Much easier to change the name to "......" IPA.

Oh well, the beers tasty no matter the name!

 

I really liked the Mikkeller/Prairie Artisan Ales American Style collab. I don't know whether to call it a farmhouse IPA or a bretty IPA, so I'll just say it was the best of both worlds. And I'm sure there are similar beers out there somewhere.

 

I would say there haven't been any true innovations in beer (American, European or otherwise) for a long time. Tweaks? Yes. Using newer hop strains? Yes. More hops/alcohol? Yes. Reviving certain styles? Yes. Innovating? Not really.

 

This is an interesting question, and I believe it is an earnest one. I'm curious as to what the answer is, or if there is one. I thought I read an article about new things going on in Italian beer?

Another thing to consider is that lots of companies are able to build their brands by using the "fast follower" model. Some breweries may not be able to innovate on their own - that is, of course, rare and very difficult. However, many companies are able to buy or imitate some new or existing technology or process, improve upon it, and move on from there.

As for the "next IPA", I haven't a clue. But my guess is that it would swing back to something malt-focused.

 

Things will only get better once the whole 'notion' of style disappears from the beer vocabulary forever.