IPAs - Past, Present, and Future

1 = Two Hearted, Jai Alai, Sculpin, Dirtwolf
2 = My favorites have not changed, and probably won't for a very long time.
3 = IPA's don't seem to be as popular as they used to be, but they still seem to be the most prevalent and popular style brewed.
4 = Not sure what you're referring to...

 

Favorites: DFH 60-minute IPA, Heavy Seas Loose Cannon

My favorites are subject to change--I admit that while I enjoy IPAs they're not my favorite style and so I haven't sought out many of the top-rated IPAs.

My opinion is that IPAs aren't going anywhere; in that sense there's not a "bubble" and they will always be extremely popular. However, I do think that other styles will catch up to them and maybe even surpass them in terms of craft beer popularity. I think that will be good for the popularity of craft beer in general and in gaining new converts from the BMC world because no one will think that you have to like IPAs to be a craft beer person.

 

The future of IPA's will arrive when someone invents the Invisible Malt, and the industry can finally create the hop tea so many crave.

 

1. Sculpin, Enjoy By, Sucks, Dirt Wolf, Jai Alai, Blazing World
2. I used to love extremely pine forward IPAs like Stone IPA and while I still enjoy them, I feel like my palate just doesn't seem to pick up on those pine notes anymore. I used to love the hop bombs, but now I look for a nice balance. The original "C" hops all seem boring and stale compared to the newer hops like Citra, Simcoe, Mosaic, Nelson, etc...
3. I agree with Das_Reh. IPAs don't seem as popular anymore. Gose and other sours seem like they're catching on a lot more now. The IPA is definitely still heading in that super tropical fruit forward direction. I think they'll be less about IBUs and more about "juiciness".
4. As long as new hop varieties continue to be bred, I don't think we'll see the "bubble" burst. Hop breeders will always come up with new and exciting ideas.

 

Who couldn't use some more colors and more BS marketing?

Brewer- "I brewed a pale ale."

Owner - "No, you brewed a session IPA. Next week you are brewing a brown for our IBA, and next week you are brewing a pale lager we are calling an India Pale Lager. And for Easter you are brewing an IPBA, our new India pale bock ale."

 

What are your favorite IPAs of the past/present?

Past would be Dogfish Head 60/90. Present is currently in flux. Torpedo and Finestkind are up there. Recently came into possession of some Two Hearted that I am really enjoying. Heady Topper too. Many of the newer IPAs have actually turned me off recently.

How do your former favorite IPAs compare to your current favorites, and what's changed about you or about the IPA scene itself?

Went from more malt-focused to more hop focused and am now trying to determine what makes a balanced IPA. I had a brief fling with tropical IPAs and now steer away from them.

What are your thoughts about the future of IPAs?

The future is bright.

Is there an IPA bubble (and when's it going to burst )?

Difficult to pin-point an IPA bubble, since there is so much variety within the style. I think there may be mini-bubbles within the style. Tropical may yield back to citrus, or pine, or malt, etc.

 

The point about your favorite IPA's getting lost in the shufle is interesting. I just had a Bridgeport for the first time in a while and I forgot just how good a basic, classic IPA can be. I'm all for innovation and pushing the boundaries and 100 IBU's. But I hope there is always room for IPA's that are for lack of a better word "normal".

 

Hybrid Lagers/Ales are the wave of the future!

 

I'd buy you a round for getting the joke! Cheers!

 

1. PtE, Nelson, Julius, Permanent Funeral
2. Weaker, more one note, not as hoppy
3. The future is now?
4. Mild bubble

 

1. Mastermind, 2nd Fiddle, The Crusher, Triple Sunshine These in my mind are all great but different in many ways. There is no rank to my list.
2. There are so many DIPA's out there and I am trying to try them all. But for the present the it must be something in the water in Vermont that makes them stand out.
3. The Future is always open, when some announces a new IPA that will be out I try to hunt it down if possible.
4. I hope I die before the bubble bursts!

 

Oh, an IPA thread.....


(just kidding, back to your thread)

 

In short, I really enjoy the evolution towards golden IPAs with low bitterness and soft texture.

 

1. Torpedo, Hop Devil, sculpin
2. Been avoiding IPA's lately only because I had so many of them compared to other styles that im currently exploring.
3. Not worried about the future of IPA's.
4. No comment

 

IPA seems to be the cool thing to be in to. My favorite is 120 DFH. I dont know that there is a burst in sight, but I think many people have tastes that evolve and they discover other styles.

 

1. Deuchars
2. Deuchars went downhill (apparently); also Two Hearted came along
3. The single-most lasting "craft" contribution to world brewing
4. (See 3.)

 

1. I started out really into Sierra Nevada Celebration and Victory Hop Devil.
2. I still love celebration but hop devil seems a little too malt forward for my taste, so my tastes have become more and more geared towards intense pine and grapefruit bitterness. Dreadnought and Heady Topper all the way!
3. Whoever said the IPA would turn it to IP-Eveerything is unfortunately right, though I hope we'll continue to see better local regional IPAs where the big dogs either aren't abailable or arent fresh enough.
4. Not for a long time but I think the "fad" will fade at some point.

 

• What are your favorite IPAs of the past/present?

Right now my new favorite thing is Ballantine IPA. Other faves are Dirt Wolf, Maximus, Ruination, Celebration, Union Jack, Burton Baton. Others that I've had on select occasions but thoroughly been impressed by include Double Sunshine, Pliny the Elder and Hop Drop and Roll.

• How do your former favorite IPAs compare to your current favorites, and what's changed about you or about the IPA scene itself?

There are no 'formers', but more will get added to the list. Then it just becomes a matter of frequency of purchase. (The only qualifier is if there are consistency issues- that's when I tend to look elsewhere). I still enjoy the different takes equally, from English to American, from soft and fruity to dry and bitter, from piney to tropical, etc.

• What are your thoughts about the future of IPAs?

New hops featured in ways to show them at their best, hopefully even including the development of newer compatible yeast signatures as well.

• Is there an IPA bubble (and when's it going to burst )?

The only 'bubble burst' will be that, thankfully, brewers will no longer have to include one in their lineup to get attention. Then the only ones that will go by the wayside will be the unremarkable ones, and those that have a following will remain.