Hop War

Warmonger.....

 

So it seems that every time I log onto BA, a thread just like this has been made.

I have the most incredibly idea ever guys: If you don't like something, don't drink it.

Whoa!

 

Hop War or: How I Stopped Worrying about the IBU and Love the Bitterness

 

Used to look for IBU to avoid high IBUs.

Now? It doesn't matter if its 109 IBU. Ill never know exact bitterness personally until i try it. ive had 80 ibu and it was fine. but then ive had 65 and it had such a bitterness, i couldn't drink it. I dont think that number truly matters it depends on you

 

I dont see that at all. Most of the breweries I have been to locally are focusing less on bitterness and more on aroma and flavor. The days of the uber dry bitter bombs seem to be numbered. I also havent seen ibus listed on a beer in a while...

 

Trollol

That being said...IBU wars, is this 2010 again? Must be a cutting edge market focus group member from SA.

 

OP, do I understand you have a problem with brewers brewing styles that are the most popular/highest selling styles? And that you have a problem with information about the product being put on the label?

I hope you won't mind me recommending that if you don't like IPA's you buy a different style(s)? And if you don't like there being info on the label that you don't read it?

 

Often, I measure my own life in bitterness units.

 

I prefer to know cause 65 or better is what i like to see. The only problem 50% of the IPAS and double dont print that info .

 

I don't think flavor and style has given way to overpowering bitterness, in fact I think it's more the opposite in most cases currently.
But maybe that's just me.

 

A big difference between IBUs and perceived bitterness. Being a hop guy I find most session IPAs to be horribly bitter, I have no clue on their IBUs, but the lack of malt balance puts me off. I don't like malty IPAs either, but there has to be a reasonable balance.

 

I live in the same craft-brew capital as you do and although you have every right to your opinion, the example for your carping is a couple of top brewers? Out of the dozens of brewers and hundreds of beers you can access by just walking around town? A couple of top brewers who may be using hop bitterness in their marketing is a hop war? Gimme a break, please. And consider yourself flamed.

 

Ive had tasty beers at 10 IBUs ive had tasty beers at 1066 IBU(theoretically derived number). And tasty beers in between.
Sure seeing IBU is nice but not a requirement. There is no IBU wars, the actual Hop Wars is securing a hop contract and getting the hops you want to make the beer to apply for the next years hop contract.

 

I have always thought IBU's were a dumb measurement. If you have ever brewed you know how quickly the numbers can get ridiculous, and I remember reading that Stone found most breweries don't actually test for bitterness, but just estimate based on the theoretical alpha acid of the hops. Hop Stoopid apparently has 104 IBUs, but I find it much less bitter than say Stone Enjoy By or even Ruination.

 

I don't feel there is a hop war, per se, but IPAs are the best selling craft category and they are, by definition, bitter. Some brewers will try and push the bitterness level, others the hop flavor aspect. Placing IBU level on the product is a good thing. The more information the consumer has (read freshness date) the better. But IBU level is a indication of potential bitterness, not an absolute. The malt bill and types of malts will have a big impact on perceived bitterness.

From Wiki

"IBU isn't determined by the perceived bitterness of the taste of the beer. For example, the bittering effect of hops is less noticeable in beers with roasted malts or strong flavours, so a higher proportion of hops would be required in strong flavoured beers to achieve the same perceived bitterness in moderately flavoured beers. For example, an imperial stout may have an IBU of 50, but will taste less bitter than a pale lager with an IBU of 30, because the pale lager has a lower flavour intensity. After around 100 IBU, hop utilization is so poor that the number ceases to be meaningful in regard to taste, although continued hop additions will increase bitterness. Light lagers without much bitterness will generally have 8-20 IBU, while an India pale ale may have 60-100 IBU or more."

 

Somehow the first sentence from the Wiki write up has it reversed and doesn't fit with most of the rest. Perceived bitterness isn't determined solely by IBUs.

 

If there is such a war I would jump on that hop grenade for any of you guys.

 

I personally like to have all that shit on the label. I like seeing the OG, ABV, IBU and it they are so willing any other ingredient that went into the beer. If you like the beer and want to try and recreate it you have a basis to at least work off of. As others have said the IBU is not always an indicator of perceived bitterness. I think hop stoopid is way up there, but I don't find it that bitter at all, it actually is one of the first beers that steered me towards IPA's