Red Hook or better?

I haven't had a Red Hook IPA in years, I don't know what part of the country you're in, but try a bunch of different fresh ones and see what you like...IPAs can be piney, citrusy, dank, tropical...you'll have to see what you like...I can say Stone IPA, or Ballast Point Sculpin, and I'm sure someone would say that they don't like them

 

If Summit is available where you live, pick up a 6 pack of Summit Saga. An excellent 'entry-level' IPA, and a regular visitor to my refrigerator.

 

^^^^^^ What he said! SAH-GAH!!!

 

out of all the IPA's in the world...yes, there is better out there than Red Hook

 

There are a LOT of better IPA'S on the market. Two Hearted is a good entry level IPA imo.

 

Location would really help us out here...makes a pretty significant difference in what you can find. Or look on the forums pull-down and find your regional forum. People will chime in with all sorts of brews you can't get even if you DO tells us roughly where you are located.

You can also go to the beers page and find the list of IPA and see what's availble in your distribution area.

Cheers and welcome - hang around a while and get to know us.

 

In my opinion almost every ipa is better with a few exceptions... try some ipa flights at your local beer bar or make an ipa mix six at your local bottle shop.. you will be an ipa snob in no time..

 

Yes, but no other beer (after the disappearance of Pete's) takes me back to 1993 with such instant success.

 

Red Hook ESB was the jam back in the mid 90's

 

If you like IPA's that aren't hammering you with a million IBU's, you could give Goose Island's a shot and see what you think. From there (if you like it), something like Stone IPA. Depending on what you think of those, you can go for something like Sculpin or you can back toward Hop Devil or something similar. The hazy/citric IPA's from NE might also be up your alley, although they aren't easy to get outside of that region.

 

"Smooth" is not so much what I look for in IPAs, so I'm not sure my taste would work for you... but if you're in the Northeast, try yourself some Smuttynose Finestkind. Or Long Trail Limbo. Those are two great IPAs that are easier to get into (IMO of course) and remain tasty even as you drink more and more aggressively-hopped beers.

 

As in Pete's Wicked Ale ?!

 

When I first started getting into IPAs around 10 yrs. ago and I was just buying anything that had 'IPA' on the label, I tried Red Hook. I haven't had another one since. If you want a second opinion, check the ratings on this site. You can do a whole lot better, wherever you are located.

 

Indeed. Drank it and Strawberry Blonde in rather staggering amounts alongside Red Hook (now that I think about it, probably ESB) in the early '90's. Last had a Pete's in like, 2008 maybe???? Found a sixer in Maryland. It was after that when I had heard about them ceasing to exist unless @jesskidden has insight on their survival.

 

Red Hook's Longhammer IPA is an affordable, easy to find, balanced flavored IPA that has been a craft beer staple for decades for a reason... it's not flashy or trendy, but there's nothing wrong with it. One could do worse for a entry-level IPA.

 

OP, I'd look for the "session IPA" moniker. I've found most of these to be the way to go for easy drinking IPAs. I'm pretty seasoned/jaded, and even I found renewed appreciation for IPAs after trying some of these.

 

I always recommend people getting into IPAs to have fresh SA Rebel, it is usually well received.

 

Lagunitas IPA or Maximus should do you well.

I also second the two hearted ale suggestion.

 

Red Hook is probably mid-pack among the drinkable IPAs. Start with something within a few miles of your house and work you way outward and you will probably find more excellent IPAs than you can possibly drink in one lifetime.