Can an IPA be TOO balanced?

Apparently, yes. So many of us will encounter an IPA that balances -even moderately - between hoppiness and malt character and immediately brand it as a "malt bomb" and consequently a failure. At this point a beer like that is going to be very unpopular among (north) American beer geeks. Once in a while I can get behind an old school DIPA that has lots of sweet maltiness propping up the hops but only as an outlier, a one-and-done, and I'm ready to return to a drier beer that has the hops in clearer relief almost immediately.

 

Not sure I follow the question. I understand how any style beer can be bland, or have flavors that don't mesh, or be in balance, or out of balance. The definition of IPA seems to be an expanding one.

 

I think you mean blessed

 

Relax and enjoy the ride. Or perhaps. Eat something with it.

 

Pataskala was like that. But I still like it

 

If a brewer's goal for a beer is for it to be balanced, then that beer needs to have a hop combo using hops that I really like or I'll consider it to be too boring to drink. (And I'll call it a pale ale.)

 

It can, see Jai Alai.

 

I have great respect for Firestone Walker, but have always been underwhelmed by their IPAs, often citing this reason. I did quite enjoy the slightly more hop forward nature of Luponic Distortion.

 

Nope. And can't be too unbalanced, either.

 

This is what is wrong with American beer. If it does not leave your lips bleeding then it is 'boring'.

 

When I think of balanced IPA, I think of Bell's Two Hearted.

No, I don't think an IPA can be too balanced.

 

A sense of balance should be one thing that makes an outstanding beer stand out. Bland ≠ balanced.

While not technically an IPA, Row 2/Hill 56 on tap was a memorable example of excellent, delicious, harmonious balance.

 

Maybe this is a continuation of the balance/impact thread http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/beer-impression-balance-vs-impact.389628/. I think a well balanced(which some think is a bad descriptor) beer in an IPA, is a beer that has all the right parts in sync, you know the malt is there, there is enough bitterness to tame the sweetness, and the hops shine thru with whatever flavors that you are looking for (varies by person). I think balance is a personal preference vs an industry judgement. You might like yours sweeter/hoppier/more bitter than I do.

 

Wouldn't an IPA that's too balanced be a pale ale?

I think I know what you mean, though. I don't care as much for IPAs that overdo the crystal malt. They become too syrupy sweet once the hop flavors start to fade.

 

"Too balanced" ?
Only if you don't like it.
I do like that, once in a great while. Now, if I could only remember what that was. (Really.) Any suggestions? Or just let it age?

 

Give it up. IPA is no longer a defined "style" All IPA means anymore in the US is that what is being offered is hoppy. It's a flavor descriptor nothing more. Stick IPA on the end of almost any other style and you will see what I mean. A balanced (IPA) is a pale ale.

 

Any more, when it comes to hoppy beers, "Balanced" is all subjective.

 

Soooooo, what is wrong with American beer, if I get your meaning, is that brewers choose to brew beer styles that are popular.

Let me know if I got your meaning right, as it appears you are advocating that brewers disregard popular beer trends in choosing what beers to make.