Less malty IPAs

Stone's IPAs are like that

 

I don't know which ones that you've had that you feel are too much on the malty side, or which IPAs might be distributed in your area, but try starting with this list of the popular ones that are available to you. https://www.beeradvocate.com/lists/top/ In realty, most of the IPAs and DIPAs in the upper portion of this list are difficult to find, but given that members of this site who cause this list to be created in the ranked order that it shows are mostly hopheads and would cause only the best hop-forward beers to reach the list.

One other thing for you to note in your search: it's likely that any IPA that is listed on the label as an English-style IPA will tend to taste malt forward. Look for labels that specify American-style IPAs.

EDIT: Also look for fresh-dated IPAs. It could be what you are experiencing is the hops degrading quickly and losing their prominence in the beer.

 

Of the three beers that you mention, I've had only the Racer 5, and it's been around 5 years since I had it, but I recall it being very hoppy. The first three reviews here ( https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/610/2751/ ) seem to agree with me, so I suspect you had an old beer when you had it, and the hop characteristics had fallen off.

 

Had several Racer 5's in the past few weeks and never struck me as malty. All we fresh from the brewery and pretty awesome.

 

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion series
Prairie Artisan Phantasmagoria

 

Drinking a fresh Shape Of Hops, great fruity nose, nicely and sharply
Bitter a bit light on the malt. At 9.5 abv it's definitely not sweet completely the opposite. Your in NJ might have a shot.

 

I like the variety between IPA's, from the differences in the hop characteristics used in different IPAs, including the malty/nutty flavor in some. Enjoyed the malt notes in a SA Third Voyage earlier today, nice change.

 

You might like session IPAs with lower abv and little-to-no malt character. Double or Imperial IPAs (DIPA/IIPA) are usually more on the malty side with higher abv. There are plenty of fruity piney hop forward IPAs that don't have a big malt presence. Stone IPA isn't very malty. In your case since you mentioned color as well, maybe it is crystal and/or caramel malt that you don't like as much. Those can be a bit sweeter like honey, toffee or caramel. Sometimes I like a little balanced caramel malt but I mostly prefer the paler malts like pilsner or regular 2-row barley, perhaps even a little wheat. It may give off a more biscuity or grainy character as opposed to candy-like malt sweetness. The key might also be freshness, or even drinking them cold since I feel coolness covers up some malt flavor, even though I personally usually drink beers close to room temp unless I really want a cold beer. It seems like a lot of brewers try to find a good balance of malt and hops to come together and hold up on the shelves for a few months. Maybe look at some fresher local breweries, or try for some "juicy" New England or Northeast style unfiltered hazy cloudy turbid opaque IPAs. (think I covered most of the adjectives there)

 

Barley malt can be pale but still have a certain flavor, and even a bit of sweetness depending on how it is mashed. If you enjoy Racer 5, which is pale and dry yet still has a malty backbone to it, I'd say that pale malt is fine with you,but it's the darker caramel malts that you don't like.

Another thing to keep in mind is to buy fresh IPAs; as they age the malts come forward. A Racer 5 will even start to get unbalanced if it'sold enough.

I like the Stone IPA suggestion, even Ruination- just make sure that they are less than 2 months old when you buy them. Also Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion seems right up your aley.

 

Victory's and Troegs' IPAs are damn good and usually have light and subtle malt bills. Get Hop Ranch, DirtWolf, or Vital IPA; or Perpetual IPA or Troegs' new and excellent DIPA "Nimble Giant."

 

Green Flash Citra Session
Ballast Point Even Keel

And in NJ, River Horse Hippotizing IPA

 

I have had all those beers and do understand where your coming from. Okay heres my quick list of less malty Pine and fruit forward IPAs and Pale Ales:
1. Founders Mosaic Promise(AMAZING SMASH BEER!)
2. Magnify Double Dry Hopped Pale Ale(NJ)(Good luck getting it, its my fav beer.)
3. Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion(nice balance between Pine and fruit)
4.Stone GoTo IPA(more Pine than Fruit)
5.Carton Boat Beer(NJ)
Just to name a few.

 

Tropicalia by Creature Comforts

 

Sounds like you would like the IPAs I generally don't so I concur with Stone IPA. Also look for Neshaminy Creek County Line, Fat Head's Head Hunter...

While IBUs can be all over the place I have found that the scale can be a fairly decent baseline for single IPAs.

 

You want less malt, eh? Try a Moylan's Hopsickle and get back to me.

 

Available to the masses.....
Oskar Blues IPA
Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter
Founders All Day IPA

These are my favorite hot weather / beach drinks! Of course, make sure they are FRESH!

 

you may like anti-hero from Revolution, pretty hop forward imo