IPA: Mainstay or Fad?

Not that I can think of, off hand. I noted above how I've collected my reference material - like the below - but it's hit or miss and seldom exactly what you're looking for (and ya gotta save what ya find). The IRI sales figures, which come in volume (cases, not barrels) or in dollars are, at best, indications of trends and not actual exact sales, because of how they're collected (retail level) and then only from certain types of retailers.
But they're good enough for the industry, so....

 

I can't remember if it was this site, but I remember someone from England saying American (and American inspired) pale ales, IPAs, etc. served in a separate category than their English counterparts (also labeled as something other than pale ale, IPA, etc. and more along the lines of "American ale", or something). Guessing they're seen as being as different as a German pilsner and American adjunct lager. You wouldn't imagine them being sold side-by-side.

 

Soooo are we done here?

 

I remember my first post... "Is it OK to almost exclusively drink new stuff/Pokemon - gotta collect em all!"... I low balled it.

 

And the point is?

 

Well since a brewer only needs to show a picture of hops to the wort in order to stick the IPA marketing tool onto the label I'd say it's not a fad.

 

Almost every local brewery around here has stated many times through many avenues that their core IPAs make up a good 2/3rds of their sales. But that was 2-3 years back. Many have spent millions on upgrades knowing what has been their mainstay money maker. I guess fad isn't the right word that I would be looking at. Maybe diversity? Do breweries have to be more diverse now? Yes. I think they do.

But I'm also not looking at ipas as merely hazy limited quick sales. There are two branches of ipas. The former has had Longevity for atleast 10-16 years. The other may be fragile.

 

So it seems we can say that the potential 'fad' of IPAs started around the year 2000. And if anything it seems to have expanded it's appeal in the intervening (nearly) 2 decades. It appears to be leading the revolution (in the sense of a cycling not an overturning) in beer globally, and most of the 'fad' styles have been different takes on the IPA foundation. If you describe an IPA as an ale brewed with a focus on some aspect of hop flavors then I think it's safe to say that the IPA has passed the fad phase and is now a global beer mainstay

 

Agreed, second post makes much more sense. To that second post, the idea that the current large share of the total craft market that is IPAs being a fad, I (maybe just hopefully) agree. I don’t expect it to turn around tomorrow, but I’ve got to imagine that people will get bored with “variety packs” of 4 IPAs and actually want other beers and the balance will tip back. But who knows. Maybe IPA is just our generation’s AAL.

 

Hoppy Bastard is here to help in these confusing times. It turns out the IPA really is a popular style of beer and not just a fad. Just like the horseless carriage and electricity. I think we can close down this thread now. Thank you.

 

All styles fade and die.

 

And some come back from the dead - e.g., Grodsizkie.

Cheers to Zombie beer styles!!!!!!!!!

 

MY LIFE AND SCREEN NAMES ARE JUST A FAD?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

Most definitely a mainstay. The fad IMO would be the hazy IPAs; they seem to appeal to the consumers who don't like the bitter taste of IPAs. And maybe a fad as well, but calling every style of beer you add hops to as "Insert beer style" IPA.

 

I don't want to help turn this into a "West Coast vs. NEIPA" thread but I recently visited Pennsylvania and had Fat Head's Headhunter and Hop Juju on draft and it made me nostalgic for that style of beer, that has seemingly been thrown to the wayside.

I love hazy IPA's. I'm a "Haze boi" as much as anyone else but a great, clean bitter IPA is something to behold. To me, nothing beats that flavor when it first hits your tongue.

I hope NEIPA's never go away, but I also hope the "West Coast" style IPA's hang around forever too. Variety is good.

 

Is this a thread that was made ten years ago?

 

Putting aside the fact for a moment that as a style of beer, IPAs are hundreds of years old, the fact that IPAs have been a main stay in the American craft beer scene/culture for over 15 years now at this point I'd say show us that this is a very popular beer style that has staying power.

Eric

 

It's so weird. It's like asking if hot sauce is a fad.

 

This is why there are so many varieties of beer to love and enjoy, but that doesn't mean the IPA is a fad, destined to go away to the margins of relevance like the mullet Your argument is baseless on it's premise, therefore I pronounce you a troll! Congratulations!