Am I missing something on D/IPAs?

You answered your own question. You don't *love* IPAs. Move on, and drink what you love.

 

I'm not sure how you could be "missing something". Your tastes are unique to you, so no one can really help you enjoy something more than you do.

I love D/IPAs, but don't really like the Stone Enjoy By.

 

I'm with you, OP. Given my experience is still pretty minimal, but there have been some I've liked (DFH 90 minute) and some that are rated highly that I absolutely hate (Bell's Two Hearted) but for the most part I don't care for them.

I've discovered, much to my surprise that I'm more of a stout guy.

 

Some people don't get enjoyment out of bitter tastes. I've always said (and the wife agrees) that I'm a more bitter man than a sweet one. I absolutely avoid sweet foods (and beer) for the most part. Love IPAs and Sours.

 

I have the same problem with wits. Not a big deal. Chalk it up to "these beers just aren't for me" and move on.

 

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on Enjoy By since it has a flavor profile that is quite different from a "typical" IPA that is heavy on American C hops. If you don't pick up any differences between Enjoy By and Pliny I don't know what to tell you...

 

It may not necessarily be that. Palates are different. The reason that I think all wits taste the same may be because my taste buds are overwhelmed by the coriander. Someone else may be able to pick up more nuances than me.

For me, I can taste a difference between DIPAs. Sure, there's a lot out there that taste very similar, but I can pick up on nuances. Your palate may not be able to. The cool thing is that you may come back to DIPAs in a year or two and pick up on the differences. Palates are always evolving.

 

Trust me, there is a lot of variety in IPA/DIPA's. But like JM03 said, your tastes are specific to you. If you've been regularly trying IPA's for a while and still don't like them, then they may not be for you. Not sure what you could be missing (but the awesomeness).

 

You are missing a palate that appreciates a (D)IPA. No need to over think it.

If you like something, you know you like it without thinking about it. Sure, you can think about why you like it but you don't need to think if you like it. Same thing goes with what you don't like, you know you don't like it and you should not second guess yourself. Be confident in your palate, that more than anything will allow you to expand and develop you palate.

 

To answer the question, what hooks me into IPA is the hop aroma and complexity of bitterness in the mouth. Once I crossed the lupulin threshhold I found I could not go back, moving steadily from Lagunitis to Stone to RR to Port in search of more extreme ale. I can tell a fresh Pliny from a month old one. I can tell you if a Moylan's Hopsickle was properly refrigerated or not. I vacation in destinations where the breweries and pubs feature the locally brewed IPA, and skip those that have none. Don't get me wrong, I love a good double stout (yeah Old Rasputin) or an occasional malty barleywine...but that's what's for dessert. IPA is for lunch, breakfast, and dinner.

 

On a specific note to the Stone Enjoy By vs Pliny, I find Pliny to have more of a citrus character while the enjoy by is more piney/resinous.

 

There's a ton of RIS that have the same flavor profile .....what's your point

 

Not only did I used to not appreciate them, I used to think they were gross. Then eventually I could tolerate them as long as I had a glass of water to go with it, nowadays I constantly crave a good/new IPA/DIPA.

 

This is funny because I get almost no Citrus from Pliny and maybe a little from Enjoy by but both of them are in the same vein of DIPA for me.

Abner or Ephriham are Citrus DIPA's if you really want to taste a difference.

 

Based purely on my taste buds, this amazes me, but I know that everyone's palate is different and that is the reason for it. Almost all IPA's taste very different to me, and Pliny the Elder produces a unique taste that I have yet to find matched (and I've been looking). I can literally still taste my last PtE which I had a couple weeks ago, and I have had plenty of other IPA's since then. It's all about those hops.

This thread has me drooling for an IPA - definitely excited I've still got some Heady Topper's (HT is my favorite smelling beer btw, and has only been bested in taste by PtE) left in the fridge at home.

To the OP - I think the more different IPA's you try, the more you'll be able to tell them apart. Just give it time and keep trying new beers. Smell, taste, feel, look - try to take it in with all your senses. Just my 2 cents.

 

I do, I'll send you my address so you can send them to me and I can know for sure. In all seriousness I agree that Pliny is not the most citrus-ey, I think all of FFF stuff has more of that flavor. But just my humble opinion between two good DIPAs.