Why do people like IPAs?

Hey me too! Oh, and IPA's.

 

I drink several styles, but I like IPAs because of the wide range of flavor profiles (pine/grass/tropical fruit/berry/citrus, etc.) and appearance (pale yellow to nearly bronze). A new-to-me IPA is like opening a wrapped gift on Christmas; never know for sure what is inside.

 

I like the old school West Coast IPAs. I'll dabble in a NEIPA every now and then, but only from a well known brewery (Trillium, Tree House). Anyone can make a NEIPA and 95% of them are mediocre at best. It's a fad for the brewery to try and be like Alchemist, Bissell, Tree House, and the beer can cover up a good number of defects. An old English IPA is great because you can get a sense for the history behind the style and get away from the lactose and fruit pureed adult slushies on the market today. My palate has been wrecked by those abominations and I certainly prefer a solid lager these days. It helps me root through what breweries are actually good. If you can't make a good pilsner with minimal flaws, you deserve to stay in business.

 

Oh you sweet summer Initiate

Give your taste buds a chance to grow

 

How else is everyone at the taproom supposed to know how cool I am when I order one and tell them the story of how they made IPAs to survive the trip to India?

 

Simply put, you've not had a good one.
Not all IPA's are good.

 

Maybe not that they would taste better, just that I would experience more of them.

 

There's no accounting for taste. Folks like what they like, and if you've found what you like, good for you! We don't all have to like the same things.