Poll: WCIPA vs. NEIPA

Prima came out in my day (2000's), research shows that Brandywine Valley Lager aka Victory Lager and Festbier were the mainstay V lagers of the 90's

 

Not the greatest analogy, but it's almost like regular imperial stouts vs. pastry stouts.

One is more "beer-like" for lack of a better term. Something you can go back to over and over again.

 

Look at the top 10 of the Top 250 and look at the stouts. Here's the description of the number one beer on this site:

Chocolate chip pancakes drenched with maple syrup served with espresso and a shot of bourbon, all in one sip. Our award-winning KBBS is decadence in a bottle.

 

I don't think anyone would consider that a pastry stout, but I would say it counts since it's not a purely straight forward imperial stout like say, Old Rasputin.

 

From the above linked article:

“For instance, styles like Brut IPAs — made with the enzyme amyloglucosidase to impart bone-dry flavors — are popping up at taprooms across the country. They might not have the sex appeal of hazy IPAs, but the industry appears to be aging beyond grammar school soccer, with everyone chasing the same ball.”

I was shocked to read this. It has been years since I have seen Brut IPAs. Are these beers becoming popular (again) in other parts of the counry?

Cheers!

 

The West Coast style, and it isn't because I was raised in southern California. If I had to pick one example why, it would be the following;

Alpine Nelson - Originally a clean West Coast styled beer, I could occasionally find this beer on-tap and in bottles. It was my favorite IPA for a long time. I was thrilled to find it again a few years ago, and the first thing I noted was that it had become hazy. It had changed. It was good, but not godly as it used to be.

But DoubleJ, you palate has changed. Well, La Fin du Monde and Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier taste as great as when I first had them 17 years ago.

 

It's all subjective and so a lot of folks on here who were introduced to heavily hopped beers happened to be introduced to them by way of WCIPAs. So they attach that initial introduction to that flavor profile. For me, I love hops in just about every way that you can present them. Give me a malty old school IPA, give me a hazy, pithy IPA, give me an IPL, give me a Belgian IPA, give me a Black IPA, give me a Brown IPA, give me a Brett IPA, give me a White IPA, give me a hoppy wheat. Just don't give me an IPA with fruit added to it or a Kettle Sour IPA. Let the hops speak for themselves without the addition of fruit or lactic acid. I have spoken...

 

As I sit here drinking a Trillium Congress Street, I thought of this post. I love both West Coast IPA’s & New England IPA’s. I can’t vote either way, because I would be happy drinking a great version of either style.

 

Just can't do it. Love them both.

 

Today I'd say WCIPA. I can't get Resin anymore dammitt ???