A hoppy beer for someone that doesn't like hops?

Try any of these suggestions on-tap.
IPA's on tap are significantly better imo, like the difference between a plastic bagged bread and a fresh loaf out of the oven.
I'm not a big IPA fan, but DFH 60 or 90 on tap is sublime as is Racer 5, Troegs Nugget Nectar and Hopback.

 

Fixed. Both Racer 5 and Two Hearted (and Centennial of course) have a bunch of centennial hops which really throw off an orange citrus character to them.

 

I actually couldn't disagree more with this point.

If you look at my second post or the revisions made by Kadonny, the difference in flavor profiles from different hop varieties is strikingly different. Personally I am not a fan of centennial hops, taste too much like pineapple to me, some people love pineapple and love centennial hops.

I am a huge fan of pilsners, but I find the noble hop experience to be so different from the American IPA hop experience that the last thing I'm going to recommend to someone who specifically asked about IPAs, is a pils.

As for Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin, if I know someone who loves grapefruit juice but claims not to like IPAs, I have won them over with that beer many times. I often tell them to close their eyes and imagine they are drinking a beverage flavored with grapefruit and bubblegum and not to consider that it's an IPA.

Works almost every time.

 

I

I agree with the changes, although for me I get nothing but straight up pineapple from centennial hops, but I know a lot of people who get more citrus from them. I know I'm not alone, but it's just another example of how different hop profiles can influence the flavors and way we perceive them drastically.

 

Only problem with All Day IPA is that it's a pretty lousy beer.

 

You like hops, you just don't know it. Beer would be an overly sweet mess without hops balancing it out

 

My point was simply that the hop profile in a good German pils might be more agreeable to the Op. And you are correct that hops ain't just hops, apples to apples. The tangy, spicy IPA standards- pine trees and pineapples, etc- don't seem to work for our friend. IPA lovers don't always respond well to Saaz and Hallertau, not to mention Fuggles and Goldings for many Americans.

 

Damn, of course you've been lambasted for this post. Everyone loves to roll their eyes on this forum without actually contributing. As they say, welcome to the internet I suppose. I'm guilty of it too though, guess it depends on how much I can relate to the OP. In this case I can.

I see it more like when I first got into sours, I didn't particularly enjoy them, but then I had Liefman's Goudenband....changed my perspective.
You may think you don't like hops, but I thought that too until I had a fresh two hearted.
Seems like you're just asking for suggestions to ease him into IPAs.

Two hearted is a good starting place IMHO, it's very very balanced. Not too aggressive, just check the bottle date! I had a 5 month old one and it was nowhere near as good as a 1 or even 2 month old one.

Fat Head's IPA is also great, though a bit more aggresive than two hearted on the bitterness.
Founder's Centennial IPA is also fantastic, and Green Flash West Coast IPA as well. West Coast is very citrusy IIRC.

Freshness is key in these IPAs, my stopping point is over 2 months, I won't buy any older than that. Green Flash's bottle dates always rub off unfortunately...

 

A pilsner or pale ale. Start there.

 

Just keep drinking the hoppy beers you don't like, eventually your palate will conform.

 

Sam Adams Noble Pils; it is crisp, light , and clean, but it has a nice hop profile. Then you can work your way up through the Pale Ales like SNPA and Pale 31 and take the training wheels off after that and really go for it!

 

Lagunitas Sucks

 

try a really solid esb!

 

^^^^ This. I will add Lagunitas New DogTown Pale.

 

Drink a bomber of Stone Ruination. Then go back and try some of the IPAs mentioned above. They wont seem as hoppy and you will appreciate them.

 

Citra, mosaic, falconers flight or nelson sauvin-look for beers featuring these hops.

 

I don't think anyone started out drinking IPA's ..we all need to break in and acquire a taste some how. Start out with some American Pale Ales and then work to IPA's from there. I think Great Lakes Burning River would be a good one to start on - well balanced with a nice malt backbone. Try Anchor liberty ale as well, its more of a toned down IPA.

 

Boulevard 80 Acre. Not an IPA, but up hopped up Wheat beer, which isn't bitter at all and showcases hops nicely!

 

To the OP: I think I have a similar palate to you. I think the bitterness is what turns you off to hop forward beers. What turned me on to hoppy beers were two things. Pale Ales as some other posters have suggested are a great starter. IPAs are all the rage but there is nothing wrong with a great pale ale. The second thing is a "fresh" or "wet" hopped pale ale or india pale ale. It's the season for these brews right now so if you can get your hands on some, give them a try. You get more of the floral, citrusy and fruity notes with less bitterness (at least IMO).