Are IPAs not for me?

I didn't like them at first, either. Don't force it, if it's gonna happen it'll happen naturally.

 

I recall my first IPA. I picked up a 6-pack of Ranger and couldn't finish it. Now I love all kinds of IPAs.

There are a wide range of flavors that hops and combinations of hops can give off. I recommend reading IPA reviews and seeing what flavors people say they taste like and following that towards gateway IPAs. If you try some that sound appealing and you still don't like them then maybe they really aren't for you or you need to drink APAs until your hop palate is better formed. Either way, it is fine to just like maltier beers despite the popularity of IPAs. Drink what you like and don't try to force yourself to like something that you really don't.

 

Hop palate is better formed?
Why would you want to try and train yourself to like something you don't really like?
If you don't like something, you don't like it.
It's beer, drink what you like, and don't drink what you don't like.
Easy as that.

 

Hops are an acquired taste, don't force it and they'll probably grow on you eventually.

 

Because the gentleman is asking about IPAs and our thoughts on drinking them. I didn't like IPAs (hated the first couple really) until I formed a better hop palate and now I love them. Maybe he will never like IPAs, maybe he's like me and will one day love them. I really can't say, but I'm happy to share my experiences with IPAs.

 

The first couple IPAs I had, I love the first 4 oz., tolerated the middle 4 oz., and left the last 4 in the bottle while I grabbed a less palate-ruining beer. It's definitely an acquired taste to get used to the bitterness, but [if IPA is something you'd ever enjoy] I think you should at least be able to appreciate the citrus/pine/grapefrut/floral notes of the hops. If you enjoy the taste but find the bitterness difficult to cope with, then keep on trucking. If you don't see any redeeming qualities, then I wouldn't get your hopes up.

 

Out of the first few IPA's I had, the only one I enjoyed at first sip was Sierra Nevada's Torpedo.
It took me several months before I began to enjoy IPA's as a category.

 

It really isn't that easy. I loathed coffee the first time I tasted it, but now I couldn't live without it. There is such thing as an acquired taste; once you acquired it, though, it's a great thing.

 

I was the same way when I got into beer. It just takes time and repeated exposure, but you can come to enjoy them.

 

What other beers do you like? I found an IPA or DIPA with a greater malt backbone are easier to deal with, not as bitter. Then, there are ones like DirtWolf that are all about the hops, yet don't turn mouth-puckeringly bitter at the end.

My advice: try more maltier ones (I like rye IPAs to start people on) and work your way around the spectrum. Don't buy a 6-pack of one kind, buy singles to 1) possibly waste less money and 2) expand your horizons faster.

 

100% agreed - and to be honest, some of the good IPAs that I like, I still pour out the last 2 ounces or so if I let it get too warm. Much as I like Two Hearted, 15 degrees off of serving temp, and it's undrinkable. Then again, as I keep bringing up DirtWolf, that one can be drunk at almost room temperature and still be good. (IMHO, of course.)

OP, trust me - I didn't like IPAs at all 4 months ago (so I thought,) and I have since tried many and found some I really like.

 

Its completely normal not to like most IPAs. I don't know a human being that likes the taste of pine needles, that's what a lot of IPAs taste like. Some of the west coast styles introduce more fruit characteristics like grapefruit but they are still very bitter. You don't have to be like a lot of beer drinkers and pretend that you like IPAs. Drink what your tastebuds like.

 

I'm not an IPA person at all. San Diego is all about IPA's which I have never fully understood. I prefer barel aged stouts personally, but I will say on a hot summers day, some IPA's can be refreshing. It took me a long time to appreciate what they could be. I would say dogfishhead 90 min IPA, and brewdog hardcore IPA. Both have a nicely balanced malt/hop character without just being in your face bitterness.....but like I said, I dislike 99% of IPA's yet I still managed a few I actually enjoy under the right circumstances, I am sure over time you will do the same.

 

IPA is not my favorite style but I do enjoy drinking them occasionally because I know I will get a big burst of hops from them. I can certainly understand why "hop heads" like them so much but I would consider myself more of a "malt monster". However, there are some beers that mix both the malts and hops really well. You might look for those. I really enjoy drinking Extra Strong/Special Bitters (ESB) or English Bitters because they have a tendency to be a good mix of malts and hops.

Every time I go to a ball game in my area I can usually get Honker's Ale on-tap which is simply called 'English Bitter' as the style. It's a very nice mix of hops and malts. You will taste the hops in this beer but it's balanced out rather nicely by the caramel malts. I thoroughly enjoy drinking this beer on-tap.

 

You just gotta give it time, man. When I got interested in craft I was the same way, hated IPAs and anything remotely bitter.

Stick to what you enjoy, but also branch out occasionally with different styles, even if they are not known to be very hoppy or bitter. This will help you develop your palate. Don't be afraid to come back to IPAs to check your palate, and when you do, come back with smart purchases. For instance, my "wow" IPA moment came with a Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA purchased on a whim on tap at some bar. DFH 90 is a DIPA that is quite hoppy, but the bitterness is smoothed out by a nice malty backbone. Fantastic, enjoyable beer. Don't be afraid to do some homework and see what some approachable IPA's are. You're definitely in the right place on BA.com.

Ultimately, don't force yourself to drink beer you just don't enjoy: life is too short. If you've given your palate a fighting chance to develop and still don't enjoy IPA's, then so be it. There are no rules saying you must like every beer style.

 

I didn't like IPA's at first either. The one beer that started my way to tolerate and now appreciate IPA's was Bear Republic's Racer 5 IPA.

 

I'll chime in again to suggest 90 Minute, as other BA's here have. Lots of DIPAS have that sweet hop/malt balance, so maybe check them out first (Not DirtWolf, though. Too hoppy). I'd also suggest Stone Ruination/Ruinten, or a nice can of G'Knight. SN Flipside too.

 

My gateway IPA was DFH 60 Minute IPA. It had plenty of malt to transition me from beers such as Boston Lager to hoppy ales. Also, 60 Minute doesn't finish very bitter.

I think this is your key. Stay away from too bitter IPAs until your ready for them.

Some examples you might consider:

DFH 60 minute
Stone IPA
Racer 5 IPA
Cigar City Jai Alai
Lagunitas IPA
Troegs Perpetual IPA

Other opinions on starter IPAs are welcome...