Does anyone feel like stepping back from IPAs sometimes?

I drink a lot of IPA's. Its my go to style. My default setting, if you will. But occasionally I'm just not in the mood for the bitterness. I'll get away from IPA's for a day or two and drink styles such as Wheat Beers or Brown Ales. But I won't stay away from them for very long.

 

Straight hop water man. All Day IPA is tolerable, but I get you for sure. Balance is important.

 

Yes. But I also view the summertime especially around DC as a time to embrace beers under 6% anyway. Most IPAs are above that.

 

NO

 

Not yet.

 

IPAs are what got me into craft beers a couple of years ago, and they have remained my favorite style ever since. That being said, having mostly IPAs most of the time, they have gotten sort of boring. I have progressively branched out, first into sours, then stouts and porters, and this additional variety did help. Then throughout the past month I was fortunate to try out many styles that I have not even considered viable, including herbed/spiced ales, rauchbiers, English bitters, and weizenbocks, and actually liking most of these. This has opened my eyes to the vastness of beer styles, and to how limited my scope has been.

I don't see myself ever stepping away from IPAs completely, but I am excited for them to take a lesser role as I continue to branch out and try more new things.

 

Lately I’ve been drinking more and more session beers; lagers, American Wheat, etc.

But in my heart I’m still a hop head.

 

I do not care for most IPA's, that said, give them a rest.

 

Wait... What?

Less hops?

Is that even an option?

So I guess... NO, not stepping back from the IPA.

In fact, I would encourage brewers to create a, "SLEEPY TIME," IPA, for those of us who enjoy that hoppiness and the rest of you, well, you can just go to sleep... No worries!

(about 9% ABV and enough hops to knock just about anyone out... hey... good luck with that... I'll still be up wondering when it, "hits")

 

I drank nothing but IPA's for years! I eventually found myself becoming bored with the style - everything was starting to taste the same. I made a cognizant decision in the fall of 2014 to start trying new styles. The first time I walked into my favorite taproom after making this decision - they just so happened to have Bourbon County on tap - and it turned my world upside down. I quickly became obsessed with stouts - preferably BA stouts. I would still re-visit my old friend the IPA - now and again - but I thought that the stout was what it was all about. Then a funny thing happened; the IPA was re-invented in the form of the NE/hazy IPA and now I'm re-obsessed with IPA's. Cheers!

 

No, I still enjoy IPAs and continue to seek out my favorites.

Living in the hinterlands means that occasional scores from brewing meccas is still a worthwhile pursuit.

I know, I know, I’m one of those people spoiling it for the rest of the world....

 

Say it ain't so, Joe!

 

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Nope, I’ll take my IPA ALL DAY once a headbanger always a head banger

 

I still love my IPAs, when I try something different it's usually a Pale Ale. I do enjoy a Dark Ale like Lagunita's Nightime but that's about as far off the track as I go.

 

I felt the same way. I'm stepping way back to re-discover lagers. It's weird how much more I appreciate a well-made Helles or Pilsner than when I abandoned them years ago. I still drink the hoppy, hazy mafia but it's no longer always my first choice at a brewery.

 

Abso fricking lutley! While I am a fan of the style I feel the market is inundated with them and brewers are concentrating on them way too much. I went on a personal moratorium against them for a period of at least 6 months and it was tough because it's all that seems to be on the shelves! I try to drink as much regular pale ale as possible.

 

I've been into German pilsners for quite sometime, especially Rothaus Tannenzapfle, Waldhaus Diplom pils, Kulmbacher EKU pils, etc. They are finally starting to catch on here and there are some very good American versions, including Victory Prima pils, and Troegs Sunshine pils, among many. I enjoy the subtle differences rather than the in your face hoppiness of IPA's. I do rather enjoy the flavor creativity and combinations that IPAs have brought to the table, which have inspired all other beer styles, so everybody wins. But, the one advantage that pilsners have, is that you can drink them all day, especially in warmer months, without getting bombed out taste buds or stomach.

 

I'm tired of walking into a brew pub and seeimg six beers on tap and ALL of them IPAs. Aaaarrrrggghhh

 

Throw back Thursday . My Berliner Weisse with strawberry syrup were enjoyed at the Wursthsus in the Square.