Hello! Beer novice here looking for some recommendations

Hoppy but not bitter?

There's a link in this thread

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/a-beer-beginners-guide-to-hops-of-the-world.182376/

To an article you might want to read.

 

I understand what you're looking for; IPA's that have the floral/fruity/piney hop flavor without the face scrunchingly bitter blast.

Unfortunately, creating such a thing is perhaps the purest form of beer art there is.
Fortunately, there a number of breweries doing amazing things in this realm.

Seems to me like the newest wave of Session IPA's might be right for you.
Suggestions:

1) Founders All Day IPA
2) Boulevard Pop-Up IPA
3) Sierra Nevada Nooner

If you're looking for a little more intense hop flavor without the crazy bitterness...that's tougher, but still doable

1) Lagunitas Sucks!
2) Anything with Nelson Sauvin hops

 

I never heard the term IPAWeizen, but maybe they meant hoppy American Wheat Ales? If that's the case, see if there is some Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin still around- it would probbaly be right up your alley.

There are also hoppy German-style hefeweizens, like Schneider Hopfen-Weizen which have that spicy banana-ish yeast signature as well as some additional hop aroma, but I wouldn't call them IPA's.

(Maybe this term is an example of using IPA in front of every style, in order to sell it, gone too far.)

 

Bevmo or Whole Foods will have a better selection for you to try. Definitely agree with Lagunitas Lil Sumpin Sumpin. That's a great hoppy wheated beer! Also look at the reviews jerk for beers you like. You'll see examples of other, similar beers listed.

 

Boulevard 80-Acre and Half Acre Akari Shogun are just what you're looking for. If you can find in CA.

 

If you can get your hands on a sixer of Jai Alai, that's hoppy but not too bitter. Cheers!

 

member since 2010 and first post?

 

Maybe you find "Flying Dog Raging Bitch" and "La Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel" enjoyable, as both contain hop aromas, without an aggressive bitterness, due to Belgian yeast (which may lead to the Weizen impression you mentioned).

 

Not sure if Modern Times gets distributed to your area, but it sounds like Fortunate Islands might be right up your alley.

 

You would have loved great lakes chillwave

 

I enjoyed the I.P.W. from Upstate Brewing here in NY.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29376/94047/
Imperial Pale Wheat.
I don't think this beer makes it out of NY, but it sounds like it's what you're looking for.

 

Modern Times Fortunate Islands should be available to you. Awesome stuff. Hopped up wheat ale.

 

Don't know how far away you are from Alpine or if you have access to them, but Nelson is awesome and sounds like something you'd be into.

 

This was my first thought also, an IPA with a very wheaty grain bill. You should be neck deep in it over in CA.

 

Don't start him off with Alpine, he'll be disappointed with everything else afterwards

 

I have always been turned off by the bitter after tastes of IPAs, but have really come to appreciate certain ones over the last year. Pliny the Elder is a must try if you have not had it. Also, look out for Stone's Enjoy By and Dogfish 75 minute. I also live in the Bay Area and get each of these at Whole Foods. Not always easy to get, but I never pass them up when I see them. Alpine's Nelson is occasionally available on tap at bars around SF and is worth a try as well.

 

Already mentioned, definitely Sumpin' Sumpin'. Cant speak to your distribution, but also Bell's Oberon, 3 Floyds Gumballhead, Breckenridge Ophelia, Soutnhern Tier Hop Sun, Deschutes Red Chair, and (not hoppy, but great Hefe for $7/6) Yuengling Summer Wheat

 

You live in Cali you should Try Humulus Lager from the Bruery. Fantastic beer

 

Don't know of hop flavored wheat beers....however, good west coast pale ales are hoppy in aroma and flavor without huge bitterness (i.e. 20-35 IBUs rather than IPAesque 60+). Examples include Lagunitas New Dogtown Pale and Firestone Pale 31. If you like wheat type beers, I'd recommend going full-german hefeweizen with Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen. Maybe even venture into the Belgian style hefes and pale ales like Alaskan White or St. Bernardus Witbier.