Hoppy Blondes are Session IPAs

Cool

 

You may have a point here. I generally shy away from session IPA's as I find them less than satisfyingly. But I had some of the hoppy blonde yesterday and really enjoyed it. I wouldn't surprise me if I was a victim of my own expectations. If I reframe the session IPA as a hoppy golden ale I may find I appreciate them.
Worst case, it's a reason to retry some session IPA?

 

Pretty much. Like many other styles, there is no firm line between it and other styles. When is a pale ale an IPA? When is it a double or triple IPA? Is it a hoppy wheat ale a wheat ale or a white IPA? Etc.

 

Same. Last summer I was all like "Hell yeah! Session IPAs! Lots of hops and low abv!" but now they taste more like Sprite than an IPA to me. Too thin and watery. Although I may still buy some Easy Jack this summer.

 

Well I just know I would prefer a happy blonde....oops hoppy blonde over a session IPA any day.....

 

Yeah, for the most part, the only difference between them is what the brewery decides to call them. People don't like to accept that for some reason, but that's the way it is.

 

Hoppy Blondes are IPAs

 

If hoppy blondes are IPAs then why are they not marketed as IPAs?

 

Still no New Belgium in RI/Mass. I know Im not missing much but shouldnt it be here by now ?

 

You would have to ask the breweries. My guess is that they wanted to have a highest rated blonde ale. Also every style has been hopped up, so why not blondes. They do taste like (slightly malty) IPAs. Don't see the need to call them something else.

 

Because someone decided hoppy blonde sounded better than IPA in this particular case.

 

Ahhhhh.....marketing.....of course anything to fool us senseless beer drinkers into trying more beer.

 

So fresh Bigfoot is really just a black IPA?

 

You're supposed to be confoozed. Real Ale Brewing's staple is a blond ale, Fireman's #4. They also make Fireman's #4 Squared (which is awesome) and call it a pale ale.

 

I do enjoy 4 squared......very tasty and refreshing.

 

Yeah, pretty much. They have a huge amount of discretion when it comes to this. Most pale ales could be called IPAs and vice versa.

 

And very often the brewer knows a lot about making the stuff but knows less about beer itself. But things evolve,IPA has been pretty varied over the centuries so cannot be tied down.