Hoppy Lagers - Would you like more?

The one from the Legacy Sampler seems different from the one over the summer, too- like they are getting better at making these things . We tried all 4 beers this weekend, and that IPL was the best of the bunch this time around.

 

Here, here!

More hoppy beers? Are we not yet entertained on that front? I mean, sure ... I'll try an American imperial pilsener just to see what's what, but there's about a million hoppy beers already on the market, and they've begun to run together for me.

What I'd REALLY like to see are some American-made doppelbocks and bocks. Karbach makes a seasonal-release smoked doppelbock which should be out soon. Looking forward to some of that.

 

I voted to "would not try them", for one simple reason. Unless someone makes a hoppy lager that is better than my favorite IPAs, I'm all set. I personally feel ale yeasts are better to show case hops (and if you judge by the ratings, so do the consumers).

Even my local Jack's Abby with their superb Hoponious Union and Kiwi Rising (their best IPLs) can't produce a hoppy beer that tastes better than my favorite IPAs.

If you're going to include beers such as Nooner (which, at 38 IBUs I don't consider insanely hoppy for a German pils) and the Crisp, then that's a different story. I'm definitely going to try Nooner. The Beercamp Hoppy Lager at 7% abv though I probably won't try. Maybe if it's on draft somewhere, otherwise, that's not really my preference.

 

many Bothans died to bring the news from Endor that I had been appointed Beer Czar. I will drink a Russian Imperial Stout in memory of their noble sacrifice

 

I hear Jack's Abby is pretty good
I really enjoy all of their Hoppy lagers.

 

Bocks and Maibocks.

 

German pilsners are generally pretty hoppy/bitter. They've been around for a few years, so it's not like this is some new thing.

 

Lagunitas Czech pils is real crisp and malty. Pilsner urquell is also worth a shot if you haven't had it in a while. It is no longer shipped pre skunked! Cheers!

 

"
Hoppy Lagers - Would you like more?"

No

 

There needs to be an "indifferent" answer choice. It depends on the quality of the brew

 

I would not. I'd also be annoyed that I'd have to carefully vet and screen yet more styles/categories of beer that are not necessarily supposed to be hop-forward when exploring new beers, as there is no brewing flaw that ruins a beer so completely and utterly for me as the simple act of making hop flavors the dominant, forward aspect.

The moment I run across a hop-forward doppelbock is likely the moment I break down into bitter tears as an adult male.

 

I like German Pilsners. They have a pleasing, snappy bitterness that is appropriate. A 100 IBU Pils would be a mess.

 

I think they're really hit and miss, with most being misses.
It seems to be something that takes a fair amount of skill to do well, so that might explain it.
While there are a few good ones (Prima being the archetype for a good one), I don't think I'm all that excited for more.
Most of my favorite pilsners aren't the super hoppy ones anyway.

 

Yes, I would drink them. I don't think it has to necessarily be a 'hoppy' lager, but I've always enjoyed a full-bodied helles, or imperial pilsner. A good yellow fizzy beer without all the rice adjuncts that has a nice bready sweetness and some notable hop presence is what I'm looking for in the summer time. There are a lotta good pilsners/lagers out there, but a lot of shitty ones too..

 

"shipped pre skunked"?

Pilsner Urquell in 12 oz. bottles in 4 X 6 packs cases, and the old 22 oz. bottles had always been shipping in closed cardboard cases. Whatever lightstruck defect it suffered was done at the hands of the local retailer who took the beer out of those cases and exposed those now-obsolete green bottles to light. Bought by the case, in the closed sixpacks, or 500ml. cans, Pilsner Urquell was not "skunked".

 

I think this summarizes my feelings pretty well. I'm particularly suspect of the higher ABV IPLs, as I just haven't found many that I really enjoy, or that are in any way an improvement/unique take on their lower ABV counterparts. To wit, I much, much preferred Hoponious to Kiwi/Mass Rising, the latter two feeling rather unbalanced and harsh.

I'm okay with a bit of experimentation, of course -- that's the prerogative of the brewer. But I think, as @Domingo noted above, it requires a pretty deft hand, and I'd prefer to leave the big-time hopping to the IPAs of the world.

 

I picked up the Hoppy Lager from the Sierra Nevada Beer Camp and Ballst Brewing. I have to say I was really impressed with it. I love the crisp, refreshing and mild flavor of the lager being backed up with the citrus-heavy hops. I think it was a really solid beer. To be honest, I had been thinking about how lagers that would be hopped up would taste like and was going to brew one myself. Glad some breweries are already doing it, but I think it could be the next trend in craft beer as more and more of us demand hops in everything. Cheers!

 

Easy now it was just a joke, I never had it not skunked until they changed to sealed cardboard six packs. I could have never proven in court when the skunking occurred

 

What I feel the problem is that people compare IPL's with IPA's to much. They're completely different beers. It's like comparing an old ale or dubbel to a doppelbock. X =/= Y.

 

Then it wouldn't be a doppelbock, it would be a completely new style. I shall call it American brown lager/American strong brown lager. Then brewers would start adding coffee, nuts, adjunct sucrose from syrups/molasses, barrel aging... Blending with ales... Who knows?