How many IPA's

Not more than 2, and I would use milk, followed by water and time.

 

Three tops without a gap or a non-hoppy beer inbetween.

 

I would suggest having more than one tasting, but you can't space out those tastings too far apart for fear of the dreaded Hop Fade!

 

Depends on the person. If you really have a well-developed palate you can get three solid objective impressions before you get some palate fatigue. Wine is a bit more forgiving in this regard if you aren't doing solely California Cabs or Barolos or such.

 

As said above, I wouldn't do more than two or three in a row without putting some non-hoppy beer in between. Since you're in AR, when's the tasting???

 

Mix a stout or 3 in between.

 

Lots of people have already said 2 or 3 at most, with palate cleansers (e.g., unsalted cradkers, water, and time) between.

That’s a pretty good rule.

Also, it has nothing to do with preference and everthing to do with the limitations of your senses of smell and taste.

Your tastebuds take a beating with each IPA. It takes them a while to recover. If you pound them again hard a second time they take even longer to recover and they aren't as responsive.

Throwing in other strong flavors between the IPAs won't improve your ability to taste the qualities of a particular IPA if only because some of the same taste buds needed to get the most out of the IPA are also needed/used with other strong flavors as well. A palate changer is not a palate cleanser.

 

In my days at a brewpub. When we sample poured what was on draft for taste notes. They'd be really hesitant about the third one if it was all bitter bombs cos your palate is basically done and you are just drinking it for the beer.

 

I hope you weren't holding onto them too long, they'll lose some freshness and drop off rather quick. Get your tastings done and enjoy.

 

This. At large tastings I usually switch to a totally different style for a pour or two and then proceed. A sour after a couple of big stouts can really refresh the palate. For IPAs I actually like to use a Kellerweiss or comparably sparkly light, golden beer. I always have water, water crackers, and often mild cows milk cheese on hand, too.

 

Yes, after 2 or 3 all you can taste is bitterness and herbal/spice.

 

Like the others said, I would say 3 tops. I'd recommend instead doing a flight, like with wine tastings, starting from the cleanest and working your way to the maltiest/hoppiest. If you really just want to do IPAs (and I assume big ones), cheese would be my recommended in-between. I see others mention milk, but personally I find drinking milk between beers to be a weird flavor combo that messes with my palate and reconsider the beer tasting at all.