IPA craze: When will it be over?!

I think we'll see trend of everything-IPA taper off soon, but there has always been and probably always will be a strong representation of IPAs in the craft market.

Keep in mind that prior to current rise in popularity of the IPA American craft brewers were making hop-forward beers in traditionally non-IPA styles, but they only recently started indentifying [or marketing] them as IPAs. There are many classic hop-forward beers that could easily be called IPA today, but it wasn't favorable to call them IPAs years ago. For example, classic beers if they were release today would probably be marketed like....
Oscar Blues Dale's Pale Ale (APA) -> IPA
Troegs Nuggest Nectar (imperial red ale) -> Imperial Red IPA
Victory Prima Pils (pilsner) -> India Pale Lager
Three Floyds Gumballhead (wheat) -> Wheat IPA
Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' (wheat) -> Wheat IPA
Stone Arrogant Bastard (American Strong Ale) -> IPA or DIPA

Or another example, @augiecarton (brewer for Carton) has stated that if their Boat Beer had been released now they probably would have called it a session IPA.

My point is that previously the marketing of hop-forward beers often downplayed the hoppy nature other them, as opposed to today's marketing that over-represents the IPA style.

 

Within the craft beer segment IPAs are very popular. However, given craft beer market share was only 7.8% of the total beer market as reported by the BA (http://www.brewersassociation.org/statistics/national/) there are a lot of other beer styles being drank.

Another way to further break down some numbers is IRI data which is shared by the BA with members. Within the craft beer market segment the IPAs were reported to be 19.2% of craft sales in 2013 by IRI Worldwide using retail supermarket data which provides tracking of purchases at retail locations. Second was Seasonals at 17.9% and Pale Ales at 10.2%. (info on IRI: http://www.iriworldwide.com/SolutionsandServices/Detail.aspx?ProductID=181).

It is very possible that within the harder core craft beer community that IPAs are even more popular.

 

There is an overlap of seasonals and IPA's since some seasonals are IPA's.

 

I really like a good IPA, but when are the ESB's coming back?

 

Unless you live somewhere in New England, the West Coast or one of the MidWest beer havens, the only way you're going to really get the beer you want to drink, IPA or not, is to make it yourself. I have found that to be the case- I live in New York and unfortunately the availability of fresh IPAs is lacking... So I make my own! If you want a non-spiced belgian abbey ale (as do I...), make it!

 

True there is a bit of overlap since some IPAs are also seasonals but the main points were that even though IPAs are popular in the craft beer market segment there are a lot of other styles being consumed.....

 

When Bud Light Session IPA comes out. Yep. That'd probably do it.

 

Typical Northeast attitude: There's nothing good in flyover country, just us and the West Coast (and a few exceptions.)

You really need to get out and travel a little. The exception is that there's only a few places in the US without good beer. North Carolina is up to around 120+ breweries, South Carolina & Florida have a small scene but some excellent beers within them. I was just in Tennessee and although they've just changed their beer laws, they've got some good beer there too. And apparently you forgot Colorado and Pennsylvania. There's good beer everywhere.

Unless, of course, you're one of those guys who think any beer more than two weeks old is not worth drinking...

 

Probably never. It may dwindle, but every year there's a new crop of beer geeks

 

i hope there is a brown ale craze. the quest to make the brownest ale in the world

 

ok, I'm not going to touch the IPA topic :-) But, as far as good Abbey Ales, my favorite is Ommegang Abbey. Very good if you can get it in your area.

 

True enough, I drink more Pale Ales and Lagers than I do IPA's.

 

My hat is off to you for having the patience and understanding to homebrew, but to say you live in New York and availability of fresh IPAs is lacking, is wrong. Six months ago, I thought I lived in the worst area in the world for craft beer, but after building some relationships with local bottle shops and distributors, I now have a bunch of beers in my fridge, purchased locally, that I never thought would be available to me. And I hope the IPA craze never ends!

 

Where do you line in NY Rikers Island?

 

I'm surprised new york doesn't have it as good as new england. I don't know what it's like elsewhere, but it's good to be from MA right now.

 

take a bit of a drive to nebco

 

Maybe I'm a total snob but I'm not really a fan of any local brewing companies save singlecut, and i'm sad that they don't bottle/can their beer, but I think to get really good beer you've got to get it local. At least for IPAs. I used to live in MA and was really happy with the local brews.... Right on jefffalcone

 

Apologies, of course I'm sure there are awesome brewing companies who make killer beers all over the place, I made a brief thoughtless remark. For some reason, there just aren't any that I really like in NYC. I'm from Cleveland and I love all the brewing companies in Ohio and I went to school in MA and loved all the breweries in New England and was pretty disappointed when I got to NYC with the local scene. There are awesome bars that manage to get some great stuff but I don't really have the cash or the time to go to the Blind Tiger every day haha

 

Agree. When I found not one but two incredible beer bars (and some damn good local IPA) in Huntsville Al last year -- I realized that craft had spread to every corner of the country. Now HSV has always had a few local places to get German beer on tap -- but that was it. If you ever go - check out the Nook or Below the Radar. Just super places.