IPA Obsessions

I think beer-fandom taste has simply shifted to more of a homegrown American product. (Partially because of product quality, and partially because of herd mentality... same as for the Trappists).

They'll always be styles that aren't your preference, be proud of what differentiates you.

As far as ratings go, it sounds like you aren't rating beers according to the merits of their style, but rather, according to a level of complexity that beer can reach. Some will fault you for this, but I'm not sure how many of those who'll cast stones will also rate a Budweiser a perfect 10 for style.

 

My best guess is going to be that it's a direct result of a combination of advertising, the placebo effect (to some degree), and shifting tastes. Once IPA's became mildly popular, brewers jumped on the opportunity and flooded the market, just like they did with Barrel-aged beers. The market will continue to grow until it reaches its saturation point (maybe?) Marketing from brewers and word of mouth advertising about the newest hoppiest beer increases demand and encourages brewers to make more IPA's. I personally blame this on a character flaw within my own generation of millenials; we want the coolest new thing and we want it now.
Similarly, scores of people rate Barrel-aged godknowswhat as 4's and 5's, even though the actual differences between them are just as contrived as the differences between IPA's. Does a particular bourbon barrel impact the drinking experience as much as a particular hop? Perhaps.

My tastes are the same for many bourbon-barrel stouts and barleywines, but I'm able to detect subtle nuances within and differences between IPA's. Everyone's palate is different

 

I guess its an aquired taste, at least it was for me. After a few to get over the weird new taste it was delicious to me. The IPA obsession for the masses though, is like me and stouts

 

You certainly aren't the only one who feels that way here, but the simple answer is it's all about personal taste. A lot of people (myself included) love IPA's and DIPA's. A lot of people don't like them as much, or at all.

It's easily the most popular style of beer being made in the US right now, at least in terms of craft, so naturally a lot of people will rate the ones they enjoy highly.

There's certainly a level in which hype effects judgement, but honestly there are no "wrong" tastes or opinions when it comes to beer. You like what you like. It's really that simple.

 

Simply put: It's your palate preference. Perhaps it will change at some point, perhaps not. Either way, you're stuck with the wonderful situation in which you seek out and enjoy the styles which best suit you. Nirvana!

 

Not at least, definitely just in terms of "craft."

 

I have been drinking almost as long as you and my opinion couldn't be more different. I love IPAs and drink them almost exclusively. I do agree that Heady Topper is nothing to get nutty over.

 

Yes. That's what I said.

 

We are of a similar age and drinkinghhistory Count me as one of the Hopheads. I think part of the fasvination/obsession with IPAs is simply that their are so many great ones being made. I also think that it is easier to abbreviate an "in your face" ipa than it is to appreciate the subtleties in some of the other styles. I think this is starting to apply to sours as well.

That being said. You might like IPAs more than you think. The only 5s you've given are to a DIP and an IPA and 3 of your top 5 ratings are IPA.

 

I think with the amount of bitterness and varying hop flavors, IPA was a great way for early craft brewers to put out a product very different from the lagers dominating the market. The bitterness allowed a lot of beer drinkers to explore a new dimension to their beer. IPA is also an easy beer to drink all year. Plenty are light enough for the summer and others are big enough for the winter. They don't take a ton of time to brew, and while you can get crazy with obscure hopping schedules and techniques, you don't have to for a solid beer.

 

I don't even see DIPAs as necessarily bitter. A true, fresh DIPA can be fruity and malty, and truly
delicious, without a massive bitterness. So, here we go with the whole freshness discussion. The fresher the better man! I rate a juicy DIPA up there with my favorite Belgian Tripels and Quads.

 

Definitely just a taste preference. You think most IPAs taste a like, I would disagree. A very wide spectrum of flavors out there in IPAs/DIPAs in my opinion.

 

Taste is subjective. I like oranges, you prefer apples. Nothing wrong with that at all. I feel the same way about Abbey ales that you do about IPAs.

Cheers!

 

IPA's are just a fad, like rap music and computers

 

I'll take a White Rajah faster than the rest of this community can say Heady Topper!

 

LOL. Give me Budvar over Budweiser any day. I would love to have a real traditional American pilsner one day.

 

And I don't understand why you like Abbey Ales and Barleywines when I prefer a well crafted IPA or DIPA. People prefer different things. It's why we don't all drive the same car model and like the same food.

Not a new or difficult concept here.

 

There's only one real issue I have with IPA popularity: the fact that there's a dozen different IPAs on grocery store shelves, while I can't find a single example of some other styles I'd like to try more of, not even when they're fairly popular styles (stouts, Belgian-style ales, etc.) and breweries that definitely do distribute their beer here make one!

(And I mean literally a dozen different IPAs... just off the top of my head, I know the Food Lion I usually go to has: Goose IPA, Sam Adams Rebel and Rebel Rider, Starr Hill Northern Lights, Devil's Backbone Eight Point, Waterfront IPA, New Belgium Ranger, Dogfish Head 90 Minute, Redhook Long Hammer, Kona has Castaway in a variety pack, I think the Newcastle variety packs have one... and I know I'm forgetting at least one or two. There's a lot.)

Meanwhile, I think the only stouts I've ever seen on a regular grocery store shelf around here are Guinness and Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout. And that's stouts, which are the other super-popular style along with IPAs/pale ales in general.