IPA that got you over the hump.

Stone IPA, the first IPA that I had that I liked, and then ti was all over.

 

When I first started drinking craft, it was the sweeter/spicier stuff like Wits and Belgian Strong Darks. Anything with a sweet characteristic. Then I found stuff like Yards Philly Pale Ale that's somewhat hoppy, but balanced. I drank that and Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale for awhile.

Then someone told me to move to IPAs because the hops were more pronounced and, still being new to hoppier flavors, I was like, "YEAH SURE LETS FRICKEN' DO IT." and I had a Heavy Seas Loose Cannon and I was pretty ehhhh about the whole thing. But a few weeks later I had a DFH 60-minute and it's been downhill from there. I rarely drink wits, BSDAs, BSPAs, or really anything other than IPAs. The more bitter the better, honestly.

 

Racer 5, when I moved from New York out to San Francisco. Made me regret passing up countless IPAs for several years before that. Thought I didn't like them. Ended up a) I was just a college student without enough of a developed palate and b) Didn't like East Coast IPAs as much as I enjoyed (and still enjoy) West Coast IPAs instead.

 

90 minute. Until then I couln't "get it". Something just clicked and the rest is history...

 

Maximus IPA. I enjoyed hoppy beers before that, but that was the one beer that turned me into a hop head.

 

A college friend handed me a bottle of beer with two old guys on it. I asked him what the hell it was and spit it out. Smuttynose IPA is now one of my go-to beers. My acceptance of bitterness came slowly but DFH 60 than 90 min were my turning point. Now I am beer polygamist.

 

Sierra Nevada Torpedo

 

A fresh draft of Heavy Seas Loose Cannon stunned me with that citrusy grapefruit flavor... I've enjoyed IPAs since, but I still lean heavily towards the citrusy/floral IPA varieties over those that are more piney.

 

The first one I had. Two Hearted.

 

Surly Abrassive. Remains my favorite IPA.

 

Cut my teeth on Hop Devil and Stone IPA, but all it took was for a Hopslam to make me realize the possibilities. many years ago.

 

SN Torpedo Extra, a revelation.

 

DFH 90 Minute was my gateway IPA. Still a good beer, but seems so muted compared to everything else out there now.

 

Same experience, I had a Torpedo, and thought why anyone would drink this? I have been stout lover for years, it is my favorite style. Then I had Big Eye, Sculpin, Union Jack, Torpedo again, Sucks, Lagunitas IPA, Blackmarket Rye IPA, and began to understand the flavors involved in an IPA. Now I enjoy them but I realize stouts are still my favorite style but a good IPA I will enjoy.

 

Harpoon IPA ---> DFH 60 ---> Lagunitas Sucks ---> Hophead

 

It was really pre-hop-shortage Sculpin that opened my eyes to hoppy beers. However, Firestone Walker Union Jack made me a believer.

 

Mine was Ruination on Cask with fresh cascade hops inside. Was amazing. Now all i want is IPA's

 

Can't say anyone has made me enjoy ipas but the first one that I truly enjoyed was Four Peaks hop knot

 

Actually had a few that really helped develop my palate for IPA's.

60 min IPA, Brooklyn EIPA, Bell's Two Hearted (consumed enough of this at school in NC to kill a grown elephant).

My gateway to in-your-face hoppy and bitter IPA's was Blue Point Hoptical Illusion.

 

Same, DogFish Head 90 minute opened my taste buds to my love for IPAs. My first run-in with an IPA was DogFish Head 60min and I hated it at the time, I thought, "How do people like this kind of beer??," then a few months later I had the 90 and thought, "Ok, NOW I get it!"