IPA that got you over the hump.

Same here. 60 Minute opened the flood gates. Now I prefer DIPA's.

 

Actually my path was via Zombie Dust. Which is technically an Pale Ale. However I stayed away from ipa's because.... We'll I really done know why. The stigma of bitterness I guess. After loving ZD my beer mates exposed me Boneyard RPM and it was all over and never looked back. Have so many favorites now ranging coast to coast.

 

My progression went from beers like Henry Weinhardts Pale Ale to SN Pale Ale to Grand Teton Brewing Sweetgrass (aka "knockout juice" back in the day) in 2003. Yeah, I think it was the Sweetgrass that did it to me.

 

For me it was definitely Hop Devil back in the late 90s. I remember getting six packs for $6.79 and now they are close to $10. There are so many IPAs I would choose over Hop Devil now but back then was a different story.

 

Alesmith IPA.

 

Brooklyn's EIPA was my gateway back in the late 90s, followed by Harpoon IPA, that got me into the style. But for 15 years it was always seasonal for me in the summer - until I had a full 4 pack of Heady back in the fall. I've been trying to stick with the seasonals but keep coming back to the hops... Founder's All Day & Centennial, BP Sculpin, LT Limbo, Nugget Nectar - all different hop perspectives currently in my fridge!

 

I know it's not an IPA technically but me too. To this day I love the stuff and I think it's better this year. Holds a special spot in my heart.

 

Hazed and Infused.. I was well, you know and I love Zeppelin and I was well, you know
Opened one, smelled it and I've been chasing the dragon ever since

 

I loved the smell of IPA's from the first time I tried them. 'Twas 2HA, and then Big Sky IPA. After those two, I got over the taste.

 

Took me forever to get on the IPA bandwagon... the turning point beer that sticks out most in my mind is Dirtwolf, incredible beer. I still find some I can't handle, but I can finally say I enjoy IPA's, and damn, that feels good.

 

Torpedo

 

Like many of you, I didn't much care for India Pale Ales. But I have a friend who lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He mentioned that Bell's was brewed there in his hometown. So to honor a good buddy, I went out and grabbed some of their iconic Two Hearted Ale. I fell in love with the Two Hearted Ale and IPA's, and then double IPA's shortly thereafter.

 

For me it was fairly recently that I started appreciating the IPAs. Everytime I had one, I questioned why I made the choice. After having about 500+ beers I stumbled upon Sixpoint Hi-Res and Victory Hop Ranch. It was then that I began to appreciate the citrusy and bitter notes and have come to now appreciate IPAs. Subsequent IPAs that have continued to impress have been Heady Topper (finally tried that one a couple weeks ago), Sculpin, and DirtWolf.

 

Bells Two Hearted, and it was a long time ago.

 

Probably Firestone Double Jack. I still find that I appreciate doubles a lot and regular IPAs not so much. Dunno why.

 

It wasn't an IPA that got me "over the hump" into hoppy beers. It was Prescription Pale Ale at the Magnolia Brewpub in San Francisco, sometime in 1998. It was the first hoppy beer where I could taste the hops and not just a face-twisting mouthful of bitterness. Gave me a good reference point the next time I tried hop-forward beers.

 

The reigning King of BC year-round IPAs, Driftwood Fat Tug. I think red ales may have bridged the gap for me before that.

 

This beer has been my favorite from day one, good choice and next time look for undercover shut down ale. I think your tastebuds will agree, very close to maximus little stronger.

 

Two Hearted

 

The beer that got me over the hump was not an ipa at first. I thought I was cool drinking 2 below by new Belgium . That beer had a slight bitterness with the same hops as (flat) tire. Then the ipa that got me past that gagging was Torpedo with Hop Wallop ale in between. Now its every ipa and dipa I can find.