IPAs too different

The same can be said about the so called "West Coast" version of an IPA that features lots of hops and bitterness with only a bit of malt showing.

In fact the same can be said of flavorful beer in general. If a Bud Light drinker trys one and doesn't enjoy the flavors they can be put off from trying one ever again.

 

I drank a Dogfish Head 120 minute IPA and that changed my perception and dislike of IPA's. Now I'm always ready to try an IPA 6 months later. 90 Minute is plentiful and a primary beer at my house.<<< Hooked on IPA's now. It's good. A whole new world of beers. Cheers y'all!!

 

Much like heavy metal music. Created direct sub genres help.

For instance with Founders reDankulous. It's an Imperial Red IPA. However, Motorworks Rollcage Red Ale has a high bitterness yet is not an IPA.

So the issue becomes that you need clarify.


How sub categorize a 0 IBU IPA? An acronym for NEIPA makes sense.

But I'd also argue that APA becomes a whole other beast since one could say it tastes similar to an IPA.

But I'd be down for clarification of sub-categories.

 

No. The current style classification mess can't even be called a classification system since there are too many criteria; color, taste, brewing method, alcohol content, other contents, country/region of origin, target country/origin, etc. The problem is that with so many criteria you have folks calling for a new style for their Imperial Belgian Bitter Blueberry Porter. It is still just a porter, so why does it need another style?

Does a beer become a new style when a certain number like it exist, and if so then what's the magic number? If a NEIPA is so different from an IPA then it should fit better as another existing style. Maybe just a Pale Ale. The start of fixing the current mess is to not make it any worse. Let's vote a few criteria off the island, forcing styles to be combined (or re-combined). Obviously "we" can't do this, but there has to be some beer organization/association that could take this on.

 

I say drink em all and let your taste buds decide. (A fun but expensive venture...)

 

This is what my Bud Light friends tell me. The IPA they tried was too bitter so they're not interested in any other IPA no matter the brand.

 

Beer is variety. No two examples of any given style are going to be the same. All you have to go by are styles--which are more like basic concepts--to guide you toward what you like, and some styles are way more diverse than others; IPAs being one of the most diverse styles. You really have to choose to try many examples of a given style, if you so desire. It took me like six months of trying five or six IPAs and pale ales to realize I liked hoppy beer. Or, if you never like them, that's also fine. But if your curiosity in them never ceases, keep on trying. Buy single bottles from build-your-own six packs, or try samples at bars/breweries. You will either never learn to like IPAs, or you will--in which case, welcome to the world lupulin shift and hop addiction.

 

Why does it take so long to get to this point

every

time?

 

I've been thinking the same thing for a while. I think our idea of an American IPA ought to just be called an American Ale. American IPA's are rarely pale, they aren't malty and bitter, they are hoppy and bitter, and while the original IPA story might not even be true, there is no real story behind the American IPA. So I'm happy with just an American Ale and calling session IPA's just American Sessions, and double IPA's be called Imperial American Ales. We already call American Black IPA's Black Ales and Dark Ales. Then we break them down in to west coast, east coast and New England. So, Stone IPA would be an American West Coast Ale, DFH 90 minute would be an East Coast Imperial Ale, and Heady Topper would be a New England Ale. Then, English IPA's will just be known as IPA's. I know no one will go for this and I know it's completely meaningless to say this, but this topic was actually on my mind for a while and this was my pointless two cents.

 

I have seen casual beer drinkers get turned off by different tastes in varietys of beer as @drtth and. @Squire123 stated earlier. But as also stated earlier if things were labeled and described better it would probably be lost on average beer drinkers but maybe help craft beer consumers

 

I always buy new beers as singles and figure if I don't like that one it's NHNF (no harm, no foul) and I won't get it again. I first check reviews and/or the brewer's website for a description when possible. I can almost always choke any beer down and if it sucks, then it's a learning experience, and worst case a drain-pour. I'll only buy a four or six pack of a new beer if I have high confidence I'll like it based on the style and/or reviews. Hopefully you live someplace that allows sales of singles. Creating yet another new style won't avoid encountering beers vastly different than you expect based on the style the brewer chooses to label it with.

 

Of course there's the brewer's website but that is sometimes more frustrating than informative. Best thing to do is read the reviews here on BA.

 

Some folks like "super malty" IPA's, just as some folks like "hop bomb" IPA's, and still others want a well-balanced IPA that is hoppy enough to have the desired hop bite along with a beefy malt backbone to keep the hops in check.

That's the beauty of beer (drop the craft): there's such great variety, any palate can find something(s) to enjoy, especially if some time is invested to vet the choices on a site like BA.

Drink what you like, like what you drink - and take a minute to do some research here on BA. It's worth the time investment, whether you're a longtime beer nerd or "that Coors light drinker."