IPA's

Anyone got some extra popcorn?

 

Get ready for people to give you shit cause it's coming your way...

I personally don't think any IPA should ever be intentionally aged. Some people will say you can get away with it if is has more malt backing it but I still won't do it.

IPA's are designed to showcase the hops. Almost all that the hops do for a beer goes away rather quickly with age.

 

DFH 120min is the only one I care to keep around in no hurry to drink. The rest of them need to be chugged.

 

Standard IPAs and DIPAs should not be cellared. As they get their flavor primarily from the hops, and as hops fade with time, should be consumed fresh.

However, there are some "IPAs" that are not traditional. Burton Baton and 120 Minute come to mind (BB is half high-ABV ale that would age well and 120 Minute is so high in alcohol and low in terms of bitter-bite). These can be cellared. They turn into different beasts and may be better fresh, but they have significant contributions to the flavor from things other than hops.

Anyway, to the point, most IPAs should not be cellared, but some non-traditional ones may still be good with some age (though likely quite different).

 

I've been told that Double Crooked Tree ages well. Thoughts?

 

pretty much tastes like a barleywine anyway. wouldn't surprise me at all if it ages well.

 

6-9 months for IPAs using American hops, 3-7 weeks for English IPAs, up to 5 years for hopslam. Contrary to popular belief the hop flavors become stronger the older it is.

 

Hoppin Frog Mean Manalishi Double I.P.A. could be interesting...Crooked is going to do well because of the 13.6 ABV...I think any IPA you can find above 12% would do well aging because the alcohol "heat" is going to taper off...the "fresh" flavors may go down as well, but other complex flavors may develop.

 

We are here to help you . Try searching the forum for aging IPAs, there are around 30 or so threads pertaining to the subject.