Just started drinking IPAs.. What to look out for?

Here are a few:

http://beeradvocate.com/lists/style/116

 

Maybe try telling him about a few that you like personally. Since he posted this on the forums, one could assume that he might like to -- I dunno -- engage in a discussion. Crazy, right?

Anyhow, you're bound to have access to Ballast Point and Bear Republic out there. Get ahold of some Sculpin, Big Eye and Racer 5. Stone IPA is always a good choice too.

 

There are a bazillion of them out there, try some local and readily available beers and go from there.

 

90 min is actually a DIPA...and if you like that...then there's a bunch more beer to look into.

 

I agree with the previous post. Sculpin and Racer 5 are great. Raging Bitch from Flying Dog is good, as well as Dogfish Head's 90 minute IPA. Lake Erie Monster from Great Lakes is also a fav.

 

Welcome to 2013, I'm glad you got the Delorian back up to 88... The Sierra Nevada you most likely had while camping is Torpedo (bottle or can, dark green label?) and you're right, it'd delicious. I'd say take baby steps if you're just getting into them, 90 min. is awesome, but pretty big... There are so many good ones out there! as BigJim said, Sculpin from BP is great, Bear Rep. makes a number of solid one's, as do Stone and Lagunitas...

 

Sculpin in cans!

 

Don't get too obsessed with what alot of people say online too about drinking them ultra fresh. I love some time on my IPAs and DIPAs.

 

It's really to each their own. I'd recommend trying a quality IPA [cough] Head Hunter [cough] as fresh as possible, and then another quality beer [cough] Head Hunter [cough] then judge them based on what you enjoy in a beer. Some people like a heavier fruit/pine profile, while others enjoy more malt to a beer.

I say Head Hunter half joking, only because when it is fresh it has hardly any malt backbone. However, after about 1-1.5 months its fairly prevalent. If you have the chance, give it a try.

 

The category is too huge to really offer precise suggestions. The good news is you live in Washington where we have tons of great local IPAs at prices that let you explore. Do you like dry beverages? Sweet? Bitter? Fruity? Floral? Lots of carbonation, little carbonation?

American Brewing out of Edmonds makes an IPA called Breakaway. Not too pricey, very juicy, mango, citrus. Not too dry.

Fremont out of Seattle makes an IPA called Interurban. Again, affordable, very much a typical expression of the Northwest IPA. Dry, bitter, lots of citrus up front and pine in the finish.

 

Funny story, I'm in a bar with my younger brother and his two lady friends and he orders a 90 min while I order a 60 min. One of the girls asks what is the difference? I say the 60 min is an IPA while the 90 min is a double IPA. The server proceeds to lean over the table and tell the girl, "actually, it is an imperial IPA", really condescending and knowing it all like.

I was so pissed that this bag of dicks tried to douche me. I left him without sharing the knowledge that an imperial IPA IS a double IPA. I hope he gets a curable yet annoying std but I doubt anyone would sleep with him.

 

Oh and White Rajah by Brew Kettle is my personal favorite IPA!

 

I see you're in Washington. Track down some Boneyard Hop Venom or RPM, Black Raven Trickster or Wisdom Seeker, or Fremont The Brother. All of these are tap only. Elysian Space Dust or Immortal, Pelican India Pelican Ale, Driftwood Fat Tug, Hopworks IPA, AleSmith IPA, Stone IPA, Racer 5, FW Double Jack, Stone Ruination, Hair of the Dog Blue Dot, Stone Enjoy By, SN Torpedo, and Lagunitas Hop Stoopid (among many, many others) are all solid as well and available in bottles or cans.

And this fall, you absolutely must get your hands on some Fremont Cowiche Canyon Organic Fresh Hop Ale (although technically a pale ale). I'm praying they put it in cans this year.

 

Some of my favorites are Ninkasi's Tricerahops, Laguitas' Little Sumpin' Sumpin (although more of a hybrid) and Maximus, Hoptimum, Stone IPA, 21st Amendment IPA, Boneyard IPA, and a handful of black IPAs. I'm also a good ol' Northwest hophead.

 

Drink local IPA's.

 

Head over to Fremont Brewing Co and have them pour you some.

 

Our fellow WA state resident draheim beat me to it, but as he said, you absolutely need to try any Boneyard IPA that you can, Hop Venom and RPM are on tap around town (assuming you're somewhere near Seattle) on an almost regular basis.

 

I'm praying that somehow the Seattle beer week beer will become a year round offering from Fremont....I'm obsessed with that beer.

 

just try everything you can get your hands on and don't get discouraged if you don't like something, keep trying and eventually you'll hone your craft.