Specialty IPA's or regular IPA's, which do you prefer?

I'm a big fan of balanced IPAs. Best high-end I've had recently is Chillwave by Great Lakes.

 

Regular IPAs most of the time. I do really like a good Black IPA though. I'm not that big on DIPAs/IIPAs. Once in a while but that's it for me.

 

I prefer Two Hearted to any IPA. I also prefer Red's Rye (Rye, obviously) and Little Sumpin (Wheat) to many standard IPAs. If you were to ask my favorite _PAs you would likely see a broad variety of different styles. Its really about how well the individual beer is put together and not about the style as a whole.

If we want to make broad statements regarding styles, I am more than happy to make them regarding Belgian and White IPAs. Both are fairly awkward and disjointed more often than not. I have tried more than a few and a very small percentage are even worth revisiting IMO.

 

It all depends on my mood. I prefer to drink DIPAs on the weekends when I can sit and enjoy some stronger brews. At the same time, there's a handful of regular 'ole IPAs that I'll drink any day of the week. HopDevil, Stone IPA, Fresh Squeezed...

 

If I had access to Fresh Squeezed, I'd tap it everyday as well.

 

It's bit of a runaround to find for me, but when I do find it, I try to pick up two or three 6-packs because it's generally quite fresh when I find it (1 - 3 weeks old).

 

Excessive malts kill it for me also, just can't hang.

 

I think a good amount of IPAs taste close to each other but definitely can have their differences. I try to see which hops are used to get a general idea on the flavor. Personally I am more of a citrusy, juicy hop fan as opposed to ones with more of a piney taste. However, I do love imperial IPAs and Belgian style ones as well

 

You and me both, I wish Head Hunter were readily available all the time here in eastern PA, it would be in my fridge 24/7. Great IPA, perfect balance of hoppy goodness with solild malt backbone. Love it.

 

American IPA = good.


Gimmicky IPA = not good.
(speaking at the fancy/exotic ingredient versions)

 

neither - I'm sick of the fucking IPA 'craze' - that's all folks seem to drink amymore

 

I have a feeling you will circle back to IPAs. Each year, usually for weeks at a time, I will exclusively drink fresh Sculipin, Pig, Stone IPA, Union Jack, Fresh Squeezed...and then get bored and start mixing it up again with DIPAs, Belgians, Wheat, sours, stouts, etc.

 

I like a wide variety of beer in general, so I like some of the better examples of both regular IPAs and specialty IPAs. Some of the regular IPAs I really enjoy are Two Hearted, Torpedo, Stone IPA, Crooked Tree, and Centennial. A few specialty IPAs I really enjoy are Double Trouble, Hoptimum, Sucks, and Dirtwolf.