What is the Proper Style? (Sour IPA Edition)

Talk Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by SLeffler27, Apr 21, 2019.

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  1. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
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    The title should be self explanatory.

    New innovations on existing styles abound. Many new beers are relatively simple to associate with a defined style, here on BeerAdvocate, or via other guides. Many are rare enough to be dismissed for the time being, yet some are vexing.

    The Sour IPA, for example. With all the fine line differences between the IPA style group, where do we think a Sour IPA should be categorized? I have been using the NEIPA style guide as a base style, but maybe that is a disservice to the individual beer, or the NEIPA Style as a whole.
     
    #1 SLeffler27, Apr 21, 2019
  2. superspak

    superspak Grand High Pooh-Bah (10,927) May 5, 2010 North Carolina
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    I would put them under American wild ale. Just add a note in the description that it is a sour IPA, what hops are used etc. Jolly Pumpkin has made numerous Sour/Wild IPAs and they always list them as American wild ales officially on untappd. For pure Brett IPAs, should be listed under American Brett.
     
    #2 superspak, Apr 21, 2019
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  3. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
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    Cool. This makes better sense to me. Thanks
     
    #3 SLeffler27, Apr 21, 2019
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  4. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
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    Looks like you, or someone already made the change for the beer in question. To whoever caught it... Thanks.
     
    #4 SLeffler27, Apr 21, 2019
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  5. superspak

    superspak Grand High Pooh-Bah (10,927) May 5, 2010 North Carolina
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    Yes that was me lol.
     
    #5 superspak, Apr 21, 2019
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  6. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
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    By the way, it is a tasty beer. Ton of fruit, like a not to sweet Hawaiian Punch. By no means an everyday beer.
     
    #6 SLeffler27, Apr 21, 2019
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  7. generallee

    generallee Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2008 Virginia

    It seems like the American Wild Ale style is turning into a catch-all style for beers that do not really fit neatly into any other style. I have also been having having trouble labeling sour beers that are under the 6% abv of an American Wild Ale and also do not fit into the American Brett, Gose, Berliner Weisse or any of the Belgian sour/tart beer styles. Maybe some new styles are needed to keep up with the creativity of these new beers or a rewording of the current definitions would help.
     
    #7 generallee, Apr 27, 2019
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  8. NeroFiddled

    NeroFiddled Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,276) Jul 8, 2002 Pennsylvania
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    So my question is, should we have a sour IPA category? Yes, they fit under the wild ale category (unless they've simply been soured through the addition of lactic acid), but do they necessarily belong there? And do they then burden that category with something that might not really belong there?

    Personally, I believe that there are enough sour IPAs on the market that it's become its own style and deserves its own category.
     
    #8 NeroFiddled, Apr 27, 2019
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  9. superspak

    superspak Grand High Pooh-Bah (10,927) May 5, 2010 North Carolina
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    These things have already been discussed, and are in progress for a new update, no idea when. AFAIK imperial and Milkshake NEIPA are coming, along with milkshake/fruited kettle sours. Radler/Shandy was another one I recall. Stay tuned is all I can say for now.
     
    #9 superspak, Apr 27, 2019
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  10. generallee

    generallee Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2008 Virginia

    Sounds like a lot of good work being done!!! I look forward to seeing the updates!
     
    #10 generallee, Apr 27, 2019
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