What is the appeal of IPA's?

[teutonic terror]

And by this question, I'm meaning IPA's that pretty much overpower your taste buds and make it so
you can't enjoy anything lighter or, as I consider, tastier afterwards.

A co-worker found out I brewed and has asked for samples. No problem I say, until he tells me
he LOVES, what I consider, flame thrower beer. Can't get enough hops!
I tell him I brew borderline IPA/APA, not too strong, but not for girls, you know what I mean!
I know alot of you consider Sierra Nevada a lightweight IPA.
This stuff scorches my flavor receptors for some reason!
He considers that candy!

I think I make tasty beer, so I'll give him some bottles. Always up for the challenge and the especially the feedback.
Maybe not his style, but he can provide me with impartial information the way I see it!
Might become a regular!

I know it's subjective, but I'm curious about the appeal of brew that takes away, IMHO, any enjoyment of subtlety or flavor.

[D_Rabbit]

Im with you T. I am not a huge fan of IPAs. I like them as long as they aren't rediculous. The major flaw I find with IPAs is that when they try to destroy taste buds they can use too strong of hops as well and I get a nasty twang and bitterness. It is hard to describe because I really enjoy some IPAs if they can hit the flavoring right but when they kill it on the bittering hops first instead of going for the flavor first I can't take it. I guess the best way to describe it for me is if the IBUs are 90 than they should be 45, 30, 15 instead of some companies loading the bittering hops and going 60, 20, 10. Just my opinion but I agree with you on this one!

[BlackDuck]

It really is a matter of personal taste. I for one, love a really hoppy IPA, IIPA or Double IPA. It's like a lot of complex things, like wine. After awhile, you'll be able to tell the difference between the different flavors and aromas that are in that big IPA. And before you know it you'll get a lot more than just bitterness. You'll get citrus, pine, floral, tropical fruits and many other flavors and aromas.

But if IPA's aren't for you, well, that's fine too. We all have different tastes. And if we ever meet, you can buy me an IPA and I'll buy you a pale ale or something else that suits your taste!! And each toast to a great beer.

[Foothiller]

I think when people find they can depart from BMC, they like to know they are away from bland beers. I do find that some IPAs go so far that I figure a variety of flaws could be hidden behind all the hops. Personally I also prefer beers that are more balanced or even malty, but I don't argue with friends' preferences for IPAs.

[mashani]

Although I do like SNPA, and I do like West Coast IPAs paired with certain kinds of food, if I'm just drinking beer, I tend to go for something with more malt presence, or more complex yeast produced flavors (Belgians).

Most of my personal IPAs are frontloaded with hops (more emphasis on flavor, less on bitter) and have a bigger malt presence (IE some Munich or Vienna or some Rye or the like) then SNPA or a west coast IPA. They are complex beers and not just about hops, although there are plenty of hops for flavor. I like the mix of British IPA levels of malt (or even MOAR!) with American IPA levels of hop flavor. West coast IPA folks would say this messes with their hops, but I don't care, its what I like and I brew for me. The last one I brewed was basically an Ocktoberfest at its core, but with 2oz of high AA hops thrown in all late in the boil (nothing at all was boiled more the 30 minutes). And I like it a lot, and other folks who have had it have said it's great - it hits you with all the festbier malt flavors up front and in the finish, and lot of hop flavor in the middle, and although bitter enough to balance the malt has no real "bite", its still smooth like a festbier. Its not crystal sweet at all but it's malty as heck. (malty != sweet). I'm going to brew a lot more beers like it in the future.

Try a Victory Hop Devil sometime if you have not, it will give you some idea of what I'm talking about - although it's an IPA for sure, it's a much more complex malty beer then SNPA or a West Coast style IPA, or even other east coast IPAs like Dogfish 60/90... Think of what I'm describing above as a slightly less bitter and slightly more malty but just as flavorful Hop Devil kind of thing. (except in my case with spicy/herbal/earthy/piney hops instead of citrusy hops).

[RickBeer]

Not an IPA or Pale Ale fan. MALT.

[Beer-lord]

While I agree that hoppy beers can ruin the taste of beers behind it, to me, a great IPA isn't just the slap on your tongue, it's the whole beer. Starting with the aroma that teases your nose and taste buds, then the first taste on the tongue of a bite, followed by a good malt background and finished with the wonderful flavors that only late additions and dry hopping can do.
I can't get enough of them.

[Crazy Climber]

While I agree that hoppy beers can ruin the taste of beers behind it, to me, a great IPA isn't just the slap on your tongue, it's the whole beer. Starting with the aroma that teases your nose and taste buds, then the first taste on the tongue of a bite, followed by a good malt background and finished with the wonderful flavors that only late additions and dry hopping can do.
I can't get enough of them.

+1 to all of this.

Aroma has almost become priority number one to me. Sometimes I find myself "taking hits" of a great IPA's aroma for 5 minutes after pouring, without even realizing that I haven't actually TASTED the beer yet! I was discussing craft beer with some buddies after golf recently. One of them had an IPA and offered his freshly-poured pint to me to try it. I smelled it a few times, while the discussion continued. Then I put the glass back in front of him and said "yeah, that's a really nice IPA." He looked at me and said, "dude...you didn't even taste it!" I hadn't realized that!

[evily]

I tell him I brew borderline IPA/APA, not too strong, but not for girls, you know what I mean!

Hey now, that was a low blow to us IPA/APA-loving girls!

I love IPAs, but it wasn't always so. My affinity for hops grew over time, and like Beer-Lord and CrazyClimber, I enjoy the aroma and overall experience of the hops. I love trying to discern which hops are in various beers based on aroma and flavor.

It is definitely a personal preference thing, though. As I say: to each his/her own! Every IPA you don't want means more IPA for ME!

[Bluejaye]

I have no clue. The few (commercial) IPA's the g/f has brought home have been grass tasting crud. And who on earth decided grapefruit was a *good* taste!?! I would shutter in disappointment as a kid if my mom served that junk for breakfast, even with a mountain of sugar on top of it.

[Beer-lord]

I have no clue. The few (commercial) IPA's the g/f has brought home have been grass tasting crud. And who on earth decided grapefruit was a *good* taste!?! I would shutter in disappointment as a kid if my mom served that junk for breakfast, even with a mountain of sugar on top of it.

Another case of 'to each his/her own' but while I've tasted a few IPA's that were crap, the vast majority fit my personal tastes and spur me to brew more IPA's. That's the great thing about craft beer AND homebrewing.....there are so many choices of beers with new one's popping up all the time.
And, I often get outside my IPA box and try beers I don't like and I plan on continuing that.

[DaYooper]

To tackle from a different perspective, I am a huge hot sauce fan. People think hot simply tastes hot, but the key is with blending the various peppers to get both a complex taste as well as hot-Hot-HOT. I see the same thing with IPAs in that the key is the blending of different hops so you get a different, complex perspective on the bitterness, flavours, and aromas. So, when I make an IPA it is either a SMaSH to get to know the hop intimately or a somewhat complex hopping schedule - usually no middle of the road for me.

[FedoraDave]

I've come to appreciate IPAs more over the past couple of years. What used to be too bitter for me is now something I can really appreciate, as long as it's not overdone. I agree that balance is important. You need some complexity in the malt to provide a backbone for the hops, otherwise you're just getting bitterness for bitterness' sake.

I believe a lot of my enjoyment is going to depend on which hops are featured. Personally, I prefer the hops with piney, or earthy, or peppery notes, as opposed to the grapefruit ones. That's just personal preference.

[RickBeer]

I have no clue. The few (commercial) IPA's the g/f has brought home have been grass tasting crud. And who on earth decided grapefruit was a *good* taste!?! I would shutter in disappointment as a kid if my mom served that junk for breakfast, even with a mountain of sugar on top of it.

I would report your Mom for serving and IPA to a kid. Outrageous!

What? He was talking about grapefruit? Oh. Nevermind.

[teutonic terror]

Great conversation guys!
This is what I was looking for, different perspectives!

I didn't want to come across as condescending, I just have trouble finding a commercial IPA
I can really appreciate and it frustrates me that I can't see enjoyment so many folks enjoy
with this style.
They all taste pretty much the same to me.
My main problem with them I believe, is the bittering aspect.
Alot of times it's way overdone, IMHO.
I'm no beer guru, but like all of you, I know what I like!

Mashani, I like to make my IPA's with a small high Alpha FWH, then a large hopburst the last 20 mins or so!
Not overpowering bitterness but alot of flavor and aroma.
I'm also starting to work more with Aromatic malt to try and increase the maltiness of my brews
As has beeen mentioned several times too, the flavoring and aroma enhance the beer, not make it
overwhelming. I too spend alot of time just taking in the aroma before drinking.
Even taught SWMBO about that and she smells every beer she drinks now before taking a sip!
I see alot of you don't appreciate the citrus/grapefruit aspect of some hops.
Well, they are the mainstay of my IPA/APA!

I also see, from lots of my research on hops, alot of folks like "dank" tasting hops.
Describe "dank" if you can?

Evily, no low blows intended, and my humblest apologies to the BORG ladies that enjoy good, flavorful homebrew!
I have a daughter that loves stronger, more hoppy beer herself! I should have known better!

Thanks for the insight and I look forward to hearing more about this subject!