What is the appeal of IPA's?

[BigPapaG]

I agree with The Prof on that one...

As far as I am concerned, a reasonable bittering addition is all that is required...

I would rather focus the rest on flavor and aroma.

In this way, the malt and yeast get a chance to add to the complexity of flavors as well.

I think it is a balancing act, much the same way cooking good food is.

Here's an interesting story...

Not too long ago, I was speaking to a BJCP judge that I know and we were talking about a competition where there were some 50-60 IPA's entered.

Now, it has been said that any beer you compete with should be within the style guidelines but should also stand out to the judges to get noticed.

In this instance the judge noted that MOST of the IPA's were either difficult to drink or completely undrinkable due to the overabundance of bittering.

Result was that a more flavorful, relatively balanced example won the gold.

Sp, of you don't care for a particular IPA, please try another as there are many, many differences within the style.

[braukasper]

I have changed how I brew my IPAs. The bittering charge is now a 1/2 to 1oz of a high alpha hop, FWH. The rest of the hops are added post boil via a hop whirlpool. I find the bitterness to be firm but not overpowering the beer with plenty of hop aroma and flavor.

[Kealia]

Great discussion and I agree that over time tastes change. I used to never be able to drink IPAs. One sip and I puckered. I kept trying different ones when I would hit different breweries and eventually I found a few that I liked. Over time I found more and more that I liked but I won't blanketly say that I like all IPAs because I still find that some breweries just toss a sh**load of hops in it and don't spend any time working to make a good one.

I do find that, as with anything, there are some people in the bar/brewery/whatever that just drink the most bitter thing they can find because IPAs are in style now. The same way some people will eat the hottest sauce they can find because it's a badge of honor somehow. If that's your thing, so be it. Some people like IPAs because they want to drink the most bitter thing they can find. Others like the aroma and flavor and appreciate the balance in them and both are entitled to their opinions and preferences.

I'm in the camp of LOVING the aroma and loving the hop-forward flavor with just enough bitterness to keep it interesting. It's like the aroma is the foreplay. The alluring scent of a beautiful woman as you slow dance with her and softly take in the fragrance wafting up from the small of her neck.

The combination of malt and hops flavors are like the first few kisses. Soft and gentle at first with a playful bit of lip biting and tongues dancing together to arose the senses and build excitement. Then comes the lingering bitterness - like the taste of her lipstick/lip gloss that sticks with you after she leaves....but leaves you wanting more....




Now porters on the other hand, those are icky.

[BigPapaG]

Alert: Beer Pron!

It's like the aroma is the foreplay. The alluring scent of a beautiful woman as you slow dance with her and softly take in the fragrance wafting up from the small of her neck.

The combination of malt and hops flavors are like the first few kisses. Soft and gentle at first with a playful bit of lip biting and tongues dancing together to arose the senses and build excitement.

Then comes the lingering bitterness - like the taste of her lipstick/lip gloss that sticks with you after she leaves....but leaves you wanting more....

Now porters on the other hand, those are icky.

Now Ron...

[Banjo-guy]

Great discussion and I agree that over time tastes change. I used to never be able to drink IPAs. One sip and I puckered. I kept trying different ones when I would hit different breweries and eventually I found a few that I liked. Over time I found more and more that I liked but I won't blanketly say that I like all IPAs because I still find that some breweries just toss a sh**load of hops in it and don't spend any time working to make a good one.

I do find that, as with anything, there are some people in the bar/brewery/whatever that just drink the most bitter thing they can find because IPAs are in style now. The same way some people will eat the hottest sauce they can find because it's a badge of honor somehow. If that's your thing, so be it. Some people like IPAs because they want to drink the most bitter thing they can find. Others like the aroma and flavor and appreciate the balance in them and both are entitled to their opinions and preferences.

I'm in the camp of LOVING the aroma and loving the hop-forward flavor with just enough bitterness to keep it interesting. It's like the aroma is the foreplay. The alluring scent of a beautiful woman as you slow dance with her and softly take in the fragrance wafting up from the small of her neck.

The combination of malt and hops flavors are like the first few kisses. Soft and gentle at first with a playful bit of lip biting and tongues dancing together to arose the senses and build excitement. Then comes the lingering bitterness - like the taste of her lipstick/lip gloss that sticks with you after she leaves....but leaves you wanting more....

Now porters on the other hand, those are icky.

Well... after reading that amazing text about IPAs I think I'll give them another try!
I'll have to hide them from my wife.

[teutonic terror]

Great discussion and I agree that over time tastes change. I used to never be able to drink IPAs. One sip and I puckered. I kept trying different ones when I would hit different breweries and eventually I found a few that I liked. Over time I found more and more that I liked but I won't blanketly say that I like all IPAs because I still find that some breweries just toss a sh**load of hops in it and don't spend any time working to make a good one.

I do find that, as with anything, there are some people in the bar/brewery/whatever that just drink the most bitter thing they can find because IPAs are in style now. The same way some people will eat the hottest sauce they can find because it's a badge of honor somehow. If that's your thing, so be it. Some people like IPAs because they want to drink the most bitter thing they can find. Others like the aroma and flavor and appreciate the balance in them and both are entitled to their opinions and preferences.

I'm in the camp of LOVING the aroma and loving the hop-forward flavor with just enough bitterness to keep it interesting. It's like the aroma is the foreplay. The alluring scent of a beautiful woman as you slow dance with her and softly take in the fragrance wafting up from the small of her neck.

The combination of malt and hops flavors are like the first few kisses. Soft and gentle at first with a playful bit of lip biting and tongues dancing together to arose the senses and build excitement. Then comes the lingering bitterness - like the taste of her lipstick/lip gloss that sticks with you after she leaves....but leaves you wanting more....




Now porters on the other hand, those are icky.

Excellent observation, and it hits pretty much what I was thinking.
IPA's are the in thing now so you HAVE to like them somehow, and the more bitter the better!
Also, it seems like anybody can make one, just not a great one!



Now will the landscape change in the next few years and another style take over?

[Inkleg]

Excellent observation, and it hits pretty much what I was thinking.
IPA's are the in thing now so you HAVE to like them somehow, and the more bitter the better!
Also, it seems like anybody can make one, just not a great one!

Haven't tried my Pliny the Elder clone have you.

[teutonic terror]

Ink, no I have not!
Up for a trade!?

[Inkleg]

Ink, no I have not!
Up for a trade!?

Yes sir, I'll contact you when I brew it again.

[swenocha]

[Inkleg]

roflbot.jpg (71.86 KiB) Viewed 2148 times

>Inkleg adds Swens name to the PtE list<

[mashani]

IPA's are the in thing now so you HAVE to like them somehow, and the more bitter the better!

I thought sours were rising up and going to knock IPAs off their throne LOL. The more sour the better will be the next thing I tell ya. It's all fun and games until the acid blisters your mouth!

In the case of IPAs I only care about enough bitter to balance the malt. Everything else I want in there should be flavor/aroma.

[FedoraDave]

IPA's are the in thing now so you HAVE to like them somehow, and the more bitter the better!

I've thought this for a while now. IMO, since the Craft Beer Revolution, a lot of bandwagon-jumpers were introduced to IPAs and, since they're not BMC, they're the unofficial "badge of honor", or "secret handshake", or however you want to look at it. And the point is not that you're drinking a quality craft beer that happens to have a high IBU; the point is that you're drinking a high IBU beer that happens to be a craft brewery product. In some cases, quality has taken a back seat to the bitterness trend.

[Banjo-guy]

IPA's are the in thing now so you HAVE to like them somehow, and the more bitter the better!

I've thought this for a while now. IMO, since the Craft Beer Revolution, a lot of bandwagon-jumpers were introduced to IPAs and, since they're not BMC, they're the unofficial "badge of honor", or "secret handshake", or however you want to look at it. And the point is not that you're drinking a quality craft beer that happens to have a high IBU; the point is that you're drinking a high IBU beer that happens to be a craft brewery product. In some cases, quality has taken a back seat to the bitterness trend.

Plus one to that Dave.

[swenocha]

Personally, I'm all over the place on styles. I appreciate a well crafted IPA, be it a subdued English style or a hop-forward West Coaster, but I love a malt bomb as well. I'm drinking and brewing for my tastes, not for the trends. Don't like IPAs? That's cool. There are 100+ other beer styles that will suit your tastes, and thousands of breweries (and thousands of homebrew kettles) that'll get you there...