IPA hate

[marcownz747]

Am I the only one out there who absolutely, positively sees nothing of value in the IPA craze? I loved that beer was changing away from pale lagers... but dang, it's almost like everybody and their grandmother wants to do yet another IPA with astonishingly unbalanced IBUs and finished with Cascade hops. over 50% of the craft beer section in my local beverage centers and grocery stores are IPAs. In my area, the IPA has become the Budweiser of the craft beer world.

Please, please, please... if there is anybody else out there like me, share your experiences in this thread. I feel like a lone island in an ocean of bitter, grapefruity, malt-deprived beer.

 

[CA_Mouse]

While I do love a good IPA, I agree that there are just too many on the shelves of local stores. I like nice refreshing blonde ales nearly as much as IPAs. Too many as just as you said, unbalanced and not really all that great (some of these are from some of the biggest craft breweries). I rarely even look in the stores most of the time because I know that there are going to be nothing but Imperial this or that and overly hopped everything.

 

[bu_gee]

Agreed. The IPAs have worn thin on me too. I knew on the first sip of the IPA I brewed for my first batch that it was an experiment that I would not be repeating.

I think it is a forgiving style that people have worryingly taken to a silly extreme.

+1 in your call for more balanced beer recipes.

 

[1977Brewer]

This is the 2nd IPA hate thread in a month. A good IPA is a good beer. Balance is a silly and imaginary distraction, in what is normally a 4 ingredient endeavor. One of the 4 is going to win. Just say you like malt. It's okay, I do too. Also, you missed the "craze" by a solid 5 years. Sours are the fad beer you were looking for.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

You might be the only one. Hard for me to answer that for you. I thought you'd be the one to answer that. Perhaps you need to get out more?

Also, just click the report button on the thread and then write a little note. Should fix that.




In other news... proceed with the IPA haters. I will continue to enjoy the smells coming off the blowoff from my massive DIPA that I can't wait to drink.

 

[marcownz747]

Nope. Sours are picking up, but I don't walk into my local beer store and see sours making up 50% of the ENTIRE beer selection list. I see over 50% as IPAs, with over 50% of those being Cascade IPAs.

And I apologise if you dislike that two people in one month's time had similar ideas. If that's why you dislike this thread, you must hate IPA threads about 40 times more. There have been easily 80 IPA recipe, clone, or discussion threads in this last month. Two IPA hate threads isn't bad.

 

[ol-hazza]

Cant say i hate them but do find them overrated and as you said take up too much room in the beer section.

And then there are session ipa's..... Does anyone else find that oxymoronic?

 

[1977Brewer]

It's almost as old as BMC hate threads. Beer is beer. I pretty much love all of it.

 

[marcownz747]

I'm not saying I hate the people making IPAs. I'm not saying that I hate the people who like drinking IPAs. I'm saying that I hate the style, that I'm surrounded by nothing but people who love it, and am looking to find some fellow homebrewers who don't like it.

You're being the guy who responds to a "Hey, any NY homebrewers here?" thread with "I'm from Alabama, and Alabama is just as cool as NY". Sure, Alabama can be just as cool as NY. But that's not what the thread was about.

 

[passedpawn]

[threads merged]

 

[ol-hazza]

[threads merged]

Are you some kind of wizard, merging forums, writing in all caps..... What cant you do?

 

[dantheman13]

The reason every brewery does an IPA is because the best IPA is the freshest IPA, and the freshest IPA is your local IPA. Oh, and because IPA is good too.

 

[bu_gee]

I think the subtlety of a balanced beer is lost on many people, not because they're uncouth, but because stuff just stops working as well as it once did as you get older.

Even though this isn't a problem on this forum, in the lay crowd there's also the completely unknowledgeable beer-drinking base that will grasp onto a term like IPA and clutch it like a dying baby no matter how much they hate it if for no other reason than because they wouldn't be caught dead saying that they drink a BMC.

 

[swander]

I thought I liked IPA's until now. Thought I liked Srircha sauce too. Now, in making sure I spelled Srircha correctly, I find Rogue has a Srircha Stout. I'm so confused...

The shelves are filled with what the people vote for, and the people vote with their wallets, just be glad that many are at least exploring alternatives to the light lager we've had crammed down our throats, and by doing so, be hip, good looking, most interesting...

But, on a hot day if offered with no alternatives, sure I'd love a Bud Light!, and if I want it balanced, well on my head, it will probably slip off.

 

[Teromous]

I'm not saying I hate the people making IPAs. I'm not saying that I hate the people who like drinking IPAs. I'm saying that I hate the style, that I'm surrounded by nothing but people who love it, and am looking to find some fellow homebrewers who don't like it.

You're being the guy who responds to a "Hey, any NY homebrewers here?" thread with "I'm from Alabama, and Alabama is just as cool as NY". Sure, Alabama can be just as cool as NY. But that's not what the thread was about.

Except it reads more like "Hey I'm from NY and I hate Alabama." I think you can appreciate the possibility that dissent may be found in a thread where you are trying to find a commonality with people based on your hatred of something.

 

[roastglint]

I really didnt like IPA's like at all... that flowery bitter bs what kinda beer is this!? Then I brewed my first RyePA. And I fell in love with hops. I like all IPA's but the RyePA is my favorite overly hoppy style.

 

[myerstyson]

I am likewise not a fan. I am good up to about 60 IBU. After that it's too much. But SWMBO is a fan so I make sure I always have some ready.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

here we go again! IPA blah blah blah! BMC blah blah blah! am I the only one? blah blah blah!

 

[Psylocide]

 

[Calichusetts]

Yawn...

No you are not the only one...like it was stated earlier, this thread pops up once a week. With literally the same exact posts every time.

1. IPAs are over 20% of all beer sales. Not a craze, a significant market share. Breweries, especially new ones, would exclude 1 out of every 5 beer purchases by not brewing one. Seems like a good business call to me.

2. What these threads are really ranting about are crappy bars and beer stores. IPAs have nothing to do with your crappy selection. Find a better bar or store. Some of the best stores around me stock hundreds of beer, at best, 10-15% are IPAs. You can get virtually any style. Same goes for the top bars in my area. One has 60+ taps and 8 are IPAs. Even the dive bars are basically BMC, an IPA and a stout or dark beer.

3. Stop using the term unbalanced. It has zero value. Nearly every style is unbalanced. Belgians are based on the flavors created by the yeast...no one complains about it. Barleywines, brown ales, etc are all based around the malts...no one complains about it. I never see people rant about any other style's "balance" but IPAs.

If you don't like IPAs, buy something else. If you can't, brew it yourself.

 

[muels]

To preface, I enjoy a good IPA or DIPA once in a while but prefer other styles mostly. With that said....

IPA sells, it's popular. Every brewery has to have an IPA in order to compete in the market. Because of that it will get more shelf space. I find 50% to be an extreme exaggeration though. The stores I go to always have a nice mix. You should thank the IPA craze. Interest in IPA's from the masses will only lead to increase the shelf space for all craft beer. I would rather have 50 IPA's, and 50 other styles to choose from than the limited selection craft beer drinkers had in the not so distant past.

Anytime you start a thread about hating something or that something sucks you will definitely get blowback from the supporters of the thing you hate. Same thing happens when you start a thread about something you love...somebody out there hates it and will tell you about it. That doesn't mean you can't start the thread or state your opinion but you should expect dissenting responses (this is the internet lol).

I would suggest finding a different beer store with a larger selection. If your store sells 200 beers you still have 100 beers to choose from (if your 50% holds up). That's a lot better than a few years ago when you had limited selection of everything.



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[SmokeyMcBong]

Soon it will be "I hate sours" threads!! I love watching hipsters turn their backs on their beloved lol...

 

[pwnshop]

I got into home brewing because I started buying craft beers and developed a taste for hops.

That being said it has been just over a year and I rarely buy ipas anymore and I don't really brew them. I'm developing a strong fondness for other styles of beer and ipas are just too harsh to drink a lot of. I do like an IPA here and there and I still appreciate them, but I have a much more enjoyable time drinking other styles.

 

[bu_gee]

I think that craft beer has hitched its wagon to IPAs and the industry hears the winds of change coming which is why the Brewers Association has changed the rules as to what qualifies as a craft brewery.

They need to include beers people will drink, such as Yeungling, to make it look like the sector is growing. Once the IPA fad goes the way of disco, it will take a large chunk of the one-trick-pony craft beer houses with it, and if it were today, it might take the industry as a whole.

 

[Arttu]

Here in Finland, it's actually hard to find a good fresh hoppy IPA. Imported ones are often past their prime (especially ones from the us) and although there are a few exceptions, Finnish breweries seem to skimp on hops. So far I haven't found a commercial beer with more or even as much hop flavor and aroma as my own brews. I'm drinking an IPA from a good Finnish brewery right now and, to me, it's closer to an esb than an IPA.

You have to remember that Finland has fairly strict alcohol laws (the government holds a monopoly on alcohol over 4.7%, excluding bars of course). You have to go to a government owned liquor store to buy stronger beer, and usually these stores are oriented more towards wine and spirits.

I'd love to try a super hoppy beer like Heady Topper, or Pliny, but I'd probably have to travel to the us to get some.

 

[muels]

I think that craft beer has hitched its wagon to IPAs and the industry hears the winds of change coming which is why the Brewers Association has changed the rules as to what qualifies as a craft brewery.

They need to include beers people will drink, such as Yeungling, to make it look like the sector is growing. Once the IPA fad goes the way of disco, it will take a large chunk of the one-trick-pony craft beer houses with it, and if it were today, it might take the industry as a whole.

I disagree that it would take the industry as a whole. The IPA has became the "gateway" to craft beer because of its popularity. This will only introduce more people to craft beer and grow the industry. If only half of the consumers stick around to branch out with other styles that is still more people drinking craft brew and increasing the market share. The fad will go away and the market will equalize. There will more than likely be a new fad though. This may out some subpar brewers but it will in no way destroy the industry. New brewers will come along to supply what the people want.


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[Hello]

Nope. Sours are picking up, but I don't walk into my local beer store and see sours making up 50% of the ENTIRE beer selection list. I see over 50% as IPAs, with over 50% of those being Cascade IPAs.

And I apologise if you dislike that two people in one month's time had similar ideas. If that's why you dislike this thread, you must hate IPA threads about 40 times more. There have been easily 80 IPA recipe, clone, or discussion threads in this last month. Two IPA hate threads isn't bad.

You won't find sours making up 50% of the beer selection list in any store. I feel fairly confident when I make such a statement because sours are absolutely an acquired taste. IPAs on the other hand, while still considered an acquired taste, they are more beer than sours can be at times. Depending upon the sour of course.

I don't care how many IPA hate threads there are around. IPAs are indeed very popular and I think for a time they will remain popular. IPAs and APAs dominate many grocery store shelves with the so-called "seasonal" porters and stouts taking a back seat, especially this time of year. The selection of ambers are limited as well.

I like IPAs. I hated them before and now I like them, but I have days where an IPA is the furthest thing from what I really want. I find that there is a decently balanced selection in all places I buy beer with exception of a grocery store. I do think they move out some beers depending upon the season, but I could be wrong.

As for the hops. There are definitely popular hops, Cascade being one of those. Mosaic is popular to the point where they're a little harder to get in various places. I know my LHBS hasn't had them in ages. Simcoe is another and Amarillo would be the 4th that I consider hugely popular. With the right combination you can get yourself a piney IPA or a fruity IPA.

When you speak of balance and how IPAs aren't, well that is exactly the intent. This is a style that highlights hops, not malt. If you're looking for something that highlights both, there are some good ambers and browns out there that give more of a balance.

I will say that the beauty of being a home brewer is that you have the power to brew what you like. If the commercial beer selection is limited, brew a batch of something you want. You don't have to love IPAs at all. I'm pretty sure no one will mind.

 

[Psylocide]

 

[day_trippr]

Oh ffs, call a WAAAAAAHMbulance.

I read yesterday that craft beer consumption has now achieved an 11% USA beer market share. Gotta believe IPAs are a big chunk of that share.

Don't love 'em, don't buy 'em...

Cheers! (Life begins at 80 IBUs)

 

[motobrewer]

IPA's for some, miniature american flags for others!!