Make IPA Clear Again

[HM-2]

So clear you can see all the nucleation sites!

You can, I didn't really clock that when I took.the picture but it does look rather weird!

 

[Nagorg]

The hazy fanboys have to work at messing things up.

And since its been a while and this thread has grown a bit, I don't take issue from reduced clarity from things like a big dry hop or some chill haze. Its the completely opaque look (and taste) of OJ that raises my hackle's when labeled IPA.

 

[HM-2]

Much to my surprise, the WC DIPA got even clearer.

Maybe I'll try even more hope next time?

 

[Drunken Monkey]

I can’t stand IPA’s. It’s a millennial fad that’s going away thank god !

The process was done that way back in the days for preservation purposes. So, something better than nothing. But, by today’s standards it’s trash ! And, a fad it seems just like wine coolers of the 80’s.

 

[day_trippr]

 

[PCABrewing]

I can’t stand IPA’s. It’s a millennial fad that’s going away thank god !

The process was done that way back in the days for preservation purposes.

Perhaps you should read the introductory paragraph to the IPA section in the BJCP guidelines.
It clarifies there is a distinction made between IPA and India Pale Ale.

 

[day_trippr]

Aww - where's the fun in that?

 

[InspectorJon]

This thread is 5 years old, the hazy style has persisted for what, 10 years now? American IPA since the 1990s. It does seem to be going away rather slowly. Always been useful for a good rant though.

 

[day_trippr]

I'm willing to believe the perps were just having fun

 

[NeoBrew]

This thread is 5 years old, the hazy style has persisted for what, 10 years now? American IPA since the 1990s. It does seem to be going away rather slowly. Always been useful for a good rant though.

Just for the record, Hazy is not an IPA or an American Pale Ale.

 

[PCABrewing]

Just for the record, Hazy is not an IPA or an American Pale Ale.

That's odd, my copy of the BJCP 2021 guidelines has an entry "21C Hazy IPA".
I don't really care one way or another, it's just fun looking-up stuff and finding it.
I consider Hazy to be the "fault" of the brewer.

(let'r rip...)

 

[day_trippr]

Zzzzzzzz....

 

[HM-2]

I don't, never gave, and never will, get the factionalism over hazy IPA. I don't like hazies completely devoid of bitterness, because they're unbalanced and lacking good structure, but I enjoy a well made one and don't see the haze as fault any more than I would in a wheat beer. I brew both styles but I'd say I'm better at WC and English IPAs than I am hazies.

Live, let live, and let people like the things they like.

 

[beersk]

Zzzzzzzz....

Alright, dude, come on, knock it off with that. Go over to the "Sippy Cup, beer for kids" thread and hang out. NEIPAs have drifted so far away from their creator that's gotten to the point where it's not even trying to taste like beer much less look like it. If they still all looked and tasted like Heady Topper, I might still be into them.

 

[day_trippr]

So tiresome...and boring...

 

[Alan Reginato]

So tiresome...and boring...

Yeah, the Haze Craze. I agree with you.

 

[JoeSpartaNJ]

Alright, dude, come on, knock it off with that. Go over to the "Sippy Cup, beer for kids" thread and hang out. NEIPAs have drifted so far away from their creator that's gotten to the point where it's not even trying to taste like beer much less look like it. If they still all looked and tasted like Heady Topper, I might still be into them.

It's funny. Heady Topper really is far removed from NEIPA by today's standards. To me its more of an unfiltered DIPA at this point. Bitter and Dank.

Still delicious.

 

[beersk]

It's funny. Heady Topper really is far removed from NEIPA by today's standards. To me its more of an unfiltered DIPA at this point. Bitter and Dank.

Still delicious.

But the point is, that's where it all started. Until some dip (Treehouse? Trillium?) got the idea in his head that making a beer look and taste like orange juice was a good idea. It's beer for people who don't want their beer to taste like beer but instead fruit juice. I liked it in the beginning but it's gotten ridiculous. I'm just so glad that the fad is fading and there's far fewer NEIPAs on tap lists now than there used to be.

But, one cannot ignore that, with the trend to making beers hazier and hoppier, that brewing practices did improve surrounding oxygen mitigation on the cold side and maybe even the hot side.

Edit: Actually, you know what? I didn't like it in the beginning. I remember back in 2010 or so, being from Iowa, we got Toppling Goliath on tap in our local bars (you know, before they got super inflated heads and became *********), and Golden Nugget was my favorite beer. Guess what, it was CLEAR. Pseudo Sue, however, was not clear and I always thought there was something wrong with the brewing water, like their water chemistry was off creating a cloudy beer. Never liked the flavor, thought it tasted funky, never liked the haziness of it. Then years later, had some Trillium, really liked it, then the nationwide haze craze happened years later, and I just said, What. Is. Happening... After that children took over.

 

[mac_1103]

I am not a huge fan of hazies. I don't brew them or seek them out, but I don't entirely avoid them either. I've had more than a few over the years and can honestly say never one that tasted like orange juice. There are plenty produced by the craft brewers in my area and again, while not exactly my favorites they also do not offend me.

Some of the hate in this thread is ridiculously over the top. Maybe people having temper tantrums shouldn't be calling other people children.

Drink what you like. Let other people drink what they like. It's not hard.

 

[day_trippr]

I liked it in the beginning

I didn't like it in the beginning.

had some Trillium, really liked it

Still feels the need to attack others though

 

[beersk]

Still feels the need to attack others though

Yep. When you persistently say clear IPA is tiresome and boring, I do. And I'll argue it like I did when the Pacific Northwest tried to claim black IPA as a style they invented and called it "Cascadian Dark Ale" or CDA or as I always called it "Crossdressing Amateurs". No, it's an IPA that's black. Get over it. There's oxymorons everywhere, but everyone decided black IPA was the battle they wanted to fight.

 

[DevilsCups]

Holy hell dawgs, let's remember that beer is supposed to be fun.

 

[Alan Reginato]

Holy hell dawgs, let's remember that beer is supposed to be fun.

No, let's argue and fight over it!

My best guess is that NEIPA is generally considered a wannabe-cool trend. Recently forums have been flooded with homebrewers telling everyone things like this: you must drink your beer within a week, only kegging is acceptable, hops are only for dry hopping, Voss Kveik is a neutral yeast, polyphenols and esters are bad, and all kind of tips, that in fact only belongs to NEIPA's territory. It makes me a little uncomfortable, and maybe made others too.
Surprise! There are other styles of beer.

You know, it's something like that, if my point isn't too hazy.

 

[mac_1103]

When you persistently say clear IPA is tiresome and boring

Pretty sure he's saying that the endless arguments about NEIPAs not being real beer are what is tiresome and boring.

 

[beersk]

Pretty sure he's saying that the endless arguments about NEIPAs not being real beer are what is tiresome and boring.

Ah, well, that could be. And if that's the case, I'm sorry. But dang it! Let's bicker and argue!

 

[DevilsCups]

Guess what? I love both styles.

My neck fits perfectly in a guillotine.

 

[Alan Reginato]

Guess what? I love both styles.

My neck fits perfectly in a guillotine.

Heresy!
Lucky for you, people aren't executed in public anymore.

 

[Dog House Brew]

My problem with the haze craze is not doing them well. I’ve never had Heady, Treehouse, or the like. TG is probably as good as it gets here. I did have Heretic’s Maja Haze and loved it. I’ve ordered cases of OH and they all are relatively the same. I do like those, but a good WC is fantastic. What I like about WC is they are different. Hazy kind of runs together here. Clear not clear doesn’t bother me. I like all IPA, I just happen to like WC best. I’ve tried so many bad hazy beers. My guess is I’d love Heady and Treehouse.

 

[DevilsCups]

Treehouse has changed, but anyone could say that about any brewery that has grown tremendously. Heady has changed, too.

Effort is my main issue with West Coast IPA's from hyped breweries here on the East Coast. Most of them are half-assed attempts, as it's typically a brewery that specializes in NEIPA and does one to be trendy (which in itself is humorous to me). Most of the time they're just splitting hot-side NEIPA wort and pitching Chico and changing the hops up. They are usually under-bittered and just...half-assed.

For my taste, if you're looking for a good representation of NEIPA, you have to go New England local. I'm a big fan of what Freak Folk is doing up in Vermont. For West Coasts, like I said, most examples around here are mediocre. Pliny and Blind Pig are still my class examples of the style. By memory I was a huge fan of old Alpine and old Green Flash.

 

[beersk]

Treehouse has changed, but anyone could say that about any brewery that has grown tremendously. Heady has changed, too.

Effort is my main issue with West Coast IPA's from hyped breweries here on the East Coast. Most of them are half-assed attempts, as it's typically a brewery that specializes in NEIPA and does one to be trendy (which in itself is humorous to me). Most of the time they're just splitting hot-side NEIPA wort and pitching Chico and changing the hops up. They are usually under-bittered and just...half-assed.

For my taste, if you're looking for a good representation of NEIPA, you have to go New England local. I'm a big fan of what Freak Folk is doing up in Vermont. For West Coasts, like I said, most examples around here are mediocre. Pliny and Blind Pig are still my class examples of the style. By memory I was a huge fan of old Alpine and old Green Flash.

100% concur. It's like breweries got so focused on making beers "juicy" that they forgot how to brew West Coast IPAs and many are essentially more-clear NEIPAs. You can't just use the same hops in a clearer beer and call it a WCIPA and not hear from me about it! Don't brew a wheat beer with chico and call it a hefeweizen! If you catch my drift... This isn't Nam, there are rules!

And also, Pliny and Blind Pig rule!