What's the sweet spot for aging IPA's?

[ZmannR2]

I've drank my IPA's 2 weeks after the boil (after force carbing) and they've tasted a bit too green. Then I've had IPA's that are only a few months old and don't have that same zing we all love about them. What's y'alls experience with how long you should let an IPA sit before enjoying?

 

[worlddivides]

In my experience, IPAs are ready to drink as soon as they've carbed (that said, I've never force-carbed one before, so the earliest I've drank one from brew day is maybe 3 weeks later, but usually closer to 4 weeks later). How long it takes for them to go downhill really depends on the specific beer, but the last IPA I brewed was best at about 2-3 weeks after bottling and started going downhill about 2 months later, and the last bottle I had at about 7 months later had lost much of the hop aroma, hop flavor, and was just bitter. It was also getting relatively dark in color (it started out with a pleasant orange color, but the last one I had was a brownish-orange).

 

[derekcw83]

I've noticed that at about 2 weeks of refrigeration, following being carbed (I bottle condition) I've had excellent aroma, clarity, and flavor.

 

[Beer-lord]

For me, a kegger, I like them about 2-3 weeks after they are carbed. Then I notice a gradual change of flavor the next few weeks. And, if I don't kick a keg after 6-8 weeks, I notice a bigger difference but this is expected and doesn't mean it's still not good beer.

 

[petrolSpice]

I usually don't wait to drink them. I start drinking 4-5 weeks after brewing (I bottle) and it usually takes me a few months to finish drinking the batch. I do notice the ones I drink last taste a little better than those I drank first. I leave the bottles out at room temp until I am ready to drink them, at which point they'll go in the fridge for a minimum of 2 days before opening.

 

[SGTSparty]

Specifically to keggers like OP and Beer-lord what do you consider best 'ready to dirnk' and whats your 'kick by or wish you had' dates? I brew IPA's for SWMBO and friends but I don't like them so i don't drink them beyond a sample of each. This means I don't have any first hand info on what's happening specifically w/ my IPAs. I ask specifically because my wife likes an IPA if she's drinking beer but typically she's a white wine lady so its not like shes plowing through the keg herself which means if we're not entertaining much it sits. I'd like to track it a bit closer if there's a 'best used by' clock on it.

 

[Denny]

I've drank my IPA's 2 weeks after the boil (after force carbing) and they've tasted a bit too green. Then I've had IPA's that are only a few months old and don't have that same zing we all love about them. What's y'alls experience with how long you should let an IPA sit before enjoying?

It doesn't matter what WE think..what matters is what YOU think! Try them at different times. There is no one right answer, and it will vary from batch to batch.