How IPAs conquered the beer world

The Economist ^ | 5/13/14 | S.W.

[caver]

IPAs are my favorite.

[ExCTCitizen]

IPA are good, but any craft beer is.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

There are other and better ways to add flavor to beer than acidic and harsh IPAs.

Browns, reds, stouts and porters are all great tasting beers that don't give one indigestion.

[brownsfan]

Love the generally high alcohol content. If I’m home I can just drink one or two. I don’t drink them when I’m out for that reason. But the high hop content is an acquired taste.

[fhayek]

Mine too. Have you tried Southern Tier IPA? I wonder if it is available in Indiana. If you haven’t, you really should try to get your hands on some. It’s a little bit of heaven.

[onona]

I read a story about IPA naming debunked about the normal brews spoiling during their voyage to India and the brewers adding extra hops to preserve.

Of course, it was on the internet :)

[colorado tanker]

Two of my history professors who were European specialists embarked in the 1970's on a search for an American beer that didn't taste like "dishwater." They failed.

My first assignment to Germany changed my entire perspective on beer.

It's a whole different world today.

[Gene Eric]

+1 for Southern Tier.

[discostu]

I’ve grown tired of IPAs. Not enough variation between the brands.

[ghost of stonewall jackson]

i’ll drink to that...sláinte

[Fungi]

I agree. They are too heavy.

[cuban leaf]

I used to go to the Pike Place Brewery and get their sampler deal. My least favorite was the IPA. IPA’s have never been my favorite, but they are still far better than a bud.

[cuban leaf]

I listened to a radio interview in the early 80’s with the founder of Ballard Bitters (when it was the only beer they made). He pointed out that the thing most people looked for in a “cold beer” was “cold”. He also pointed out that you get more customers with a bland flavor than a strong flavor because a strong flavor will mean some people really don’t like it, while a bland flavor is not great, but at least it doesn’t offend anyone. And the goal of Bud, Miller, etc. was to sell lots of beer.

Now, no new brand is killing those behemoths, but they are dying from a thousand cuts. Roughly 2,500 cuts. Apparently.

[C. Edmund Wright]

call me old school….I’m a lager guy…..maybe amber ale…..just never really got into the IPAs…..(but I support the indy brewer industry in theory)

[editor-surveyor]

Not refreshing by any measure. Hard to pair with most foods.

A sales gimmick in the broad picture.

[ghost of stonewall jackson]

not sure where you live, but in the philadelphia area the Victory Prima Pils (pilsner) is quite good

[caver]

I don’t think I’ve tried Southern Tier IPA. I try new ones anytime I get a chance though.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “But the high hop content is an acquired taste.” <<

.
Or a non-acquired taste, as the case may be.
.

[Raymann]

Haven’t had a Bud or Miller in years. I’m more into imperial stouts and doubblebocks but I love a good IPA with spicy food. And I’m Creole so I eat a lot of that. Dogfish Head and Flying Dog make some great ones.