Teach Me to Love IPAs

[Chipper Dave]

OK I admit it. IPAs are one style that I just have difficulty with. I'm looking for ways to better love this style. For those of you who love IPAs - tell me about the journey you took with IPAs from your 1st one (and your reaction to it) to your current fave's today. How did you come to love the IPA?

[Eli the Mad Beer Man]

Drink more. ;)

Seriously.

I didn't like 'em either, but the more I drink them the more I like them. You really do acquire a taste for them over time. I won't ever like them to the point where I can drink one after another (or even drink a full pint in one sitting), but I do like sampling them.

Ironically enough, Fran loves them. This coming from someone who doesn't like beer all that much.

[Chipper Dave]

I've also heard IPAs are best when drank with a meal. An IPA just by itself (without food) may leave you wishing you had something to eat. True?

[JD]

OK, to get into an IPA start with a hella good one! I would suggest a Lost Coast Indica IPA. The floral citrus hop flavor is so inviting it will have you wanting more! Enjoyed by itself or with a meal, right now I can't think of complementary food but if something comes up I will let you know.
Can't recall where or when it started, heh. Pretty sure it was hopped quite strongly, and progressed from there. About the only IPA I recall not liking was a Bridgeport IPA (bottle condidtioned) and get this, I didn't like it because it was too strong!! (ABV being too strong is not common for me) ;>) So try a few. One other that comes to mind and this is on a hop note (very strong hop note) is Burning River IPA from up north Mich or Wisc or something like that
Im with Ely on this one too, drink more!

Cheers,
jd

[BAYAREA_IPADRINKER]

the first time I had a ipa i didnt like it either , its because people aren't used to such a sophiscated beer with real flavor . Most so called beer drinkers like those multi-million dollar yellow color beers .The first ipa i fell in love with is lagunitas ipa now the majority of what I Drink are i.p.a. , so just give them a chance approach them slow start with the one that are at the 6.0. level or lower. Don't try to tackle the high intentse 7.0-8.0. range because you will find it overwelming . thats the bottom line because the bayarea i.p.a. drinker said so j/k/

[gisbrewmaster]

I am a self proclaimed "hop head". I absolutely love them. I can't tell you how I started to like them or even what beer got me on the kick. It was before I got really into understanding beers and paying attention to what I was really drinking. If I were to guess what beer it was I would have to say it was the Russian River IPA. That was one of the first brewpubs that I went to to start sampling. Like others would say it does take a little getting used to. I feel the same way about stouts and porters but as I drink more of them I am starting to like them a little more each time but I keep going to back to my IPA's. Keep trying them and I am betting that you will find one that turns on the lightbulb and you will start to enjoy them.

Matt

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

India Pale Ales are, for most, an acquired taste. The higher alpha acid levels in these beers are a shock to the palate of those used to maltier, milder flavor profiles in their beer. English style IPAs are one thing, but many of the highly hopped American examples can be brutal, with IBUs (international bittering units) at 80 or higher ...

I too prefer an IPA with a meal, generally. As a rule, you want to pair an IPA with a meal with strong, non-competing, flavors. Milder foods get overwhelmed by the botterness of the hops and sweet foods lend themselves more readily to a malt-heavy flavor profile. Spicy foods, or foods like Bleu cheese, however, are excellent with a good hoppy IPA. This alone can alter your impression of the beer and serve to "take the edge off" of a style that is more challenging to the palate when enjoyed alone.

Having said all that, another GREAT example of the style you might try is Bell's Two Hearted ale. It's hoppy, but doesn't rip your tongue out. If you can call an IPA "balanced," then this is one of the more balanced examples I've tried ... and I've tried plenty.

[Deege]

I'll have to agree with you. I prefer beers to be somewhere between balanced and malty. I'll drink an occasional IPA, but it's never my first choice. They just seem too far out of balance and too bitter for me.

[Chipper Dave]

I tried a nitrogen infused IPA on tap today at the Odell Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado. Wow. The nitrogen gave this beer a nice white creamy foam layer on top. This was an IPA that I actually liked! It was as fresh as you could get it and the nitro gave it an extra creaminess that made this beer. This was a lighter IPA than most and didn't overdo it on the hops, although when I burped I was suddenly hit with a nice hop explosion. If other IPA's were like the Odell Nitro IPA then I'd drink more of these.

[Jinja]

I love IPAs. You'll need to tell me what you currently drink most frequently as well as where you live in order for me to tell you where to start.

How do you feel about big pale ales like Sierra Nevada pale ale?

Jinja Out

[Jinja]

Right now I am drinking a Lagunitas IPA :)

[Chipper Dave]

I'm first and foremost a dark beer lover - so that's where I'm coming from. I enjoy trying as many different styles as possible. Haven't yet tried the Sierra Nevada, but hope to soon as I do recall seeing it at the store.

One of my first IPA's I remember drinking was Flying Dog's Snake Dog IPA. Probably was a bit too much on the strong side (hop wise) for my first IPA. I couldn't finish that beer as it simply had more hops than I had ever encountered at once in my life. Now that I know what to expect, I can brace myself for it. Dry hopped beers especially take a bit more getting used to.

[Jinja]

I think you definitely have to build. I started as a cider drinking girl, graduated to half-n-halfs (half Harp, half guinness) and from there got introduced to Gordon Biersch. From that, I just started exploring craft brews through festivals and local bars and just trying each new tap I saw. I used to really hate the DIPA but now I hit the Bistro DIPA fest every chance I get.

So I'd suggest starting with a medium hopped pale ale - I'm sure the Colorado guys can suggest some. And I saw in your profile that you are into Imperial Stouts - if you can handle those you'll be drinking Triple IPAs this time next year.

Jinja Out