US IPA a travesty? What the hell?

[Bryce Eddings]

I was skimming through the beer headlines this morning and came across Ten Must-Try Local Beers. From the article: "Most beer circles consider the introduction of India Pale Ales in this country to be a travesty."

[gisbrewmaster]

IPA for president!!! Lets start the movement!!

[Chris of thebeergeek.com]

Someone needs a better editor

[Art Gompper]

Great that the author likes beer but to say most IPAs in America are pale and not much ale is the travesty. How totally random to pick 10 cities and 10 must-try local beers. I'm sure every city he listed has more than 1 must-try beer.

[Shawn, the Beer Philosopher]

Say what? Now there's a circle I'm not familiar with ... do you think he's alluding to American-style (i.e., West Coast) IPAs vs. the Brit variety? Still, that doesn't make much sense either.

"But Hale’s Mongoose IPA is something different: they use 50 pounds of hops (most beers don’t use a quarter of that) to create an extremely balanced beer that combines the right amount of tartness with a nice hoppy aftertaste."

Not to be overly critical ... well, yes ... to be overly critical, this statement leads me to believe the author knows little of what he speaks, at least about IPAs. Using 4 X the hops of "most beers" doesn't really scream "balanced" to me and who describes the flavor profile of an IPA as "tart." Ya want tart, try a Berliner Weisse or a Gueuze. That's tart.

Bitterness, resinous, vineous, even citric ... I can see all of that in an IPA.

Of course, I'm in a grumpy mood today anyway. I'm gonna go drink a non-tart Two Hearted Ale and forget my troubles. ;)

[Rob Hansult]

Agree Shawn,

Not that I would neccessarilly MIND a tart IPA, but I've never tasted one either, and I've had a few. Don't know that I'd want to waste any Gueuze on this guy either - but it might be fun to see his head spin off, if he thinks IPA is tart. Ha Ha Ha

Gueuze . . . now I'M getting Thirsty! Just found a local source for Boon & Cantillon Gueuze so I'm happy even if my bank account is less so. lol

[Rob Hansult]

Thank god I don't travel in THOSE circles! LOL The writer must be a beer newbie. Haven't really ever seen a poll, but my guess would be along the lines of IPA = Most Loved by the Malt/Hop cognoscenti.