The IPA beer guy

[Altitude sickness]

Has the IPA trend jumped the shark yet. Anyone else tired of the IPA “microbrew” snobs.

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[uplander01]

Seriously that's funny shit there.

In all seriousness though, being from Michigan we take our beer quite seriously, I appreciate your humor. I honestly can't stomach regular beers like Budweiser, Miller, Coors anymore (and believe me I used to drink a lot of them). There are too many other good choices that have better taste character and go way better with food. My favorite--Bells Brewery-Two Hearted Ale. There is something to the micro-brew hipster, its a generational thing and kinda awesome if you ask me. That said, I'll drink as many Windhoek Lagers as there are in camp during a safari.

 

[Altitude sickness]

90 degree turn.

Have you fished the Two Hearted River ? I’ve heard you can often have it to yourself because it’s harder to reach.

 

[uplander01]

I have not, all the fishing I do is on Lake Michigan. Seems like the travel tourist/sportsman to the UP has greatly diminished over the years. It used to be a major travel destination especially for bird hunting and fishing. IMO opinion the Michigan DNR has dropped the ball on almost every front when it comes to managing wildlife. I've done a lot of Mountain Biking up there though and its beautiful country.

 

[Betterinthebush]

IPAs taste like a bag full of yard work and grass clippings. This guy nails it with the retching and cutsie ale names.

 

[C.W. Richter]

The original India Pale Ales were fantastic (Bass, etc.) Some of the microbrews-also very good (and many not so good.) But, basic American beer is so McDonalds. As said prior, most beers produced in Africa (of dutch-german-english origin) are excellent so I always look forward to it! All that said, I'm so busy, 'have no time to think about someone else's beer preferences. IF it's truly terrible, they'll have to stop selling it. There's one by me...Twin Tiers IPA (7%). It's really good after a hard day's work! On the other hand, I won't often turn down an ice cold Coors Light (miles distant neighbors' preference for reasons of economy) at day's end when it's 85F out, as it's refreshing and a great time to catch up. (I got him 2 15 packs of it when he had a particular master link for ag equipment and got me back to work in 5 min as opposed to 1.5 hrs lost driving around.) I stopped by again for a 2nd beer and had to spill the beans that my devious plan was to plant cold beer in his fridge and after 28 more trips by with the tractor I'll have consumed all of the beer!) He laughed knowing from prior years I'd only pass by about 6x during this period. lol

 

[Philip Glass]

Very funny!

 

[Rickmt]

I also don’t like bud,miller, coors, and all the other mainline beers. I have one beer in the evening most of the time and I want something that tastes great. I am all in on hazy IPA ‘S. As far as alcohol content goes less than 7 is my go to selection.
I enjoy a local brewery visit and I usually bring home a growler for later .

 

[Wyatt Smith]

This guys hilarious! It’s funny because it’s true.
What I hade is the superiority complex most IPA guys. They look down on anyone who drinks 30 pack beer, then act insulted if you offer them a Coors.

 

[deewayne2003]

I don't like IPAs, the only reason they exist is because the British were trying to make beer transportable to India without spoiling, so they just dumped a bunch of hops in it and hence why it's called India Pale Ale.

My cousin, a brewer was asked during a TV interview why his brewery didn't have any IPA beers......

"Honestly, I think lots of brewers make IPAs because they are trying to hide bad after tastes in a beer that they can cheaply produce; that's why I do not make IPA beer."

 

[Red Leg]

Too funny.

Always been fond of a true lager or pilsner. Never have much cared for the stale oats after taste of most ales - dark, heavy, or pale. From the States, I prefer Shiner Bock, Live Oak, Sam Adams and Jack's Abby House. Fortunately, Europe and Asia offer a host of great lagers and pilsners like Peroni, Urquell, Weihenstephaner, Singha, Sapporo, or Tsingtao and a host of others.

 

[Rumrunner]

I can’t stand mass produced American beers. I do like some IPAs especially Pliny the Elder or Blind Pig from Russian River Brewery. As long as they are not too hoppy or bitter I usually like them. I drink stouts and pale ales also. Can’t drink sours though.

 

[coreydb]

Only Guinness for me.....

 

[jruby]

I never really enjoyed an IPA I am more of a stout or porter guy.

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[Alistair]

Yeah, I think the IPA thing has run its course a little.

There's nothing wrong with IPA, it's great beer when done well, and when it's done badly it hides a lot of sins. I used to work in a brewery in Burton on Trent, UK. I appreciate the history too.

The US craft seen did a really great job of bringing it to this nation; Russian River, etc.

However, it's been the craft mainstay for at least 30 years now, and frankly I think it has gotten silly.

Far too many producers got hung up on 'the most special', the most hoppy, the most bitter, the most alcohol, the most exclusive, and gave up on just making solid, actually drinkable beer. Or even trying to make 'real' IPAs at all.

Triple IPAs, Imperials, hazy styles so thick they're basically milkshake, beers dry hopped to within an inch of their life. That's not 'fun'. That's a product made explicitly for advertising a hipstery lifestyle, and frankly, drink 6oz of them and it rapidly becomes a chore... and then you have another 10oz to go.

Not rewarding, not worthwhile.

I think a lot of craft breweries are slowly catching on to this, and I'm really pleased to see a resurgence in craft produced, but pretty basic, styles coming onto the market.

Do something clean, something simple, something refreshing, celebrate the heritage of those styles, do it well... if you can. Nothing to hide behind, no fluff, just quality beer. That's hard to do, and you won't get away with poor process control.

We shall see how the market develops I guess.

 

[odonata]

When I'm out at restaurants, a Guinness is always a solid choice. Right now, I have a mixed selection of various Porters in the cooler. I like going into a local brewery whenever I'm traveling to see what the regional guys are brewing.

But an IPA is a rare request. I can tolerate them a little better now than a decade ago. Back then it tasted like someone brewed a beer, squeezed a grapefruit in it & then let a pine cone soak in it for a while. Now it's not quite the assault on my palette that it used to be.

The guy in the background came in to get his growler filled so I asked if I could hold his baby as he walked by...