Gateway IPAs

Pen Rua · 16-04-2020 2:01pm #1

Whilst going through my two off license orders, I've found myself constantly skipping over IPAs. It effectively cuts off maybe 50% of the offering in some of the 4 for €10 type offers.

I seem to to tell myself "I don't like IPAs" and I think this stems from some really terrible ones over the years and I have not wanted to risk it again with IPAs.

But now I can see a lot of the offerings are IPA or variants thereof, and my hesitance to IPAs is cutting off a lot of interesting offerings.

So in sum: could you folks suggest some gateway IPAs that I could try? I'd like to go back and give one or two a shot and see has my perception changed, or whether I'll just stay away from them for another while.

irish_goat · 16-04-2020 4:11pm

Is it the bitterness you don't like? You could go for some of the New England style or any lactose infused IPAs out there. They'd have a decent level of hops in them, generally, but are a lot sweeter than a regular IPA.

If you're just looking for accessible, clean ones;

Whiplash - Body Riddle or Rollover
Yellowbelly - Citra
Rascals - Happy Days
Galway Bay - Althea

For me personally, Kinnegar - Scraggy Bay is the most consistently good IPA on the market, but it's got a little more going on in terms of flavour and alcohol than the above so probably not the best entry level IPA.

BeerNut · 16-04-2020 4:18pm

The term "IPA" is all but meaningless these days. You could do a tour of the sub-genres with just White Hag beers: Little Fawn, Bran & Sceolan, Atlantean. Throw in Kinnegar Rustbucket, Whiplash Northern Lights and whatever Whiplash double IPA is currently available and there's either something there you'll enjoy or you definitely don't like IPA.

Zaph · 16-04-2020 4:42pm

I was the same and avoided IPAs for a long time, I just couldn't handle the hoppiness. Then I had a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale for the first time in years and I had forgotten how much I'd enjoyed it previously. I started drinking that a lot and as time went on I started drinking other pale ales before progressing to IPAs. There are still a couple I've thought too hoppy for me, but in general I'm hapy to drink most IPAs at this stage. Apart from Sierra Nevada, Founders All Day IPA is a decent, uncomplicated beer that you might find a good starting point.

Pen Rua · 16-04-2020 7:19pm

Thanks, folks - plenty of suggestions for me to add to the basket next round,

Pen Rua · 18-04-2020 11:20am

Zaph wrote: »

I was the same and avoided IPAs for a long time, I just couldn't handle the hoppiness. Then I had a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale for the first time in years and I had forgotten how much I'd enjoyed it previously. I started drinking that a lot and as time went on I started drinking other pale ales before progressing to IPAs. There are still a couple I've thought too hoppy for me, but in general I'm hapy to drink most IPAs at this stage. Apart from Sierra Nevada, Founders All Day IPA is a decent, uncomplicated beer that you might find a good starting point.

Was able to pick this up in local off license - pretty pleasant! Thanks for the recommendation.

BeerNut wrote: »

The term "IPA" is all but meaningless these days. You could do a tour of the sub-genres with just White Hag beers: Little Fawn, Bran & Sceolan, Atlantean. Throw in Kinnegar Rustbucket, Whiplash Northern Lights and whatever Whiplash double IPA is currently available and there's either something there you'll enjoy or you definitely don't like IPA.

Thanks for the recommendation. The tour of White Hag beers seems like a really good shout, they seem to be in 4 for a tenner offers a lot. I was able to pick up Atlantean which is on the menu for this weekend. I also have one of the Whiplash IPAs on the menu (the session one) and have another of theirs due to be delivered next week. I have been eyeing up Kinnegar stuff in general - thanks for calling them out! Hopefully catch them in the next round.

irish_goat wrote: »

Is it the bitterness you don't like? You could go for some of the New England style or any lactose infused IPAs out there. They'd have a decent level of hops in them, generally, but are a lot sweeter than a regular IPA.

If you're just looking for accessible, clean ones;

Whiplash - Body Riddle or Rollover
Yellowbelly - Citra
Rascals - Happy Days
Galway Bay - Althea

For me personally, Kinnegar - Scraggy Bay is the most consistently good IPA on the market, but it's got a little more going on in terms of flavour and alcohol than the above so probably not the best entry level IPA.

Thanks for that - helpful for more to identify what's going on in an IPA. I love Orange Velvet from Levrig, which Untappd tells me is strictly an IPA with lactose! Makes sense now.

With White Hag and Galway Bay both having beers of similar names, I keep getting confused between the two of them! I picked up WH's Altantean and was convinced I had bought a Galway Bay brew...!

RasTa · 19-04-2020 10:57am

I do think Rustbucket by Kinnegar is the gateway drug.

Scraggy Bay by Kinnegar is the best IPA to come out of Ireland imo

Clegg · 19-04-2020 4:41pm

I second (third?) the recommendations for Scraggy Bay. Best IPA I've had.

I also want to recommend the Galway Hooker IPA. that was my first IPA. Not as strong or hoppy as Kinnegar.

Pen Rua · 19-04-2020 5:01pm

Nice! I’ll be sure to try some of Kinnegar offering when I top up

andekwarhola · 19-04-2020 5:27pm

McGargles Session IPA is a really easy going one to start with and is widely available.

raheny red · 19-04-2020 6:06pm

Another vote for Scraggy Bay. All Day IPA too.

n97 mini · 19-04-2020 8:22pm

Galway Hooker is about as gateway as they get. First hoppy beer I ever drank, 11 years ago, and still drink it occasionally.

emo72 · 19-04-2020 10:29pm

Scraggy Bay too. Only thing is at 5% I can't drink too much of it. Beautiful taste though. I miss poachers pale ale. Was my fave but sacrificed in the bru merger.

Gateway IPAs

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