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The curse of NEIPA

  • 19-04-2020 12:19pm
    #1
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,754 ✭✭✭✭


    I'm all for choice and variety.
    I don't like NEIPA as a style, generally, but, as lots of people do, I'm happy to see these beers available.

    So, what am I giving out about?

    Last night I opened two beers I hadn't had previously.
    Mountain standard IPA from Odell's.
    Body Riddle session pale ale from Whiplash.

    Neither of these beers used the terms : New England, East Coast, Hazey, Juicy etc, but both beers were hazey and lacking in bitterness and body. To my taste, these were both poor beers, lacking in balance.

    I've been a big fan of Odell's for a long time and I've previously had some outstanding Whiplash beers.

    Perhaps, to others, these are well made beers, but surely the style should be made clear on the can, so that I can avoid a style I don't enjoy while other's can enjoy it.

    The popularity of the style seems to be creeping into many, many new beers labelled as IPA/pale ale . How am I supposed to know what I am getting?
    I can't think of any older beer that has changed to fit in with this popular trend but, I suspect, that's only a matter of time.

    I've always enjoyed dry hopped beers but now the mention of dry hopping seems to indicate that there are no bittering hops in the beer.

    I accept that East Coast is just not to my taste - I have tasted some that I can recognise as well made beer but I can't help feeling that the popularity of this style is bringing with it a plethora of really sh1te beers hiding under a fog of dry hopping.

    I want hoppy, malty, bitter, balanced beer but when it comes to new beers, I'm at a loss as to how to predict what might be in a can of so-called IPA.

    Is anyone else struggling?

    PS. Lactose in beer can (for the most part) fcuk off.

    PPS
    Don't get me started on chocolate, marshmallow, cookie dough, maple syrup, coffee, cake, butterscotch and M&Ms in stout!
    But they usually tell you on the label, so despite my protestations, these don't really bother me.

    Big fan of fruited sour beers, so I'm not just an old traditionalist.
    I like unfiltered lager and weissbier, so I don't expect all beer to have clarity.


Comments

  • #2
    BeerNut
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 11,776 Mod ✭✭✭✭BeerNut


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    Neither of these beers used the terms : New England, East Coast, Hazey, Juicy etc
    Mountain Standard says juicy on the can. It doesn't say New England because it's an attempt at creating "Mountain Style" IPA, ie NEIPA brewed in Colorado.

    My beer blog | The Twitter | My other beer blog



  • #3
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,754 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    BeerNut wrote: »
    Mountain Standard says juicy on the can. It doesn't say New England because it's an attempt at creating "Mountain Style" IPA, ie NEIPA brewed in Colorado.

    Beware of the small print, hu?


  • #4
    Fall_Guy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 776 ✭✭✭Fall_Guy


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    I'm all for choice and variety.
    I don't like NEIPA as a style, generally, but, as lots of people do, I'm happy to see these beers available.

    So, what am I giving out about?

    Last night I opened two beers I hadn't had previously.
    Mountain standard IPA from Odell's.
    Body Riddle session pale ale from Whiplash.

    Neither of these beers used the terms : New England, East Coast, Hazey, Juicy etc, but both beers were hazey and lacking in bitterness and body. To my taste, these were both poor beers, lacking in balance.

    I've been a big fan of Odell's for a long time and I've previously had some outstanding Whiplash beers.

    Perhaps, to others, these are well made beers, but surely the style should be made clear on the can, so that I can avoid a style I don't enjoy while other's can enjoy it.

    The popularity of the style seems to be creeping into many, many new beers labelled as IPA/pale ale . How am I supposed to know what I am getting?
    I can't think of any older beer that has changed to fit in with this popular trend but, I suspect, that's only a matter of time.

    I've always enjoyed dry hopped beers but now the mention of dry hopping seems to indicate that there are no bittering hops in the beer.

    I accept that East Coast is just not to my taste - I have tasted some that I can recognise as well made beer but I can't help feeling that the popularity of this style is bringing with it a plethora of really sh1te beers hiding under a fog of dry hopping.

    I want hoppy, malty, bitter, balanced beer but when it comes to new beers, I'm at a loss as to how to predict what might be in a can of so-called IPA.

    Is anyone else struggling?

    PS. Lactose in beer can (for the most part) fcuk off.

    PPS
    Don't get me started on chocolate, marshmallow, cookie dough, maple syrup, coffee, cake, butterscotch and M&Ms in stout!
    But they usually tell you on the label, so despite my protestations, these don't really bother me.

    Big fan of fruited sour beers, so I'm not just an old traditionalist.
    I like unfiltered lager and weissbier, so I don't expect all beer to have clarity.

    I think with regards pale ales and IPA's currently, the dial has shifted to the point where unless otherwise stated, expect New England style. Clean, well-balanced IPA's are the outlier at the moment, it's almost a novelty to come across a newly released IPA that fits the classic West Coast mould.

    It's a bit of a coin toss when buying modern IPA, I do really enjoy them when they hit the sweet spot but too often that yeast bite just overpowers the initial burst of fresh hops. The lack of bitterness or balance doesn't bother me anywhere near as much as that.


  • #5
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,754 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    Another travesty of a poorly described so-called IPA last night from a brewery that I like.
    White Hag Dough Bros collaboration New World IPA.

    I've always enjoyed the grapefruity New World hop varieties. Since when does New World mean NEIPA?

    I think to save me and everyone else from my moaning, I'm going to have to stop experimenting with new IPAs and just stick with what I know.
    Seems a shame to end decades of enjoying trying new beers.


  • #6
    RasTa
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15,116 ✭✭✭✭RasTa


    Untapped is good for that

    https://untappd.com/b/the-white-hag-irish-brewing-company-the-dough-brews-new-world-ipa/2756036


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  • #7
    irish_goat
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 5,760 Mod ✭✭✭✭irish_goat


    I got stung a few times in the pub when I ordered what I thought was an IPA only to find it had lactose in it. I now ask to see the can/bottle to check the ingredients before they open it. I'll be skeptical if there are oats added too but will usually give them a go. As RasTa suggests, I'll sometimes use Untappd and see if there's a decent amount of IBUs too.

    Lineman - Zephyr sounds like it'd be right up your street, OP. Ordered some of it this morning myself. https://craftcentral.ie/collections/limited-edition/products/lineman-zephyr-west-coast-ipa-440ml-can-6-abv


  • #8
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,754 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    Right, should get on better with this lot :

    3 cans Black Bucket
    3 cans Scraggy Bay
    Bottle or Orval

    A Tilquin and a Cantillion oude Gueuze for the cellar!


  • #9
    RWCNT
    Registered Users Posts: 1,430 ✭✭✭RWCNT


    These days the old school piney resinous bitter IPAs seem to be the exception rather than the rule and are explicitly labelled as West Coast IPAs to make that clear.

    Murkier waters (pun intended) with DIPAs though where unless there's a description of the beer on the can you're a little less sure of what you're getting. Untapped is defo your friend.


  • #10
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,754 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    Caught out again last night.
    My own fault for 2 reasons.
    1. I should have checked untapped before buying.
    2. It was Whiplash - it seems that their default is for all so-called IPAs to be juicy/hazy/have no bitterness.

    Setting sun was the culprit.
    Beautiful can and I fancied a double IPA.

    Whiplash made some of the finest beers I've Tasted over the years but I probably won't buy any more as I don't trust their descriptions.


  • #11
    n97 mini
    Registered Users Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    2. It was Whiplash - it seems that their default is for all so-called IPAs to be juicy/hazy/have no bitterness.

    Their beers are pretty much variations of a theme, a NEIPA theme. Having said that if NEIPAs are your thing, their beer is very good.


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  • #12
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,754 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    n97 mini wrote: »
    Their beers are pretty much variations of a theme, a NEIPA theme. Having said that if NEIPAs are your thing, their beer is very good.

    I remember Whiplash before NE/East Coast.
    Man, could that man make a balanced IPA when he started.
    Is any of the range now a West Coast style IPA?


  • #13
    BeerNut
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 11,776 Mod ✭✭✭✭BeerNut


    Looks like you're not alone, tbr:

    https://twitter.com/Thirsty_Pilgrim/status/1259628556038135809

    My beer blog | The Twitter | My other beer blog



  • #14
    youcancallmeal
    Registered Users Posts: 7,985 ✭✭✭youcancallmeal


    the beer revolu wrote: »
    Caught out again last night.
    My own fault for 2 reasons.
    1. I should have checked untapped before buying.
    2. It was Whiplash - it seems that their default is for all so-called IPAs to be juicy/hazy/have no bitterness.

    Setting sun was the culprit.
    Beautiful can and I fancied a double IPA.

    Whiplash made some of the finest beers I've Tasted over the years but I probably won't buy any more as I don't trust their descriptions.

    Had a very similar experience on Saturday as well, picked up a couple of these expecting a nice traditional DIPA. They were quite nice actually just not what I expected from a DIPA, it helps that I like the neipa style but like you I wish they were advertised as such. I also got a can of Trouble Brewing Speakerbox DIPA which I haven't opened yet, looking on untappd I see its neipa style as well


  • #15
    DelmarODonnell
    Registered Users Posts: 149 ✭✭DelmarODonnell


    I had a can of Of Foam and Fury there yesterday and it was really really good but was definitely a shock to the system compared to the usual array of the Irish NEDIPAs on the market. Should DIPAs have an explicit West Coast/New England label?


  • #16
    the beer revolu
    Registered Users Posts: 16,754 ✭✭✭✭the beer revolu


    DelmarODonnell wrote: »
    . Should DIPAs have an explicit West Coast/New England label?

    Of course they should.
    It would benefit all consumers whether they like NEIPAs or not.
    It's pretty basic.

    I mean a brewery wouldn't label both lager and unfiltered lager as just "lager", would they.
    They wouldn't label a fruited IPA as just IPA.
    But for some reason most breweries feel no need to differentiate between IPA an NEIPA despite them being totally different styles.


  • #17
    RasTa
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15,116 ✭✭✭✭RasTa


    I noticed Garrett Oliver tweeting about this yesterday
    This is a problem that craft brewers have brought onto themselves. When I started brewing, we had styles, and they meant something. If we invented something new, we gave it a brand new name. Now no one can explain what “IPA” is. Nomenclature is power. We surrendered that power.
    IPA in the modern era was reborn in the US. In the 80s it was an old British style no one really brewed. Then it was a modern American style everyone brewed. Different, but still recognizably IPA. And now IPA is.... nothing. Our fault.


  • #18
    irish_goat
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 5,760 Mod ✭✭✭✭irish_goat


    I might be thran and start giving lower Untappd scores if they've not labelled them as NEIPA. :pac:


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