Thoughts on Hops
Humulus lupulus wants to ruin your beer
It has come to my attention as of late that the craft-brewing world is going down the tubes. Why you ask? Hops, I say. The apparent hop shortage in the world is not only because of a poor crop. I blame Dog Fish Head Brewing and their over indulgences. Yes there are many more to blame, but I particularly loathe Dog Fish Head and their 120-minute IPA.
This disgusting concoction is created using a two-hour bittering period. This mind you, is about 1.5 hours over the norm. The end result is high alcohol volume, total unbalance, and horrible hangovers. What pocessed them to forge this monstrosity?
Craft brewing has gone the way of the Hummer. In an America that lacks any understanding of subtlety and balance, horrendous concoctions such as Hummers and 120 Minute IPAs went unchecked. Its time to reign it in folks.
To rookie craft brew aficionados the strong bitter taste offers a stark separation from the mainstream. They take joy as friends and family grimace at the awkward tasting swill. But don’t forget it takes more brewing prowess to forge brews that blend well the ingredients. Be subtle. Have a homebrew!
Lets imagine a beer with balance. Quality well blended ingredients, that don’t overpower the senses. A beer one can enjoy and live to have another. A beer that doesn’t destroy our precious hop resource. Its time to bring back the balance.
SUV = IPA: A mighty comparison. We live in a throwaway, consumptive, unnecessarily indulgent culture indeed.
Please give us a few of your recs, Mr. Dunn.
Michael- I sincerely hope you are not referring to ALL IPAs. Some people (myself included, obviously) actually enjoy this particular style of brew (and not just for show as you allude to), even though I do agree that some varieties have become trendy and overdone. I would argue that the “rookie craft beer aficionados” are drawn more to the sweet and potent realm of Belgian-style ales, as opposed to the more acquired taste of the IPA.
What it comes down to is a matter of taste and quality- the style of beer that one prefers is purely personal OPINION. And what is great about craft beer today is that there are so many styles of beer to choose from that there is something for everyone. Sounds like you may have overdosed on hops yourself to have come to the conclusion that more balance is needed.
Sorry to break it to ya Mike, but the IPA ain’t going anywhere!
Mr. Dunn,
I like where you’re going with this. Great comparison. What’s your opinion on Magic Hat’s H.I.P.A?
Beef,
I don’t think SUV’s are going anywhere either. The article seems to only knock the 120, a bitter and overpowering concoction, in my opinion, and I agree, should go the way of the H2. Victory’s Hop Devil, Long Trail’s IPA, Yard’s, Troegg’s… they’re all here to stay, I completely agree.
i dont have a problem with IPAs or belgians or any styles. I just feel that certain styles have become mutants of what they were intended. but thats ok too. in the end people will like what they like. i just dont like the fact that german brewing styles are considered poor taste because they lack hops. i believe german style beers are underrepresented in the current market. thus why i think more balance is needed.
I like lager.
I agree, it is less a style issue than a marketing one. Behind the craft brew edifice several brew houses compromise balance to take advantage of uniquely American maxim that bigger is better. I would say this applies equally to Hops, so called imperial styles and any beer typically sells for more than 7 bucks a bottle.
Subtlety, what an odd concept. You mean bashing in a face isn’t always the best solution, tastewise? The troubling trend I have been seeing start here in Boston has been an arms race to see which brewpub can put out the highest octane beer. 9%, 11%, 13% have all been eclipsed. 15% abv, sure, why not. It doesn’t actually have any taste anymore, but the frat guys love it. They feel more manly drinking it, and get WAY more trashed. I honestly don’t know how to respond when my drinking partners order this up.