IPA Overkill

ENOUGH OF THE IPA's ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!

This past Saturday, I had another book signing at the Taste of Brews Beer Festival in Long Beach, California. It is unfortunate that I was not in the great Midwest or I had surely attended the crème de la crème of beer festivals, The Taste of the Midwest Beer Festival in Madison, Wisconsin: However, (in the words of CONAN THE BARBARIAN), “BUT THAT IS ANOTHER STORY"…

Looking back to an earlier post of mine from a few weeks ago, I mentioned a few tidbits about beer variety that is plagued festivals all over Southern California. Well, another beer fest proves my point: ENOUGH WITH THE IPA’s ALREADY: Especially on the West Coast. Out of thirty or so breweries that were at this festival, they all had a jockybox with two taps, unless they were pouring from bottles. Every brewery there had at least one IPA on tap of the two that they brought with them to sample. Now you might think that is not much, but if you multiply that number by the number of breweries that are attending these different festivals, and most of these companies are from Southern California, well, that is a hell of a lot of IPA’s. And at one festival do you need to have 30 IPA's? The idea of beer festivals is to try something new, not rehash the same old products. Really, how many IPA's do you need to see on the store shelves? I want to ask the question: Can you guys be a bit more creative and brew something other than six varieties of the same IPA? And I am really pointing the finger at a certain brewery out of San Diego that charges WAY too much for a six-pack of their mediocre beer.

Now I do enjoy the occasional IPA. If it is the middle of summer (or winter for that matter) there is nothing like a cold refreshing IPA, East Coast or West Coast style, savoring the herbal or spicy characteristic qualities, to smooth out those computer blues. However, on the West Coast, this is where my lack of innovation comment comes into play. And I have seen this over and over again at beer festivals all over Southern California. I honestly cannot understand this. I hate to say it but I think these breweries out this way trick the masses into buying a lackluster product because this trend will simply not go away and people will fall into the IPA trap and purchase them.

I understand the sales trend: IPA’s do sell so you need to keep up with the market demand, but the problem persists that now (as it has been for a few years) the market is flooded with an influx of IPA’s and unfortunately, most of them are crap and really do not taste very good. It is now about how bitter or what type of fruit can we throw in to the original recipe to “create”, and I use that term VERY loosely, another version of the same tried and true beverage. These hybrids are usually unbalanced, overly bitter, and uneasy on the palate to warrant another taste. Honestly, how many IPA’s, double IPA’s, triple IPA’s, fruit IPA’s, Extra Bitter Fruit Bowlshit IPA’s are needed before someone stands up and breaks the cycle? All these products do is push out room for innovation from other companies that want to produce and bring something new to the market.

I mentioned the Taste of the Midwest Festival because the IPA trend finally imploded on itself about 5-6 years ago throughout the Midwest brewing culture. While yes breweries are still making IPA’s in the Midwest, and I am sure that there was some or more than some at the Madison blowout this past weekend (which also hosts over 200 breweries - so yes there are going to be a couple - but look at the ratio) but I can honestly say at least those companies experiment and try many more different recipes and brew a lot more varieties than their California counterparts. And that is really a shame, considering how many products come out of California in all different industries.

At some point, and I think it is coming soon, this craze will implode on itself on the West Coast just as it has in other parts of the country, and another “HOT” beer will take its place. Actually, come to think of it, I think it is already starting to happen with SOUR BEERS starting to stake their ground!!!!

West Coast Behind once again I guess. :(

I really do enjoy new products and types of beers appearing to replace what is currently on the market. That is what sparks competition between companies. But "new products" means "new products" not the same product with a different label.

 But I do want to end this post on a good note and not be glum. To each his own and drink what you really enjoy, because it might not be around for much longer.

And as always, RAISE A PINT OF ALE (OTHER THAN AN IPA – TRY SOMETHING NEW) AND ENJOY!!!!!!!!! CHEERS