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I had the Green Flash linchpin on the trip. I think this is probably less a style than a divergent sort of culdesac, but as culdesacs go, it's a good 'un.
I've only had a couple of White IPAs, one of which was the Deschutes/Boulevard Conflux #2. It was spectacular. I see that Anchorage Brewing has one out right now. I would love to try theirs.
We now have so many brewers covering so much stylistic territory (I'm not complaining ) that the only interesting categories for me are starting to be regional/seasonal.
In my last few trips across the continent, I found that I had gone from behaviour like arriving on the west coast and beelining for the first IPA I could get to just walking into a bar and asking "what's new, in season or your recommendation?"
We really have to appreciate how we are spoiled for choice, but it does lead to the conundrum of having to categorize all these choices.
Brands are for cattle.
Fans are cash cows.
The herd will consume until consumed.
Nothing personal against you guys, I'm not trying to be a troll, and I do see value in classifying beer to an extent, but I am really tired of all the hand wringing over how to categorize these crazy new space age beers.
markaberrant wrote:Nothing personal against you guys, I'm not trying to be a troll, and I do see value in classifying beer to an extent, but I am really tired of all the hand wringing over how to categorize these crazy new space age beers.
I agree
Brands are for cattle.
Fans are cash cows.
The herd will consume until consumed.
White IPA is as far as I know a wit style using a lot of West Coast hops. That German weizen that used a lot of U.S. hops, that Schneider beer, is an example although not a Belgian white, but it's in the ballpark. Excellent style with a lot of potential.
markaberrant wrote:Nothing personal against you guys, I'm not trying to be a troll, and I do see value in classifying beer to an extent, but I am really tired of all the hand wringing over how to categorize these crazy new space age beers.
I think a lot of people are starting to feel that way, but some people get really hung up on categories (or even just the name of the category, such as the Black IPA). I'm sort of on the fence... so yeah, I think the spirited opinions are interesting.
I dunno - some of these beers cost a lot of money, and I personally like to know if the beer I'm buying will be something I like or not, and the type and amount of hops used, the malts and the yeasts make all the difference in the world. I don't like wheat beers with banana or cloves. I do like them dry. I ESPECIALLY like them with west coast hops. And it's nice to know, when I'm picking something up if it's a bananas and cloves or a west coast hop bomb. In fact, I wouldn't mind if some brewers put MORE info in their beer names. I'm not crazy about English IPAs, and I don't know how many times I've bought a IPA expecting West Coast hops and instead tastes grass and nuts.
There's a beer for every occasion, and to be able to properly match the beer to the occasion, I need as much information about the beer as possible before I buy it.
) that the only interesting categories for me are starting to be regional/seasonal.