Though the American IPA is the style that perhaps best defines the craft beer movement—bold, flavorful, potent—it has its fair share of detractors. I read IPA criticism in the comments on my
Beer Of The Week picks; I hear it when I’m out at bars or parties; even my colleague Gwen confessed the other day: “I stopped trying to like IPAs years ago.” Most criticism centers on the style’s bitterness, or the perception that IPAs are “hop water.” To those who, like Gwen, believe they don’t like IPAs but haven’t tasted one in years, I issue you a challenge: Try one of the new breed of American IPAs that’s risen to popularity in the past couple years.
You’ll find them labeled “hazy,” “New England-style,” “NE IPA” or with any matter of “juicy” puns in their names (see my tips for spotting them below). On the whole, they’re quite distinct from the classic examples, so much so that the governing body that oversees the annual Great American Beer Festival medals
introduced a new, separate category for these “Hazy and Juicy” IPAs this year. These beers are still all about the hops, but their overall vibe is softer, less bitter, and more tropical-fruity. Sound up your alley? Give one of these new IPAs a try and they might just change your mind. Here’s two major reasons they’re making the style worth a second sip: