IPA go suck it

[marshbrewer]

he difference between an "IPA" and a golden ale with a bucket of hops chucked in?

An American sounding name, £2 per pint and a big hipster beard?

 

[Wouter]

I sort of agree with the op, I can't stand IPA beers and will always buy a golden ale or traditional bitter where possible.
I have tasted the odd IPA that was acceptable, but I refuse to part with good money in the hope of getting one when on pub crawls.

So school me, whats the difference between an "IPA" and a golden ale with a bucket of hops chucked in?

The taste usually. Unless of course you mean you strip the golden ale of any hop varieties that are common for it and add typical IPA hops. Then there's no difference.
But that's like saying: "Whats the difference between a "porter" and a golden ale with roasted malt chucked in?"

 

[Pope]

I sort of agree with the op, I can't stand IPA beers and will always buy a golden ale or traditional bitter where possible.
I have tasted the odd IPA that was acceptable, but I refuse to part with good money in the hope of getting one when on pub crawls.

So school me, whats the difference between an "IPA" and a golden ale with a bucket of hops chucked in?

I can't stand bitters or traditional golden ales. They're usually served via a hand pump, flat, sub 4% and taste of twigs.

IPAs are stronger and yes hoppier...using more exotic hops from USA, Australia and New Zealand. There are West Coast IPAs which are more bitter; NEIPAs which use Vermont yeast, use less bittering hops and are usually cloudier; DIPAs which are even stronger and even hoppier; Black IPAs which are hoppy dark beers.

 

[GerritT]

http://www.camra.org.uk/pale-ale-or-ipa (Warning: Contains traces of long sea journeys).
http://www.camra.org.uk/golden-ales (Warning: Contains traces of Lager).

You got me thirsty now .

 

[marshbrewer]

They're usually served via a hand pump, flat

Oh come on, not fair - fizzy pop open goal....

 

[-Bezza-]

They're usually served via a hand pump, flat, sub 4% and taste of twigs

Which is pretty much CAMRA's definition of Real Ale. I think that's the point though - there are those who lean towards the traditional and those that lean towards the modern, with varying degrees of vehemency. Of course nobody is wrong, unless they disagree with me...

 

[Saisonator]

I like good examples of all styles, the only exception being sours. But I will even give them a few more goes before I write them off completely.

 

[Sadfield]

The same (apart from the sours bit). If it's good it's good.

I've seen it where exactly the same beer has been packaged and served in both cask and keg, and people still refuse to try one or the other.

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[Pope]

If it's good it's good.

This is kind of where I'm at, with the exception of traditional English styles like Bitters, Mild, Golden Ale. I enjoy Pale Ales, IPAs (including DIPA, NEIPA and Black IPA), Sours (kettle and spontaneous), Lambics, Stouts, Porters, Imperial Stouts (my favourite style), Wheat Beers, Belgian Trappists, fruit beers, etc.

I've seen it where exactly the same beer has been packaged and served in both cask and keg, and people still refuse to try one or the other.

I try cask beer now and then, I really can't take to it. The mouthfeel, lack of carbonation, lukewarm temperature and strange aftertaste makes it barely drinkable. The odd exceptions seems to be when I drink dark beers on cask, they're better.

 

[MickDundee]

I've seen it where exactly the same beer has been packaged and served in both cask and keg, and people still refuse to try one or the other.

Often the cask and bottle versions are (or at least seem) completely different though. For example, Bitter & Twisted on cask is one of my favourite beers but the bottles I’ve had have lacked the fruitiness and seem over-bittered.

 

[Sadfield]

Often the cask and bottle versions are (or at least seem) completely different though. For example, Bitter & Twisted on cask is one of my favourite beers but the bottles I’ve had have lacked the fruitiness and seem over-bittered.

Packing will make a difference, and you may have a preference for one over the other. The one you dislike doesn't make Harviestoun a poor brewery though, or that it isn't a "proper" beer. Nor does it mean they brewed a bad batch and overhopped it to hide the faults, as the OP suggests. Yet many make a judgement on quality based on serving method without even trying the beer. Warm/cold, flat/fizzy aren't indicators of poor brewing.

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[Litmus]

Just my opinion, however, I feel the rise of the IPA or high hopped beers has become prevalent because it offers a vast amount of different flavours that can be achieved without messing around with the grain bill too much. Plus the shipping of hops worldwide it a lot more practical than large amounts of heavy grain.

 

[foxbat]

Often the cask and bottle versions are (or at least seem) completely different though. For example, Bitter & Twisted on cask is one of my favourite beers but the bottles I’ve had have lacked the fruitiness and seem over-bittered.

Another fan of B&T here. I think that bottled beers are pasteurized to give them a longer shelf life. That heating process could be responsible for changing the flavour.

 

[IainM]

The OP is spot on. Hops can mask flaws, and therefore all hopped beer is actually flawed. Affirming the consequent baby! The same can be said about roast malt. All stouts are just bad beer masked with burnt grain, it's why the Coopers Stout is so popular. Same with crystal. Also, weaker beers are harder to make, therefore stronger beers are crap. Take all this to its logical consequence and the only beer worthy of the name is weak lager. Real men brew Carling clones.

 

[The Baron]

Nowt like throwing petrol on the fire to keep a debate going IanM lol:tinhat:

 

[Pope]

Another fan of B&T here. I think that bottled beers are pasteurized to give them a longer shelf life. That heating process could be responsible for changing the flavour.

I'm not sure that all bottled beers are pasteurized.

 

[GerritT]

I'm not sure that all bottled beers are pasteurized.

A LOT is pasteurised, but some are unpasteurised and advertise as such. At least across the North Sea. UNFILTERED, UNPASTEURISED, UNCONVENTIONAL: RAW™

 

[Clint]

A decent pint of bitter is something to savour.

 

[GerritT]

A decent pint of bitter is something to savour.

Obligatory question: got a good recipe you recommend?

 

[Clint]

I'm only just foraying into ag...my only one so far is the GH Yorkshire bitter. Its a nice drink, definitely got the right taste and one I will brew again.
My best experience has been with properly kept beer in pubs .