Westbrook hates: Beer Snobs and Hipsters with their stupid goddamn IPAs

[renaissance]

[Twofoot]

Not a hipster but enjoying some Sierra Nevada after that W!

[dfitzo53]

Germany has a purity law dating from the 1400s. They have been brewing lagers for centuries. The Belgians have been brewing ales and lagers in the same breweries since the 1500s with the same cultural dedication that the French give to wine.

I say this as someone who loves German culture, so I'm not trying to trash their beer at all.

The Reinheitsgebot is often misunderstood and overrated by people outside of Germany. The original law was not a universal decree in Germany it was a law in one province that eventually influenced laws in other areas. In its original form it's no longer in effect, it's been replaced by a law that allows a number of ingredients that were not permitted at first. (Plus yeast, which doesn't really count because people had no clue what yeast was until much later.)

While it was in some ways a source of national pride, it was also met with resistance in a number of places. Northern German and Belgian brewers that have a long tradition of brewing with fruit and/or spices did not like the decree because it essentially outlawed their style of brewing. So too with wheat beers, another German staple, until the law was revised into its modern form. The idea that all of Germany proudly accepted this law or that it is the reason behind the quality of modern German brewing just isn't really true.

Also, the purity decree doesn't guarantee the beer is good. It just says which ingredients you can and can't use. There absolutely is bad (or at least mediocre) beer in Germany.

Just sayin'.

[zoony]

I say this as someone who loves German culture, so I'm not trying to trash their beer at all.

The Reinheitsgebot is often misunderstood and overrated by people outside of Germany. The original law was not a universal decree in Germany it was a law in one province that eventually influenced laws in other areas. In its original form it's no longer in effect, it's been replaced by a law that allows a number of ingredients that were not permitted at first. (Plus yeast, which doesn't really count because people had no clue what yeast was until much later.)

While it was in some ways a source of national pride, it was also met with resistance in a number of places. Northern German and Belgian brewers that have a long tradition of brewing with fruit and/or spices did not like the decree because it essentially outlawed their style of brewing. So too with wheat beers, another German staple, until the law was revised into its modern form. The idea that all of Germany proudly accepted this law or that it is the reason behind the quality of modern German brewing just isn't really true.

Also, the purity decree doesn't guarantee the beer is good. It just says which ingredients you can and can't use. There absolutely is bad (or at least mediocre) beer in Germany.

Just sayin'.

You ask ANY German, ANY, about how their beer stacks up against Belgian beer they will mention they had the first purity law. Without fail. If you know a German call them right now and ask them that question, you are guaranteed to get that response.

I understand about Krieks and Lambics, I did a semester at the university of Antwerp and had plenty of firsthand experience.

no misunderstanding here about the purity law and its implications. I brought it up simply as an example of the history of beer in Europe and the reliability of German brewers, just as I did their history with lager that their climate afforded well before modern refrigeration made it possible in warmer climates

So there. Just sayin

[Sikbug]

I used to not IPA's at all. Lately I've been hooked on a few. Really like Hop Notch. I don't see all the hate, it's still a beer and at least the few I like, taste a lot better than any regular brand beer.

[dfitzo53]

You ask ANY German, ANY, about how their beer stacks up against Belgian beer they will mention they had the first purity law.

Don't make anything about nationalism (especially in Europe) and expect to get a truly rational response.

But I understand what you're saying.

[Mufumonk]

Or an unfiltered Trappistes Beligian Ale like the Rochefort 6.

Speaking of Belgian brews, I had the St. Bernardus Christmas Ale the other day. It's a very nice/smooth dark amber ale. Will definitely have a few more while still in season.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Not a fan of the IPAs. I've had some good ones but by and large trying to weed out the good ones vs. the bad ones is a daunting task. I can't even remember the ones I've tried and liked. Too bitter, tastes like drinking a tin can.

I'm not sure if it's considered an IPA but I do enjoy Troegs Nugget Nectar....really hoppy, but doesn't finish that way. Comes out in the spring.

[morris84]

Let's face it. IPA's are the lifted truck of the beer world. Everybody who knows nothing about beer wants one, there are millions of them everywhere, and they are all terrible. Well, most of them. Some have enough malt in them to balance them out and make them quite palatable. But they are rare. Very rare.

It seems like all anybody cares or talks about anymore are IPA's. It's like you're "cool" and part of the "club" when you talk about hops making beer bitter. You go to the beer store, and it's all IPA's everywhere. To top it off, they aren't even good IPA's. They're all completely ****ing unbalanced, disgusting, bitter garbage, with trendy names like "Octopus Cat" and "Horse***ed Zombie" and everybody loves them. In fact most of them taste like somebody shot a cannon full of hops into Sasquatch's ***hole and then he **** them back out onto your face.

For the love of Christ, stop drinking this **** and creating a market for this festering **** juice. It is a typical hipster fad. I was at a bar and three jack-****s were talking about ****lickers IPA or whatever they were drinking. JF#1 is saying how it's good, but not as hoppy as ****slobber. They were making faces like they were drinking camel piss with each drink. I think it was called blueberry oatmeal horse**** beer. I heard the word "hoppy" at least a dozen times.

A close second to the annoyance of idiots talking about IPAs while holding their nose to drink them is your friend/relative who brews ****ty terrible beer and forces you to try it whenever you are in their presence. Hey awesome, you can buy a case of beer made by real brewers with real equipment, you can stop filling your bathtub with swill using your 100 dollar starter brewing kit. Grow up.

Are you being physically injured by those who like IPAs?

[drtdrums]

I hate IPA's as well, and see no reason why I should ever drink another. I'll stick with my Belgians (Gulden Draak, Duvel, Piraat, Delirium Tremens, and a few others), with the occasional Russian Imperial.

[Corcaigh]

Don't make anything about nationalism (especially in Europe) and expect to get a truly rational response.

Germany is the Texas of Europe. Seriously. German opinions on themselves are as about impartial as a Texan's. Germans are good at engineering a certain style of beer.

There is a degree of snobbishness from a certain type and age of white male middle-class beer drinker who wants to be an expert and leans toward the different taste of IPAs. But that doesn't mean that all IPAs suck.

[Jumbo]

Germany is the Texas of Europe. Seriously.

Congratulations. You finally found a way to hurt me.

And this will make twa happy, too.

Double lose.

[DCSaints_fan]

Are you being physically injured by those who like IPAs?

The problem is going to a party/bar/restaraunt where most they have is IPA.

I agree about the IPAs Sierra Nevada is tolerable but nothing special. I'd even rather have a Budweiser or Coors than it though. Lagunitas is far too bitter to my taste.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I forgot to mention, I absolutely hate, hate, hate Dogfish Head.

Anyone else with me on this?

[Elessar78]

I say this as someone who loves German culture, so I'm not trying to trash their beer at all.

The Reinheitsgebot is often misunderstood and overrated by people outside of Germany. The original law was not a universal decree in Germany it was a law in one province that eventually influenced laws in other areas. In its original form it's no longer in effect, it's been replaced by a law that allows a number of ingredients that were not permitted at first. (Plus yeast, which doesn't really count because people had no clue what yeast was until much later.)

While it was in some ways a source of national pride, it was also met with resistance in a number of places. Northern German and Belgian brewers that have a long tradition of brewing with fruit and/or spices did not like the decree because it essentially outlawed their style of brewing. So too with wheat beers, another German staple, until the law was revised into its modern form. The idea that all of Germany proudly accepted this law or that it is the reason behind the quality of modern German brewing just isn't really true.

Also, the purity decree doesn't guarantee the beer is good. It just says which ingredients you can and can't use. There absolutely is bad (or at least mediocre) beer in Germany.

Just sayin'.

Well it's better than the adulterants you get in America: rice (miller lite) and corn flakes (straub's special dark, regional beer).