Midpack
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
I have been trying to expand my knowledge of craft beers, and I know there are some accomplished brewers and afficionados here. I alread have some favorites, that are far better than any of the mainstream [-]watery[/-] brands, but I've had more mistakes than hits so far when buying.
After buying and sampling many craft beers, I don't care for "hoppy" or bitter beers (I know that may make me a whimp). I began using IBU numbers as a predictor to help prevent a purchase of a beer I wouldn't like, staying away from high IBU beers like most IPA's seem to be.
Then last night on the funniest cable show I know of (HDNet 7pm CST), a commercial craft brewer in Asheville gave a high IBU, heavily hopped beer to the host. the host tasted and said it wasn't as hoppy or bitter as he expected. The brewer said that while the beer was heavily hopped, it was also 'very malty' so the finished product was still pretty balanced despite the high IBU. Is IBU alone not a good predictor of bitterness? Is there a better way to know short of buying, tasting and making a lot of purchasing mistakes?
I have had a few higher IBU beers that surprised me too. For example Three Floyds Alpha King IPA at IBU 66, wasn't as bitter as I expected. And I've had some lower IBU beers that were a little bitter IMO. Still have a lot to learn...
After buying and sampling many craft beers, I don't care for "hoppy" or bitter beers (I know that may make me a whimp). I began using IBU numbers as a predictor to help prevent a purchase of a beer I wouldn't like, staying away from high IBU beers like most IPA's seem to be.
Then last night on the funniest cable show I know of (HDNet 7pm CST), a commercial craft brewer in Asheville gave a high IBU, heavily hopped beer to the host. the host tasted and said it wasn't as hoppy or bitter as he expected. The brewer said that while the beer was heavily hopped, it was also 'very malty' so the finished product was still pretty balanced despite the high IBU. Is IBU alone not a good predictor of bitterness? Is there a better way to know short of buying, tasting and making a lot of purchasing mistakes?
I have had a few higher IBU beers that surprised me too. For example Three Floyds Alpha King IPA at IBU 66, wasn't as bitter as I expected. And I've had some lower IBU beers that were a little bitter IMO. Still have a lot to learn...
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