Scott Ickes
Grandmaster Brewer
I thought it would be interesting to see what Beersmith users favorite styles or types of beers to make or consume are. So, I thought I'd start a poll and this thread to create discussion. I know that my preferences have changed over the years.
After I discovered Sam Adams Boston Lager when it first came out, I realized that beer wasn't limited to Coors, Miller, Bud, Strohs, PBR, etc. I found that beer could actually have tastes. As I continued to try more and more varieties and styles of beer, I learned that the flavors seemed endless.
At first, I was attracted to malty beers. Then I discovered IPA's and became a hophead. That was about the time that I started making beer, so much of my first beers were IPA's. I'd hop the daylights out of them and thought that they were wonderful. However, judges thought that my IPA's were overhopped (this was in the mid 1990's). That shows how much times have changed. My "overhopped" IPA's would be considered average now!
I moved out here to the Portland, Oregon area in 2002. This appears to be the center of the overhopped IPA world, and I've grown very tired of the style, for the most part. I still make some IPA for personal consumption, but I stay away from the strongly bitter flavors. I aim my creations towards a smooth, well rounded bitterness with a touch of grapefruit flavor. I also make an English IPA, which I enjoy very much. My favorite English IPA usually scores around 40 when I enter it in competitions.
Lately, I gone back to the malty side, with some Saisons. I also have 13 gallons of sour blends that have been aging for over a year in fermenters.
In the poll, please choose all that apply to what you currently enjoy making and drinking. Also, please feel free to tell us your thoughts on where your at in your beer style journey at this time.
After I discovered Sam Adams Boston Lager when it first came out, I realized that beer wasn't limited to Coors, Miller, Bud, Strohs, PBR, etc. I found that beer could actually have tastes. As I continued to try more and more varieties and styles of beer, I learned that the flavors seemed endless.
At first, I was attracted to malty beers. Then I discovered IPA's and became a hophead. That was about the time that I started making beer, so much of my first beers were IPA's. I'd hop the daylights out of them and thought that they were wonderful. However, judges thought that my IPA's were overhopped (this was in the mid 1990's). That shows how much times have changed. My "overhopped" IPA's would be considered average now!
I moved out here to the Portland, Oregon area in 2002. This appears to be the center of the overhopped IPA world, and I've grown very tired of the style, for the most part. I still make some IPA for personal consumption, but I stay away from the strongly bitter flavors. I aim my creations towards a smooth, well rounded bitterness with a touch of grapefruit flavor. I also make an English IPA, which I enjoy very much. My favorite English IPA usually scores around 40 when I enter it in competitions.
Lately, I gone back to the malty side, with some Saisons. I also have 13 gallons of sour blends that have been aging for over a year in fermenters.
In the poll, please choose all that apply to what you currently enjoy making and drinking. Also, please feel free to tell us your thoughts on where your at in your beer style journey at this time.