Cigar For Lighter Beer Styles

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@Branzig : Is this in contrast to the west coast styled IPAs? I don't find them bitter despite being high in IBUs.

West coast IPAs are very dry. Mashed real low and many times brewed with a grist of just base malt to help dry the beer out. They also tend to push the late kettle and dry hop additions higher. As you noticed with your brews, the hop bursting is what gives the high IBU and big hop character without a lot of bitterness. Personally its my favorite way to brew hoppy beers.

The defining characteristic to any IPA, at least to me, is bitterness. High alcohol content is there as well of course. I suppose you could be referring to a more European styled IPA (think double IPA or "Imperial" IPA). They are definitely more on the bitter side than "American" versions. But all IPA's are what I would consider to be bitter.

A couple of my favorites are: Elysian's Space Dust, Stone's Ruination, Sierra Nevada's Rye and Torpedo, Lagunita's IPA, and of course Dogfish Head 90 Minute

True to style English IPAs should have less bitterness than American IPAs and bigger malt character. But I think the bigger hop character of American IPAs gives the impression of a smoother less noticeable bitterness.