Is Hazy IPA killing craft beer?

Thanks so much for all the thoughts on this episode – we couldn't keep up, but dug into some of the comments in our weekly podcast right here: https://youtu.be/RjcxsmbZEJ0

I actually think mediocre beer is doing more harm than Hazy IPA's. Lately, I can go in and by a mixed 6 pack from my store and only 2 of them are worth drinking anymore. Mediocre beers keep me from buying beer . I just brew my own now because I'm tired of a 33% success rate...

While the IPA is "flooding the taps", I also notice an increase in sours finding it's way to even more taps. At least here in Copenhagen. But we do need more Bock!

What I hate is watching "American IPA" on the list to then discover it was a hazy and worse, no option of a bitter, dry and clean IPA on the listings.

I have to say, as a professional brewer, I'm ready for hazies to go away. I hate going into a taproom and seeing 8+ of their 20 taps devoted to hazy IPAs.

My wife started with hazy IPAs and is now discovering she enjoys really bitter West Coast, Barley Wine, etc. And even an occasional lager 😮

My wife used to have zero interest in any IPA until she tried a Hazy and loved it. This past weekend she (of sound mind) ordered something described as "skunky" and thought it was great. Honestly, Hazy IPAs helped turn her into a beer geek and I'm loving it. Whatever keeps the craft breweries in business and keeps us drinking tasty beer, I'm all for. Cheers!

Hazy IPAs don't bother me, because I don't have to drink it. What I don't like is when I walk into a micro and out of 20 taps, 12 or more are some sort of hazy and nothing dark like a porter or stout.

There are three pubs within walking distance of my home. Of the three, the closest you’ll get to any kind of ipa is Magic Rock’s Saucery in one pub. If hazy IPAs are taking over, nobody has told large parts of the country. What we do have for those who don’t want macro lager and macro cider is local cask (Hooky, Shagweaver) and local cider (Napton Cidery).

I don't mind that Hazy IPAs exist, but I do think calling them IPAs is a big mistake. 5-10 years ago I could go into a supermarket and pick up a random IPA and I would like it 90% of the time. But now it's a crapshoot because so many breweries fail to make it clear that an IPA is hazy, and the IPA bucket is too broad. This has made me gunshy in my purchasing decisions, and I find myself just going back to reliable favorites rather than trying new IPAs unless they are explicitly labelled "West Coast". I think the poor labeling hurts everyone from consumers to the brewers.

I have seen it effect beer in general with bitterness. Many beers that used to be historically quite bitter, are now less bitter and/or sweeter. One, because of the consumer demand asking for less bitterness, and two, hops being bred for brighter juicy flavors. I crave bitterness to come back into play. I think there used to be a more defined role for bitterness to play in hazy, that's been continually pushed away.

I have not gotten on the Haze Train, stayed where I was already. I did get frustrated to see some styles get swapped for Hazy, however that is changing back.

My craft brew journey began when West Coast IPA was the trend. BRING BACK WCIPA! I want to smell a Pine forest and drink a Christmas tree 🤣

Great video with really good points made. I'm not a massive craft beer guy but this vid has educated me thanks keep up the great work!

I don't know, I feel like Hazys peaked a year ago or so. I got really into them and now I'm kind of burned out on them. I've been going back to regular IPAs.

Couldn’t have said it better myself. Hazy IPA sells because a large portion of beer drinkers think it’s delicious and listening to countless brewers they’ll tell you how important it is to their overall business and giving them the ability to make other styles. It’s probably true that there are a few too many hazy IPAs on at a given time at a tap room, but something to consider is that to some of us they’re not all carbon copies of each other. Different hop combos bring out different nuances in flavors that we enjoy exploring. I’d also say it’s the single most important style to drink relatively fresh (within at least 3 months, preferably 2 if kept cold) which may affect some people’s opinions of it if they’re buying a 6 month old hazy at a grocery from a brewery that doesn’t make a great example in the first place. Hazy IPA is my favorite style, but I at least enjoy every style of beer to some extent and love some other styles nearly as much as hazies(namely lagers, stouts, and traditional mixed ferm styles). I don’t think there’s any need in this community to crap on other styles. We’re literally living in the best time you ever could for beer. You can get anything your heart desires. One day hazy IPAs won’t be king of the hill anymore and it’ll be something else, but just enjoy the ride. It’s just beer. 😁

My local bottle shop, although predominantly hazies does a monthly sub box showcasing all styles. A great way of introducing others to the diversity of beer!

There's two things that have killed my love for craft beer 1. Hazy/New England IPAs that taste like grapefruit. I was over that flavor 10 years ago when brewers started using Cascade hops for everything and my hatred increases annually. 2. The hard selzter boom. At least where I live, hard seltzer is absolutely dominating the shelf space in supermarkets and convenience stores and pushing aside all but the most popular craft beers. Yes, beer stores exist, but until recently I haven't had to make a trip to one in over ten years

I was obsessed with hazies for a few years, but they kind of ran their course for me. I still like them, but I usually order other styles now. Cheers!

Living in a town where the closest bottle shop is about 15 miles away I get most of my beer either online or from supermarkets, the fact that I can get many different styles of craft beer even in Tesco (including St. Bernardus abt 12 these days!) tells me that craft beer is doing fine although wish someone would open a bottle shop here!