This new surge of Ales across the nation is laughable.
Cascade hops used to be only the garbage hops used in very small quantities in American Light Lager (Bud, Coors etc.) because their flavor profile in other than minute quantities is simply unbearable.
Now they are used in very large quantities in the new "American IPA" and every town has a brewer making this crap.
It's more suitable for paint stripper.
There's a reason the entire world shifted to lagers. They are cleaner tasting, without the large quantities of fusol alcohols, off flavors...even the taste of bananas and rubber. You taste only the malt...and in some cases the hops.
And yes, there are dark...and bitter...and hoppy lagers. Hundreds of them.
Lagers actually require brewing skills. You usually cannot make them in a warehouse. You need skilled brewers who actually know and can apply brewing science and art.
I myself am an accomplished home brewer with 9 ribbons from the Washington State Fair. I have some knowledge in these matters.
Yes, there are a FEW ales worth drinking, but none of them come from these American upstarts. They are almost exclusively from England, France or Belgium. But one must still have a taste for them.
Generally, ales are sh!t. And these new American IPAs are toxic.
Instead, try Primator Maibock, Pilsner Urquell...or anything from Munich. If your local pub doesn't stock them, find another pub.
Never been a big IPA fan. I hadn’t acquired the taste for them.
Most taste “soapy” to me, for oak of a better word.