Are you Extreme?!
The latest issue of American Brewer addresses the topic of extreme beers. While reading this issue, I kept cringing every time I saw the word “extreme”. It’s a horrible term but one which we all understand. The question is, should we use this term and if so, what makes for an extreme beer?
So where does this term of extreme beer come from? In the 90’s, extreme was a great way to describe a younger generation listening to loud, intense music, usually on wheels, and doing so drinking highly caffeinated day-glow green soft drinks while contemplating acts that would risk their physical well-being. While the business of beer may be slightly less dangerous, the spirit of Tony Hawk’s first 900 and Dogfish Head’s 120 Minute IPA is one of pushing envelopes, doing things that the mainstream has never done or forgotten (Can we say the reaction to experiencing either the first time could be all that different?).
Obviously, some of the beers that fall into this extreme category are truly extreme. For example, BrewDog’s new Tactical Nuclear Penguin is nothing but extreme. Beers such as Russian River’s Pliny the Younger push the limits of strength and hoppiness while sour ales are continuing into a more puckering direction every day.
While these breweries are going into bigger and wilder directions, they are also showing restraint. BrewDog responded to criticism of their Tokyo* Imperial Stout with a 1.1% Nanny State (which also happens to be extremely hoppy). Valley Brewing is well known for their sour, hoppy and big beers, but they also brew one of the best Milds you can find in California. Even the brewery that embodies the extreme beer, Dogfish Head, released a sub-5% beer this summer.
So where is the extreme beer trend going? More importantly, where would you like it to go? Personally, as these beers continue to push the envelope, I’m finding myself drawn back to more traditional, sessionable beers. Don’t get me wrong, I love to try something different, something exotic, something that I’ve never heard of before, but its the intensity of these new styles that helps me appreciate the subtlety and complexity of a pilsner.
I should let it be known, that while writing this article, I was drinking a decidedly not extreme beer, Dominion Oktoberfest. While the beer may not be extreme, it came from extremely far away, was shipping in an extremely large box, and took an extremely long time to arrive.
Give me your thoughts on the extreme nature of beer, if extreme is an appropriate term, and where it’s going in the future.
3 Comments to “Are you Extreme?!”
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It is interesting to consider that many of the so-called “extreme” beers are actually throwbacks to older styles. For example, if brewing and tax records are to be believed 18th century India Pale Ales would have been anywhere from 7% – 10% ABV and a whopping 75-100+ IBUs. Sounds suspiciously like an extreme Double IPA to me…
I heart extreme beers. Beers are kind of like celebrities. If you aren’t memorable, you aren’t going to make it. Being extreme is just part of the game of making it to the bigs.
I completely agree with your assessment and I too while digging those extreme flavor and aromas also am finding myself still finding my way back to a more sessionable brew. This is even the case in my homebrewing, in one hand an all grain 10% ABV, 70+ IBU Imperial Stout while in the other hand a mostly extract kit Special Bitter that is 3.8 ABV and 40 IBU. There will always be room for a well crafted session ale in the world of extreme brewing.