Hoppy beers taste like hops, although the nuances of the flavor can vary based on the type of hop being used. Each hop variety has a unique flavor and bittering profile.
The variety of hops used in the brewing process will determine what the beer is going to taste and smell like. Hops can impart a piney, earthy, citrus, floral, or fruity flavor.
The more sensitive your taste buds are, the less likely you are to enjoy a beer – a hoppy one at that. Because hoppy beers are so bitter and can be overwhelming to someone with this type of genetic variation.
It isn’t until you reach about 25 IBU that you will start tasting the hops and bitterness. Generally, when a beer uses more hops, particularly in the early stage of the boiling process, it will retain a higher IBU.
Some of the most popular and notable low-IBU beers are Sapporo Premium Beer (lager), Pivo Pils (pilsner), Blue Moon (white beer), and Sour Monkey (sour).
Some of the most well-known and popular high-IBU beers are Guinness (stout), Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Goose Island IPA, Other Half’s Green City (Double IPA), and Dogfish Head’s Hazy-O (hazy IPA).
Most popular beers are not hoppy. The most popular traditional beers tend toward a milder, more universally appealing flavor.