80% of IPAs are crap. IPAs are suppose to be balanced. The more hoppiness (bitterness) the more body (sweetness) is required. Hops are cheap, grain (malty sweetness) is expensive. So called craft brewers just bitter the crap out of an ale and call it an IPA.
A good IPA will be heavier than a normal ale.
So forget the IPAs! The are a lot of great beer styles. I love an ESB (extra special bitter) which isn't very heavy or bitter! I love Sam Adams Lager and Ale. Either are super tasty with complex flavors that are delicious but not over-powering!