I have another theory. There tends to be a taste balance between hops on one hand, and sugar and alcohol on the other hand. The super hoppy beers also have loads of sugar and alcohol.
After drinking hoppy beers for a while, your brain associates the pleasure from the sugar and alcohol with the taste of the hops. You think you like the hops, but you really just like the sugar and alcohol. Without the hops though, the beer would be unpalatable.
After drinking hoppy beers for a while, your brain associates the pleasure from the sugar and alcohol with the taste of the hops. You think you like the hops, but you really just like the sugar and alcohol. Without the hops though, the beer would be unpalatable.