According to many sources, America’s top selling style of Craft Beer is India Pale Ale, followed by Pale Ale. This does not surprise me as my favorite style is definitely Inda Pale Ale (and Imperial IPAs). I love the hops! I thought it would be time to go through my bottle collection and pull out my top ten IPAs and top ten Imperial IPAs. Here they are:
My Top Ten IPAs in my Bottle Collection
These are not in any order. From Left to Right:
Racer 5 IPA from Bear Republic Brewing (CA)
IPA (Inside Passage Ale) from Boundary Bay Brewing (WA)
Organic IPA by Hopworks Urban Brewery (OR)
Sculpin IPA by Ballast Point Brewing (CA)
Hop Diggity IPA by Port Townsend Brewing (WA)
Inversion IPA by Deschutes Brewery (OR)
India Pelican Ale by Pelican Pub and Brewery (OR)
West Coast IPA by Green Flash Brewing (CA)
Apocalypse IPA by 10 Barrel Brewing (OR)
Ruud Awakening IPA by Old Schoolhouse Brewery (WA)
And for the Imperial IPAs
My Favorite Imperial (Double) IPAs
Again, not in any particular order, from Left to Right:
Double Jack by Firestone Walker Brewing (CA)
Ruination IPA by Stone Brewing (CA)
Imperial IPA by Green Flash Brewing (CA)
Tricerahops by Ninkasi Brewing (OR)
Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA by Alameda Brewing (OR)
Mongo IPA by Port Brewing (CA)
Pliny the Elder by Russian River Brewing (CA)
Workhorse IPA by Laurelwood Brewhouse (OR)
Hopsickle Imperial Ale by Moylan’s Brewing (CA)
The Maharaja India Pale Ale by Avery Brewing (CO)
I estimate that I’ve tried close to 300 IPAs in the last decade so it’s very hard to pick my favorite. I’d have to say it is very situational, meaning that my mood, the weather, the smells in the kitchen etc. play a big role on what would be my favorite IPA on any given night. I can conclude, however, that nine times out of ten, I’ll choose an IPA or Imperial IPA over any other style.
There are some close runner-ups… Diamond Knot Industrial IPA, Amnesia Copacetic IPA, American Brewing Breakaway IPA, Third Street Aleworks IPA and many more, but I can’t get carried away here.
The obvious question next is what are my least favorite IPAs. Well, I’d have to say any poser beer trying to pass as an IPA. A perfect example is Alexander Kieths IPA from Canada. This beer is lucky to be a lager, but since it’s marketed heavily by one of the big breweries, it completely destroys the style in the Canadian market and is responsible for the mass quantities of lacklustre craft beers on the market in Canada. Don’t get me wrong, there are some good ones, but in general, there are far too many mediocre and sub-par craft beers that are way to trendy. I call it the Tim Horton’s Effect. But that’s another article altogether.
Cheers to great American Style India Pale Ales and their big Imperial Brothers!
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