 Nathan Berrong works at CNN's satellite desk and this is the seventh installment of his beer column. He Tweets at @nathanberrong and logs beers at Untappd. Drink up. Certain beer styles just taste better at different times of the year. Give me a big Stout or Quadrupel in the dead of winter. I'll take a Saison or Hefeweizen on those 90+ degree summer days in Atlanta. And as college football begins and fall is on the horizon, all I want to drink are IPAs. Beer styles tend to have hot streaks and become the must haves of the moment. Currently, sour and barrel-aged beers are all the rage, but those will someday lose their popularity and a new flash-in-the-pan style will have its moment to shine. One style though, has remained tried and true since its inception and has become the unofficial staple American craft beer: the India Pale Ale. The style quickly caught on and breweries began producing IPAs all over England. American brewers later adopted the style and used our indigenous hops, which have a more pronounced bitterness and robust flavor than the English varieties. The Ballantine India Pale Ale became the first widely distributed IPA in America but it was the Sierra Nevada Brewery that popularized the style as we know it today, in 1980. The Brewer's Association recognizes 84 different beer styles but when you factor in the sub categories of those 84, you get a total of over 150 various styles. There's truly a beer style for everyone. If you're one of those "I don't like beer" people, keep trying different styles. There's bound to be one that you'll enjoy. I'm currently enjoying the heck out of IPAs. I'm always seeking out new ones and revisiting the classics that first turned me onto the style. But talk to me next month and my beer style of the moment could very well be a Bourbon Barrel Aged Pumpkin Ale. But for now, I'm all about the IPAs. I've listed the different varieties of IPAs below, along with my favorites of each and I'd love to know yours. Let me know in the comments below. Pale Ale Three Floyds – Zombie Dust IPA Firestone Walker – Union Jack DIPA Russian River – Pliny the Elder Fresh Hop Because of the high cost and work involved, many breweries largely ignore this style and instead opt for dried whole cone hops or hop pellets. Fresh Hop beers run the gamut in color, bitterness, and ABV, with the only true requirement being the use of, well, fresh hops. This year's Fresh Hop Ales should be hitting the market soon and if you can get your hands on one of these, do it, the aroma and clean taste of the hops is unlike any other style. Here are three breweries that do it exceptionally well: Great Divide – Fresh Hop Black IPA Victory – Yakima Glory Peace and happy drinking, and share your favorites in the comments below. Previously - You say you want a canvolution? |
  Recent Posts
 |
 |
|
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertise with us | About us | Help | Advertising Practices
Imperial IPA from Epic Brewing has to be the best IPA I've ever tasted.
Chainbreaker from Deschutes Brewery is one that I've found to have a great, complex flavor. Its a white IPA with corriander. Great drinkability!
No mention of Stone, this guy has no credibility. Ruination is the absolute best IPA on the planet, period.
ah yes, Stone IPA is one of the great ones. I believe the brewmaster of the now defunct Oasis brewery is responsible for Stone.
Chill, beer dude, most of us beer geeks worthy of the name could name 5 to 10 very worthy examples in those category. The writer was just mentioning what he is drinking at the moment.
Don't know about the other two, but Odell??? Come on. Having spent much time in neighboring Boulder, I am well acquainted with Odell brewery (located right up the road). Although not a terrible IPA, it certainly does not rival Anderson Valley's IPA. Odell is a 90 pound weakling going up against this heavy hitter IPA.
Almost forget, absolutely the best IPA's out there are Surly Furious and Abbrasive.
Boulevard Single Wide IPA and Double Wide IPA are great.
If you're in the Twin Cities area, Steel Toe's Size 7 can't be beat. An assertive blast of citrus with some pine and resin right behind it, balancing some nice alcoholic warmth. The malt ties the whole thing together like The Dude's rug.
Another fave is Bell's Two-Hearted Ale.
You mentioned a great Founder's beer, but missed their triple IPA Devil Dancer. It's basically liquid hops, and an amazing beer. High ABV, great aroma, and it will knock your socks off!
Nice article– one really popular form of IPA also worth mentioning (sort of like the brief black IPA blurb at the end) would be the Rye IPA! There are so many awesome examples being brewed:
Founder's Red's RyePA
Shmaltz Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA
Three Floyds Rye Da Tiger/ Rye Da Lightning
Great Lakes Rye of the Tiger
Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye
New Holland Rye Hatter
It's ALWAYS a good time for IPA:)
I'm not a huge fan of really hoppy beers but I do enjoy Three Floyd's Zombie Dust. I tend to gravitate more to the wheat beers of summer, Marzen styles in early fall, and in winter I enjoy stouts and porters.
1. Ranger IPA
2. Abita Jockamo IPA
3. Stone IPA
4. SN Pale Ale
5. Southern Tier IPA
6. My homebrew :)
All good brews!! The order could depend on the given month. If only we got them all in Canada :( My homebrew helps fill the gap!
Knee Deep Simtra is a really great Triple IPA that is a must try. As far as Stone goes, I recently had double dry hopped (I think they used columbus hops) Ruination at a local pub and it was absolutely delicious.
I love that Nathan mentioned black IPA's. This has got to be a favorite beer style of mine as I love stouts and I love hops and the union of bitterness and roasted malt produces a great flavor. Check out Coronado Brewing Company's Black Sails and Port Brewing's Tarantulas 2.1
Stone Ruination. Hops, hops, and more hops.
Stash IPA by Independence Brewery in Austin TX – best IPA I've had yet. Love them all.
From Maine – Shipyard's Monkey Fist IPA is very good – will have to try the Sierra – hope it's fresh.
Well someone's been listening to The Beerists Podcast...
Come on CNN, ya can at least reference them without stealing all their material.
Hi Norm. I've never listened to the Beerists Podcast before. The only podcasts I listen to are WTF, Comedy Bang Bang, and NPR. I think it's awesome there was apparently some overlap, though! Just curious, what were the similarities?
My hometown brewery makes the best IPA – Mad Anthony Brewing Company in Fort Wayne, IN. I've tasted quite a few. Not just being a homer. If you're traveling in northern IN it's well worth your money.
Patrick is right, southern tier2x is great. I work for a beer distributor in charlotte, nc. We carry that one as well as Abita jockamo. Both are great IPA's.
Great article, thanks, Nathan.
Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA is the #1 beer in the world, according to a survey I did earlier this year of myself.
But seriously, it's a really good IPA.
Hear, hear... The 60 minute, nothing special... the 120 minute, virtually undrinkable... but DFH 90 minute is my favorite beer of all time.
Get to Greensboro Vt for some of Hill Farmstead Brews. Amazing! Edward is a favorite!
Cheers!
Wow... a CNN article where the comments section isn't filled with hateful attacks. Maybe the beer crowd should be in charge of the world... it'd sure be a lot more fun.
Beer brings people together!
Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale is what I wait for each year. Also Tall Grass Oasis is outstanding.
If you are ever in this neck of the woods (Central New York) , you have got to try the 2X IPA from the Southern Tier Brewing co. It is a real treat.
Patrick, We see Southern Tier in Atlanta! I love the iniquity and unearthly!
IPA is a beer style that is best when it's fresh, so don't concern yourself too much with seeking Pliny or Heady Topper if you can't get them FRESH. Find your local brewery, and I can almost guarantee they make a unique and awesome IPA that will taste great because it's fresh! When I lived in Redlands, CA, I couldn't get enough of Hangar 24's IPA and Double IPA. Drink local, my friends!
You can find some great IPA's and Oktober beers on sale at SaveOnBrew DOT com!
Cask strength IPA – Noble Ale Work's in Anaheim, CA. Their Knight Challenger Cask Strength IPA
Most IPA to my palate tastes like a lemon rind about to turn. But I just tried Abita's Jockamo. That was the juice. A beer that redefines for me what the style could be.
Oh, if only everyone could taste Heady Topper. Great mention of a deserving beer.
Heady Topper is one that I've been attempting to try. Being that The Alchemist are such a small time craft brewery in Vermont makes that really hard haha. It kind of reminds me of the way Alpine Brewing Co. does things here in San Diego. Their Bad Boy is one of the best DIPA I've ever tasted (it is definitely up there with Pliny) and they do not ship it, do not brew it on a regular basis, and do not bottle it. Basically you can only get it from their brewery in a growler or a pint from the tap.
Bell's Two Hearted Ale for me
I will second that motion, absolutely!
Agreed – lighter than most IPA's, but a perfectly balanced flavor. Near perfection. Bell's is the best brewery in the U.S.
I agree! Bell's Two Hearted or Ballast Point Sculpin are two of my favorite IPAs
THE standby for my hop fix, and one of the beers that converted me to craft! I'm grateful to live in MI, for the fact that fresh Two Heart is on tap everywhere.
Sorry, Fall = Oktoberfest
Classical Columbian cocaine used to be the main staple for those going out for a night on the town...but now many varieties have sprung up!
Many people dont like cocaine often because of the taste you get during the drip, well I have news for you! There are a multitude of different varieties available now and days.....so if you keep sniffing your are bound to find one you like!
Get a stuffy nose in the fall...?...You can always smoke and inject it too! Great for those with colds or allergies!
My personal favorite lately has been the Peruvian flake cocaine. It has a shiny appearence with an almost purple tint....the powder tends to clump together, but once it succesfully goes down your nose you are in for a real treat!
I encourage everyone to try these new varieties, and if you are a newcomer or switching over from beer you are in for a suprise. Cocaine is only mentally addicting, not physically addictive like alcohol. Also it has been shown to increase intelligence.
Make sure for the winter season you get a hold of the "Pablo powder" or "Mexican snowflake" variety so you too can indeed have the "White Christmas"!
Can you at least try and spell the country correctly if you are going to be an jerk? It's Colombia.
jeff bojangles: I hope for the sake of anyone around you that you are just a kid waiting to grow up.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is my standard, daily beer.
Also currently enjoying Abita Jockamo IPA.
OMG an article that didn't mention the election. It is going to take me about an hour to get over this. Thanks Nathan
First CNN article I can absolutely 100% agree with. IPA is the only beer.
Gotta love a nice ! IPA or Stout!
screw bud light and all that poop
So what does IPA stand for?
Indian Pale Ale
Sorry to nitpick, but i
Excuse the earlier post, I accidentally hit post! What I was trying to say was that IPA actually stands for "India" Pale Ale, as it was the East India Trading Company that originated the style. Now if only I could figure out how to use a computer...
Just got back from Bend, OR a few weeks ago and had the most amazing brown ale. 10 Barrel Brewery's Oregon Brown. I normally dislike browns but this was amazing. They loaded up the hops which is not the norm yet it still had the earthy taste of a brown. I'm still thinking about it.
you should try Stone's collaboration "TBA"–it's also a hoppy, brown ale. the type of thing I wish every Stone IPA (ie, every Stone beer) would taste like :D
surly wet.
Just a few notes from the Napa Valley of Beer, Colorado's Front Range...
1) Your best hop-heavy varieties often won't show up in liquor stores. Instead, head to your local brewery and find it on draft. Out here, try Copper Kettle Brewery in east Denver, Dry Dock Brewing Company in Aurora, Denver Beer Company near downtown, Pikes Peak Brewing Company in Monument, Elk Mountain Brewery in Parker, Oskar Blues Brewery in Lyons (Dale's Pale Ale is one of the state's flagships), or Lone Tree Brewery in Lone Tree.
2) I'm surprised not to see any mention of the hoppiest of the hoppy beer styles: Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA. Tastes great aged.
3) Black IPA is not the preferred nomenclature. The true name for the style is a Cascadian Dark Ale, or CDA. This better reflects the origins of the beer (it originated in the Pacific Northwest, not India), and is easier to call out at a bar than a BIPA IDA (India Dark Ale) without any confusion.
4) Check your state and municipal laws regarding brewing your own. Commercial examples can be wonderful, but I often find the best beer to drink is the stuff you make yourself. It's fun, easy, and tasty. Try it!
Black IPA created by Greg Noonan of Vermont
Love what you had to say for #1 and #4. But...
2. I mentioned the DFH 120 Minute IPA, but I snuck it in as a hyperlink. When I talk about DIPAs and their high abv, I note that some can go as high as "18%". If you click that 18, you'll notice I'm referencing the 120 Minute. Such a great beer, especially considering the insane abv.
3. I have to respectfully disagree. Beeradvocate.com, ratebeer.com, and the Brewer's Association all refer to the style as "Black IPA" or "Black Ale". Even the breweries producing these types of beers use that description as it has become the standard.
Just a few notes from the Napa Valley of Beer, Colorado's Front Range...
1) Your best hop-heavy varieties often won't show up in liquor stores. Instead, head to your local brewery and find it on draft. Out here, try Copper Kettle Brewery in east Denver, Dry Dock Brewing Company in Aurora, Denver Beer Company near downtown, Pikes Peak Brewing Company in Monument, Oskar Blues Brewery in Lyons (Dale's Pale Ale is one of the state's flagships), or Lone Tree Brewery in Lone Tree.
2) I'm surprised not to see any mention of the hoppiest of the hoppy beer styles: Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA. Tastes great aged.
3) Black IPA is not the preferred nomenclature. The true name for the style is a Cascadian Dark Ale, or CDA. This better reflects the origins of the beer (it originated in the Pacific Northwest, not India), and is easier to call out at a bar than a BIPA IDA (India Dark Ale) without any confusion.
4) Check your state and municipal laws regarding brewing your own. Commercial examples can be wonderful, but I often find the best beer to drink is the stuff you make yourself. It's fun, easy, and tasty. Try it!
Yep,
I brew my own as well. I also grow my own hops. I prefer English Style ales, and Irish Stouts.
Just glad you didn't mention fat tire...that stuff is dog sh"t. Overrated and boring.
We've got exceptional IPA's up here in BC, Fat Tug, Switchback, Hop Head, Hop Circle to name a few. Great style and great to drink anytime. When I'm down south, I can't get enough of Stone or Lagunitas but the 1st real PNW IPA that I fell in love with was Bombay Bomber from Steelhead Brewery in Eugene. Man it was to die for!! Has to be almost 20 years ago and I can still remember that first mouthful.
My 'everyday' is Longboard from Kona Brewing Co.
Marble IPA – try it.
I love unique beers, big Sam Adams fan here. I've tried almost all of their brews and I have to say the IPA's are the worst. I don't know if it's just the Sam Adams' version of the IPA that is bad or just IPA's in general. The hops is overpowering and makes it very hard to enjoy. The malt heavy beers are the best. I always look forward to Octoberfest
Sam Adams' IPAs really aren't their best best beers.
The best I've ever drank (amongst hundreds) is draft Loose Cannon IPA. It's like drinkable heroin.
Saranac from upstate New York will always be my favorite IPA, but it also brews a fantastic beer called Black Forrest Ale I believe.
I don't understand the obsession with IPA's on the west coast in particular. Hops are bitter and nasty. Nothing can match the sweet malty taste of belgians. Best beers in the world are belgian dubbels, tripels, and quads. Not a fan of the west coast obsession with hops. BTW I live in CA.
It's a matter of taste. Some of us actually like some bitterness in our beer (and our food, for that matter).
Being in NoCal, we appreciate the representation. Pliny is still the number one IPA, but very hard to find on tap. Would like to see a little love for Lagunitas, Pliny's neighbor, who is also doing some great things.
I was surprised this summer to find a brilliant IPA in Utah of all places. I think the brewery was called Squatters, but I don't recall the name of the beer. It was 9% abv, which kicked my butt! My regular IPA is Ninkasi Total Domination, easy to find round here, and nearly perfect.
IPA is my favorite beer to have with a burger. Lots of good IPAs being mentioned in the comments, but my #1 is by Pelican Brewery. They call an "India Pelican Ale" but it is a very good IPA!
I like IPAs any time of the year.
In regards to the brew perfectionists, tonight I enjoy Unibrou (win no matter what way you look, but my favorite is trois pistoles) and aventinus (wow, a sweet duvel based on angel wings) Please note this whole issue is smoke screen. Go through cnn.com, go through http://www.aljazeera.com/ go through whatever you have. A turnin point on international politics just kicked off. While I appreciate Alpha over beta phases of the hops, I implore Anybody still willing to read this, reasearch what is going on in in the world. While Im a lover of the brew, this is a distraction for pre-war declaration asking you to embrace a vice. Free people and all that stuff.... Educate yourself for Pete's Sake, DONT BUY THIS SMOKE SCREEN
The f*ck you on about?
Listen, don't let some fringe Muslims in the Middle East ruin a good discussion of beer. Soon they will be history...but the beer will go on.
While IPA is an amazing style, especially when the hop aromatics and bitterness, malty sweetness, and alcohol astringency are perfectly balanced, I think it is misleading to call them "the most popular beer style in America".
That title certainly goes to the American Light Lager which still makes up an enormous share of the beer that Americans drink.
With Love and Respect For All Beer!
I'm horrified at all of posts from these so-called IPA lovers and no mention whatsoever for Three Floyds Dreadnaught!?!?!
Hey, Three Floyd's is an intentionally regional brewery (which makes me very sad since I just moved from Chicago to Seattle).
IPA's?...Are you crazy?...What next,Hefeweizen or Wheat Beer?...Pour me a real beer,a Porter or Stout,or even a bottle of Guinness Extrta Stout instead of this watered down bathwater.Go back on the town again guys.Next time find something with some substance and worth drinking!...A very poor recommendation on your behalf!
Guiness? 4.2% abv. Most IPA's 6%+, a good DIPA...maybe 8...9...9.5% abv. You sure you know what water is?
"The IPA traces it roots back to the 1700s when British ships bound for India blah blah blah"
http://zythophile.wordpress.com/false-ale-quotes/myth-4-george-hodgson-invented-ipa-to-survive-the-long-trip-to-india/
The history of the "invention" of the IPA is definitely debate-worthy. I tried to avoid that by just stating the facts:
1. The style came to be in the 1700s (you'll notice I didn't mention Hodgson, ha)
2. The beer *was* on ships bound for India.
2. It *did* contain more hops and alcohol (compared to 3-5% abv real ales that were common in pubs) for the purpose of holding up during the long journey.
Founders Harvest Ale is amazing!!! Well, pretty much everything they do is amazing, but harvest ale is a very good wet-hopped beer.
I like all beers except for IPAs and Porters. Belgian and German brews are the best!
Try a Total Domination from Ninkasi, out of Eugene, OR...excellent!!
Total Domination IPA
The Imperil IPA from Maritime Pacific Brewing in Seattle kicks arse. Fremont's Interurban IPA, Harmon's in Tacoma, and Lucille IPA from Georgetown in South Seattle; The PNW rocks the hops.
I'm drinking an Interurban IPA right now!
Can't believe this article. Headline telling us what beer we should be drinking. Payola still alive.
But IPA isn't a brand - it's a style. Nathan *is* sharing some of his favorite brands, but he's doing it out of sheer passion for beer. He works for an entirely different part of CNN and has this love and breadth of knowledge, so we are thrilled to give him this platform.
I never understand when people accuse us of being paid off for doing articles. 1. We're journalists and that would be a serious breach. 2. (Not that there needs to be a 2 because 1 is enough) If there is money changing hands (which there isn't), we surely haven't seen any of it.
Sometimes we write about stuff just because we dig it.
And I totally dig IPAs!!!
I am a HUGE fan of IPA's and I have tried too many to list. My absolute favorite IPA (or any type of beer for that matter) is Jai Alai IPA. It's brewed in Tampa at the Cigar City Brewing Company and it is the best beer I have ever tasted. Unfortunately I live in North Florida now and can't find it anywhere, but anytime I head down to Central Florida I am sure to stock up!
Boneyard RPM IPA out of Bend, OR is amazing. I'm working on a growler right now.
So many good IPA's in Oregon. Now the fresh hop beers are coming out now. So happy.
If you want a great IPA, you have to check out Stone Brewery's options, especially their Arrogant Bastard Ale. They're out of California, but I've found them nearly everywhere I've gone (N. Carolina, Wash DC, Texas, Indiana, Georgia, R. Island, Wisconsin, Illinois).
My favorite is Deviant Dale’s IPA ( http://www.oskarblues.com/the-brews/deviant-dales ), love the hops and floral quality. Dale's Pale Ale is a close second to it, though. ( http://www.oskarblues.com/the-brews/dales-pale-ale )
LAGUNITAS IPA is second to none as far as IPAs go.... If you are feeling even more adventurous you should try LAGUNITAS Hop Stoopid Ale, the best beer on the planet!! if God told me, "Sean, I'm sorry...you are going to die tomorrow." I would ask him for one more Hop Stoopid before I go...
Amen, look on there website for the t-shirt "Lagu-f-n-itas IP-f-n-A....from Cali-f-n-fornia....!" I saw that shirt and had to get one.
But I think second to none is Lag's "Little Sumpin Sumpin", similar to Ballast Points's -Sculpin in that its insanely complex yet drinkable. However, LSS doesn't have the apricot and isn't overdone like the Maharajah, like chewing a pine cone.
Man, Lagunitas Sucks is the best IPA they've done. If you missed out on it last year you have to try it, it blows Hop Stoopid out of the water.
I agree, last years Lagunitas Sucks ( Brown Shugga substitute, which i had plenty of) was amazing! However, it still isn't as delicious, fresh with that almost grapefruit aroma as Hop Stoopid....I would love it if they were to drop the Brown Shugga completely and make the Lagunitas Sucks annually...that would be a treat.
Yes! Totally agree, Lagunitas Suck was incredible and the best they've done.
You have to try the STONE IPA, the best San Diego brewed IPA.
I love Stone IPA, it's been my favorite casual drink for a couple months now, but I like these San Diego IPAs better-
Sculpin IPA, Ballast Point Brewing Co.
Green Flash West Coast IPA
Wipeout IPA, Port Brewing Co.
Honorable mention for IPAs in San Diego would go to Karl Strauss's Tower 10 IPA, Big Eye IPA by Ballast Point and Alesmith IPA. Outside of San Diego county, I've always enjoyed Racer 5 by Bear Republic, Union Jack by Firestone Walker and Lagunitas IPA.
Stone has some great brews. Ruination is fantastic, and arrogant bastard always hits the spot. Really enjoyed the Stone 16 anniversary dipa, especially on tap.
Other IPAs I enjoy:
Odell
Sierra Nevada torpedo
Santan hop shock
Three Floyd's alpha king (technically a pale ale, but close enough)
Bells two hearted
DFH 60 and 90 min
You're incorrect. The best IPAs in San Diego are brewed by Alpine. Nelson, Duet, Pure Hoppiness, Exponential Hoppiness, Bad Boy, Tuatara, Hoppy Birthday, and Alpine Ale are all fantastic IPAs that are better than Stone IPA or Ruination.
Sierra Nevada really drew me in...after that I wanted to taste them all. I love Dogfish Head 60 and 90. I've also had a Victory that I really liked, probably Hopdevil. Pale Ale/ IPA is always my favorite category. I just love them. I can't have too many because they are so heavy on the alcohol! I just have to choose wisely. I recommend The Gingerman in NYC to try lots of beers. Cheers everyone.
IPA's=too bitter
I like all kinds of beer, but IPA's suck. Now you have rules as to what is acceptable to drink at any given time of year. Tried and true? Yeah right.
Just stick to Bud Light
several good NW beers come to mind:
Red Ale: Elysian Fields Men's Room Original Red (portion of proceeds go to charity)
IPA: Ninkasi brewery Total Domination
Amber Ale: Full Sail Amber
Imperial Ale: Widmer Bros. Brrbon
Got to agree with all those choices. I'm not from the U.S., but I've drunk a lot of beer and can say without a doubt that Oregon makes some of the best craft beers out there. Colorado also has some good beers too.
I'm a heavy IPA drinker, and the best IPA I've ever had was this past summer in the Canadian Rockies at a place called Banff Avenue Brewing Co. It was perfectly hopped, not too bitter, not too sour, a very clean drinking beer, tops in my book
Thanks for the article. Currently taking on a Evolution Primal Pale Ale. Quite tasty.
Beer snob
Ten Fidy Imperial Stout. Best beer ever made.
I see IPAs as a very summer beer....I am already transitioning to brown ales and porters for fall
I'm with you. As the weather turns so do I. However, it was 108 today in SoCal. Still, I'm looking forward to Octoberfest styles. This always serves as a nice tweener for me before the winter warmers come...Cheers!
Bell's Two Hearted Ale...One of the best IPA's I've ever tried. Great beer in Wisconsin. I live in IL, however.
whooops...Michigan, I meant. Great beers in Wis. and Michigan
Bell's Two Hearted–thumbs up. I live in Michigan and live on B's THA. Nice call Josh.
The beer you should be drinking right now is the one you make yourself. Cheap, Easy, and Fun.
Stone IPA is one of my favorites, but at 6.9% ABV it's not a session beer for me. Actually, I kinda prefer the beers I brew myself. I don't generally select beers according to the season. A good IPA suits me in the heat of summer or the dead of winter. Yes, Budweiser and similar American Pilsners can seem thin and tasteless when compared to higher gravity craft beers, but I could never say they are not well made. The mega breweries produce beers that sell and they do that very well. I've been known to have a nice, cold PBR now and then. It's nothing to be ashamed of.
Pilsner Urquell keeps me happy. For long, painful years, "Bud, Bud Lite, and Michelob" was the response to the question, "What beers do you have?" The craft-beer movement saved my life. We were wild to get hold of Coors back then. Tasted it lately? Eew. We had National Premium and Genny Cream Stout to get us through the rough years when we were living in Baltimore, which was only tolerable through enthusiastic drinking.
Now we're in heaven.
There's a Philadelphia brewery that makes some great IPA's. Can't remember exact name right now but if I look it up tonight I'll post again. Thanks for a great article.
Philly brewer doing IPAs? You may be thinking of Yards. I recently gave their IPA a try and was impressed. For the price, it's a solid IPA with an ABV up around 7%. I've added them to the rotation along side Dogfish Head 60 and 90, Victory Hop Wallop, Troegs Perpetual IPA, Sierra Nevada Torpedo.
Worth noting that Troegs, Victory, and Yards are all PA brewers.
Exactly. Thank you my friend. Great beer. I ll make a note of your suggestions.
Cheers!
By the way I live in Long Pond, PA. However it's just a coincidence I happen to like a PA IPA!
Just had a Rogue Yellow Snow IPA – definitely worth a try.
Ah, so many beers, so little time.
Bridgeport IPA
Mikkeller I Beat yoU Imperial IPA is excellent as well. Great color, very bitter, fruity hops. Well worth a try.
Try Harpoon IPA, I believe out of Boston and Vermont. I am having one now and have enjoyed them for years. Truly a great beer, give it a shot!
It's incredibly sad to admit, but some of the best beer comes from Wisconsin. Specifically, from the New Glarus brewery. If you haven't tasted their offerings, you should really make an effort to do.
haven't had it, but it is not sad.
The US has finally figured out how to brew great beer. There are so many "micro-breweries" producing great products we are finally becoming legitimate. I find it exciting to go to almost any city or town and find that someone has a local brewery large enough to sell, at least regionally. It's exciting and some of the beer is so fantastic you just want it to be available worldwide. so why should wisconsin be any different?
Well, it sad as a Minnesotan..it's a pride thing.
Love New Glarus. Sadly I'm in Ohio and rarely get to have any of their beers. When friends drive through WI, I always ask if they're willing to grab a sampler pack for me!
Duchar's IPA from Edinburgh! The opposite of the 'liquid pine tree' taste of American IPAs. Wish you could get it in the States.
Liquid pine tree hits the nail on the head.
What I miss most about living in Scotland, is Belhaven Best...I really wish they exported that delicious nectar of the gods.
forget all this bolagna
just give me the king of beers
You mean... Chimay?
Bud Chelada?
My favorite was Sam Adams Noble Pils 2011. This year it wasn't as good, didn't taste as green.
I wish i could try out more American beers, i see a lot of names coming around where i never heard off.
Its nearly impossible to find any good liquor store in Europe who is selling the more unknown American beer apart from the Budweiser garbage.
But then again im sure it works the way around aswell, how hard is it for Americans to buy the more unknown European beers in liquor stores?
Good luck getting heady topper or zombie dust. To acquire these unicorns you need to be part of the scene and know people...
You can get a lot of the Belgians...Love the sours but you have to travel to a place to sample the local stuff.
just an opinion thing, but for those who like hoppy beer and haven't tried many, you may want to try these
stone IPA, Bigfoot, Rogue dead guy, dogfish (90min) IPA, sierra nevada torpedo.
I'm not a fan of wheat beers so can't suggest anything there.
If you like Belgian styles: Chimay red or blue is the ultimate. But a canadian brewry (unibrew) has a superb line including trois pistolas, maudite, la fin du monde, and a couple others all extremely good. I don't know who makes maredsous but a lot of people like that (I prefer the unibrew or chimay).
If you like malty: who can argue with guiness? Almost any UK beer is great.
As a previous poster claimed, the difference between canned/bottled and draft is almost explainable. Draft is (in my opinion) always better.
but whether you want to listen to my garbage or not, I beg you to at least try different beer to learn the basics and find something that suits you.
...My wife claimed for years she hated all beer, until I introduced her to a lambic. She claimed it wasn't a beer at first... haha
I am a serious hop head. The best black IPA I have ever had is at Dieu du ciel in Montreal, Quebec.
As I sit enjoying my Pliny clone, i am looking forward to stopping by Sound Brewery in a bit for a Humulo Nimbus DIPA or a Monks Indescretion abbey ale. decisions, decisions.
I believe I've honestly tried to taste every label brewed 'round this world, but I'll still go home with a couple sixers of Paulaner Salvator when I can find it.
As I sit here and drink my Stone IPA, wishing the store would have had Ruination in stock, I look forward to the next few weeks when I will be traveling to Florida once and Texas three times. You see, we can't get Dogfish here in Louisiana. So every trip across state lines is like Smokey and the Bandit for me.
Lagers now taste like flat soft drinks. To paraphrase, "Once you go IPA, you never go back"
I feel for you (if you can't get what you want)
and I am a hop head mostly. I love stone IPA. Fortunately, I live in texas and have never had a problem getting it (or dogfish)
singing my song brother man
Just the picture of that beer makes me want to try them all! Looks refreshing.
This whole American beer style guideline thing is pure nonsense. English IPAs may certainly have less than 5% alcohol and may not be very hoppy compared to American IPAs. Also, an IPA served from a cask is very different than one from a keg or a bottle. Although I never expect quality info from major news outlets. At least not when beer is concerned.
agreed.
beer is an acquired taste and there are so many good beers it is silly to claim one is better during a season...
I generally prefer "hoppy" beer, but am very partial to Belgian style ales. Most Americans are clueless when it comes to beer (but many are learning). I also prefer Ales (top fermented) to Lagers (bottom fermented) but understand people have different likes/dislikes. It is a shame that Americans think bud, coors, corona, etc. is beer. (yeah, technically)
It's too bad that most people want to categorize beers into so many groups, especially since every beer is either an Ale or a Lager.
...and yes, I am an American (and those who know me say I'm a beer snob, but I would prefer "appreciator")
Hop Lava by Double Mountain in Hood River, Oregon
Some great IPA's mentioned in these posts. I must give an honorable mention to Sierra Nevada Torpedo as well. Sipping one during a live set keeps an edge in the music without going overboard and keeps the voice loose too. Plus it's a great during an NFL game as well.
Yesssssss, I'm enjoying a Torpedo right now. Sierra Nevada puts out the best, in my humble and undereducated opinion. Oh, and I'm female for all you gals out there who think this is just a bunch of dudes. :-)
Cheers!
What defines the worl best beer?
Budweiser sells most beer in the world (correct me if im wrong) but this doesnt come even close to my top 10 of favorite beers.
For me beers from Belgium and Germany are without a doubt still the best in the world.
Ive tried a few American beers, but they couldnt really im press me..
But still, its a matter af taste and i dont think you can compare European and American beers.
True. Budweiser is awful but there are a lot of rednecks.
German beer gets boring to me. As a stout raise Irish man I find West Coast US to have some of the tastiest beers in the world I go back to Guinness every now and then but its hard to find a good pour.
Did you read the article? Have you tried any of the top 100 american craft beers?
Expand your horizon my friend.
I have heard similar comments before, and have found that they arise from ignorance of American craft beer. Budweiser does not represent the best of American beers any more than Stella Artois represents the best of Belgian beers. Little of America's best beers are exported to Europe, thus it gets judged by Budweiser vs. Westmalle's Tripel and Schneider&Sons' Aventinus. That said, enjoy your European beer, as will some of us Americans, while we also get to drink some awesome, inventive, American beers.
Cheers!
Supporting my local, Yazoo Pale Ale FTW!
I'm a huge IPA lover, and could recommend a billion – but the real questions is where's the love for the Marzens? It is almost October. Give me a good Weinstephaner Festbier, a Rogue Maierfest, or a Victory Festbier – and all is well.
Great Divide – Hoss, just finished off a sixer, couldn't wait till October. It's an amazing Marzen style. For a lager very malt forward, and the rye gives it a spiciness that adds serious complexity.
I love beer! Sorry a little excited after reading the article.
Try a Ballast Point, Sculpin IPA or a Nugget Nectar by Troegs...
Revolution Brewing is where its at. They just started canning their Anti-Hero IPA and Bottom Up Witbier.
I'll be at their Oktoberfest next weekend!
Oktoberfest you say! I think my calendar just opened up.
Nice article and great comments and recommendations!
I've got to support my local brewery. Hop Gun IPA brewed by Funky Buddha in Boca Raton, FL.
I second the motion on Great Divide. I like Dogfishhead IPA and Sweetwater IPA a lot. This year's favorite : Bell's Two Hearted Ale
You should try the O'Connor Dismal Swamp Black IPA. Excellent.
Three Floyds rules, Give me Zombie Dust and all is right with the world.
Agreed wholeheartedly
How does Bell's Two Hearted Ale not make your IPA list? simply delicious!
Agreed. I firmly believe this is the best beer brewed in America.
I also agree. Two-Hearted is fantastic! One of these days, I'm going to Michigan in the winter to get some Hopslam to try.
In my area (Buffalo NY), we are under the influence (pun intended) of Canadian beers which are Bud-like in concept. Our local gin mill used to have Stella on tap, but discontinued it. Damn!
I disagree with the comments about European beers being superior. Belgium and Germany have some best in class beers, but not necessarily the best beers.
Some of my current favorites: Stone iPA, Live Free or Die IPA: 21st Amendment, Racer 5 IPA, Black Butte Porter; DeShutes
Nice to see so many Stone lovers, it's my favorite too. I drink Pale Ales and IPAs the most, DIPAs are good but the alcohol content is too high. I was drunk after one Pliny the Elder. I haven't tried Fresh Hop or Black IPA yet, can't wait to give them a try.
1) IPA's rule. 2) if you like them, you can't drink a canned bud, coors light, you'll pee a lot then die a slow death 3) dry hopped at end of fermentation rules the nose – Eastern Washington Cascade Hopps. 4) Beer IPA of my life (too many so I'll narrow it down to top of MY top favs... 1-Stone IPA unreal, my best friend for many years. Fill my growler on regular basis. I live in drinking distance of Stone-henge in San Diego. Fattening as heck. 2-Sierra Nev Torpedo a nice second, 3-Ballast Point Sculpin (pale is ugh, IPA is the bomb 4-North Coast Brewing Fort Brag, CA – anything on draft at the bar in person. Red Seal, Old No. 38, Anderson Valley, CA – Boont Amber, Green Flash – IPA. Yes, san diego is my home brew capital, and I lived in Chico and worshiped at the Sirra Nevada Bresing Company, dined and danced in the Big Room, Toured the facility a billion times, worked as yard / truck duty help, just to be near the stuff, not the $9 per hour. To this day, upon entering Chico CA from I5 North... to old 99, first stop is SNV Brewing Company – and I kiss the parking lot, bow down toward MY mecca and pray. Then i enter and can't make up my mind when looking at the Draft choices. LOVE the Article.
Man, I've been looking for some Schaefer's and I cannot find it anywhere.
What happened to Schaefer's? You know, The one beer to have when you're having more than one.
.
We called them F&Ms as in F&M Schaefer. They closed the Brooklyn plant in 1976. Stroh's bought the name in 1981 but who knows what happened after that..... Rheingold was another Brooklyn Beer from back in the day.....
There's a place in NYC on 23St, I passed by a few weeks ago, turned by head when I saw the Schaefer beer can on the table, still with the red and gold circles on it, which I remember from my regrigerator as a kid, Also have seen Rheingold beer lately and Pabst Blue Ribbon
Harpoon IPA is about the best it gets. Perfect.
I like: Thunder Head IPA by Pyramid, Berkeley, and especially Blind Faith, brought to you by Magic Hat, Vermont.
Magic Hat is a great brew. I'm surprised, now that I am back, at how many great breweries have popped up.
Victory Brewing is only 3 miles from my house. The started with their Hop Devil IPA, Prima Pils, Festbier – a Marzen, and a Lager. Found the place about 3 months after they opened and thought that I had found a beer heaven. Ron and Bill make fantastic beers.
Southern Tier 2x IPA is one of my personal favorites!
Funny, I'm drinking that right now.
I am drooling with the prospect of tasting any of these, but definitely the richer beers. I'm curious why there are no women posters on this topic? (yes, I am female)
Sipping a Yuengling right now..... Is nice!
I didn't realize how great Yuengling was until I didn't have it!!
Blah
All this talk about IPA's and I don't see STONE mentioned anywhere.
Not a fan of the Stone Hops. I prefer Cascade Hops.
Small Batch 471, Burton Baton, Oaked Arrogant Bastard, and Stone's Ruination are my favorites!
Most Americans have no idea what real beer taste like since they grew up on PBR, Schlitz, Bud, Coors and Miller. If you want real beer, the German, Belgium and Czech beer got us all beat hands down without creating a new frenzy. Names like Pilzner Urzquel, Paulaner, Hopus, Weihenstephaner Hefe weizen, Fransikaner Hefe Weizen and the lists goes on and on. I spent many years in Germany and had the pleasure of sampling a wide variety of European beers and was spoiled by the best. I have tried most American beers and they have yet to impress me.
Then either you aren't trying hard enough or you're simply a beer snob. Look. There are great European beers and there are not-so-great European beers. Just as there are good and bad American beers. There are plenty of great American breweries, and they don't brew anything that even remotely resembles Bud Light.
Try Dogfish Head some time and tell me there are no good American brews out there!
As the other poster mentioned, you clearly haven't bothered to go to any of the great microbreweries around the US. There are great beers on both continents.
That's like saying most Americans don't know what true pizza tastes like.
I too spent many years in Germany and developed a taste for the European beer. I came back to the States and couldn't stand domestic beer until the Micro-Brews and craft beers broke into the scene.....now European beers have met their match. I live in the NW and am blessed with countless breweries to sample in WA and OR. Only rival brewery is Stone right now to Ninkasi, Elysian Fields, Deschutes, and Widmer Bros. I say get out and try new craft beers and get out of your stereotype.....Beer in the USA is not the same beer of the 80's and before
What, no Dogfishhead IPA? For standard IPAs, the 60 minute is really tasty. Not too bitter, just enough bite. Then there is the Extreme, 120 minute. Not what you may think. The hop character is really mellowed by their malt selection and brewing process. This is one of my favorite beers when I can get it.
Ruination IPA by Stone is my personal favorite!
Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Ale. Dog fish head, Lev Lion. I and I brewing inc. Honey Cream Ale
Couldn't agree more with choice of Heady Topper for DIPA category. It's hard to get but well worth the drive to Vermont to buy it...truly in a class of its own.
Perhaps I am biased (my favorite is made in my town). I enjoy Caged Alpha Monkey (made by Custom Brewcrafters).
It's really amazing to think of how far the US has come in so short a time with the quality of beers being produced. I think it's safe to say that we're leading the world right now with our creativity, variety, and quality.
We are definitely leading in most types of beer and also in creating new styles. There are still a few styles we need to work on, like the Lambics. No one is even close to Cantillon yet.
I am a big fan of Stone as well. Local favorite here in Bozeman is Bent Nail IPA. My true favorite is Pisgah Pale Ale from NC.
Union Jack IPA by Firestone Waler brewery is my favorite and best IPA I've tasted. Sierra Nevada's Topredo IPA is a close second and Stone Brewery's IPA is very very good
Check out Upland Brewery's; Dragonfly, Double Dragonfly, or Komodo Dragonfly. Some of my favorites. But you can't go wrong with Bell's Two Hearted
If you get the chance, try "Death & Taxes" a black beer by Moonlight Brewing Co, Fulton, CA
Review – This beer is a great mix of sweet and roasty right off the bat. It follows the nose is notes of burnt toast, dark chocolate, nuts, caramel, and bread. I pick up some mild licorice notes in the middle, and it finishes with some solid hop bitters.
I think that Stone's Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale should be on the Black IPA list. I'm surprised that not a single Stone was on the list actually....
Same. If not for some of the other choices, it would be hard to take this list seirously :)
Concur. On my top 5 for sure. The 15th anniversar was phenomenal as well.
That is an excellent beer. Just had that the first time several months ago, at a great little bar that serves about 70-80 different beers. I found some bottles for home at the local Friar Tucks.
Favorites: Terrapin Hopzilla, Bells Hopslam, Sierra Nevada Hoptimum, RR Pliny to name a few...
Oh yeah, Hoptimum (Sierra Nevada) is the BEST, though expensive. I'm enjoying Torpedo these days but can't wait to try the darker brews of winter. Cheers.
Deschutes is good stuff, but let's not forget Stone's offerings. Pizza Port also cranks out some very fine IPA's.
All Anderson Valley Brewing Co. beers are good and ther IPA in a purple can is great
Anyone else feel black IPAs are the new sour/barrel-aged beers in terms of hype/popularity? Seems like a lot of those coming out lately.
I would say Black IPAs were all the rage 2 years ago. Now they are just another common style, with many not making them anymore. If anything, all the rage these days seem to be all about the White IPAs
Great article! your choice of IPA's (Firestone Walker – Union Jack, Green Flash – West Coast IPA, Odell – IPA) all top favorites with West Coast being my #1! I also really enjoy Deschutes – Fresh Hop Mirror Pond. Also a big fan of Compass IPA and Bear Republic Racer 5.