Explore The Best Ipa Beers And Their Unique Flavors

India Pale Ales, or IPAs, are known for their intense hoppy flavour, bitterness, and fruitiness. While IPAs are typically golden to copper in colour, with medium maltiness and body, they can also be dark and clear. IPAs are characterised by their high bitterness levels, which are caused by the increased amount of hops used in the brewing process.

- Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale

- Tampa Bay Brewing Company Cloudy Donkey

- Belgium Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA

- Old Nation M-43 N.E. IPA

- Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

- Dogfish Head Slightly Mighty IPA

- Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA Beer

- Alchemist Heady Topper

- Founders All Day IPA

- Bell's Two Hearted Ale

- Lawson's Finest Liquids Sip of Sunshine IPA

- Russian River Brewing Company Blind Pig IPA

- Stone Brewing Stone Ruination IPA

- Great Divide Brewing Co Hazy IPA

- Great Divide Brewing Co Fastpack IPA

- Goose Island Beer Company Goose IPA

- Burial Beer Co Our Hearts of Ruin Double Dry-Hopped Pils

- Coronado Brewing Co. CoastWise

- Great Notion Brewing Full Grown

- Oskar Blues Can-O-Bliss Tropical IPA

- Interboro Premiere IPA

- Russian River Pliny The Elder

- Goose Island Brewery IPA

- Proclamation Tendril IPA

- Sierra Nevada Dankful IPA

- Fat Orange Cat Fat Orange Cat Brew Baby Kittens NEIPA

- Magnolia Brewing Co. Proving Ground IPA

American IPAs/West Coast IPAs

American IPAs, or West Coast IPAs, are characterised by their prominent use of hops, with a focus on American or New World hop varieties. They are known for their strong, bitter taste, and typically have a clean fermentation profile, a dry finish, and a supporting malt character. The colour of the beer can range from medium gold to reddish-amber, and it should be clear, although some unfiltered versions may be slightly hazy. The head is usually white to off-white and persists for a good duration.

The aroma of an American IPA is often intense, featuring characteristics of American or New World hops, such as citrus, floral, pine, resinous, spicy, tropical fruit, stone fruit, berry, and melon. Many versions are dry-hopped, enhancing the hop aroma. The hop flavour is medium to very high and should reflect the chosen hop character. The bitterness of the beer is typically moderate to high, with a smooth texture and medium to medium-high carbonation.

American IPAs are a modern interpretation of the historical English-style India Pale Ale, using American ingredients and techniques. The style has evolved since its inception, with brewers continuously experimenting with new hop varieties and ingredients to create distinct flagship IPAs.

Some well-known examples of American IPAs include:

• Head Hunter IPA by Fat Head's Brewery
• Sculpin IPA by Ballast Point Brewing Company
• Two Hearted Ale by Bell's Brewery
• Blind Pig IPA by Russian River Brewing Company
• Union Jack IPA by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
• Racer 5 IPA by Bear Republic Brewing Co.

Australian IPAs

Australia's craft beer scene has been influenced by its American counterpart, with Australian IPAs featuring aromas of citrus and passionfruit, in addition to the classic pine scent. Young Henrys IPA is a classic example of an Australian IPA, with its golden hue and burst of tropical and citrus aromas.

Another popular Australian IPA is the BentSpoke Crankshaft American IPA, which was voted Australia's favourite craft beer in 2021. This beer is brewed in Canberra and features a strong, hoppy flavour. Balter XPA, from the Gold Coast, was a close second in the same competition.

Other notable Australian IPAs include the Capital Brewing Co Capital XPA, Pirate Life Brewing South Coast Pale Ale, and Gage Roads Brewing Co Single Fin Summer Ale. These beers showcase the creativity and diversity of the Australian craft beer scene, which continues to gain recognition both locally and internationally.

One of the newest additions to the Australian craft beer scene is the Warrandyte Brewing Co. This Melbourne-based brewery was founded by a husband and wife duo during the lockdown in 2021 and has since gained a dedicated following. Their IPA features a blend of Eclipse, Galaxy, and Melba hops, resulting in a well-balanced beer with citrus and pine flavours and a mellow bitterness.

English IPAs

Some commercial examples of English IPAs include Freeminer Trafalgar IPA, Fuller's Bengal Lancer IPA, Meantime India Pale Ale, Ridgeway IPA, Summit True Brit IPA, Thornbridge Jaipur, and Worthington White Shield.

East Coast IPAs

• Whalers East Coast IPA: A well-balanced, caramel-coloured, throwback American IPA filled with caramel malts and floral hops. It is highly drinkable, with notes of candied orange peels, lemon zest, pine resin, tangerines, citrus peels, and a caramel malt backbone.
• Trillium Double Dry Hopped Congress Street: A bold, fragrant New England IPA with scents of guava, ripe peach, pineapple, sweet malts, and pine. It has a juicy, sweet flavour with notes of mango, tangerine, pineapple, grapefruit, resin, and a hint of bitter hops.
• Brooklyn East IPA: A well-balanced beer created to appeal to both British and American drinkers. It has a strong biscuit-like aroma and sweet caramel maltiness, with notes of tangerines, grapefruit, subtle herbs, and caramel malts.
• Bissell Brothers The Substance: A hazy, dank, juicy, and well-balanced New England IPA. It has scents of fresh-cut grass, earthy notes, pine needles, mango, pineapple, and caramel malts. The flavour is fruity, with notes of guava, grapefruit, orange peels, juicy watermelon, and resinous pine, tempered by sweet, biscuity malts.
• Tree House Julius: One of the most beloved New England IPAs on the market, it is juicy, hazy, and filled with citrusy and floral hops. It has fruity notes of guava, mango, passion fruit, and pineapple, with a hint of pine needles.

Double IPAs/Imperial IPAs

Double IPAs, also known as Imperial IPAs, are a stronger version of the American IPA. They have a higher alcohol content and a more intense hoppy flavour, aroma, and bitterness. They are darker in colour and have a medium-high to full body. The higher alcohol content comes from the increased use of hops in the brewing process.

Some examples of Double IPAs include:

• Maximus, Lagunitas' colossal IPA
• Rebel Rouser by Samuel Adams/Boston Beer Company
• Tricerahops Double IPA by Ninkasi Brewing Company
• Hoppy Adventure by Harpoon
• Space Dust IPA by Elysian Brewing
• Half Life by Flatland Brewing Company
• Rollin' On Wats by GOAL Brewing
• Rhinomite by Sun King Brewing

Imperial IPAs are very similar to Double IPAs, and the terms are often used interchangeably. Imperial IPAs have a stronger flavour and higher alcohol content than standard IPAs. They tend to have higher IBU (International Bitterness Unit) ratings, ranging from 65 to 100, indicating a more bitter beer.

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