Favorite IPA/Imperial IPA

[Harry Crack]

WELLS IPA.......drool worthy

 

[futballiscool]

Ballast Point Sculpin IPA (by far the best IPA i've had imo)
Green Flash West Coast IPA
Dogfish Head 60/90/120 IPA

I also plan on trying Alchemist Heady Topper if it's ever available in my area to see if it can possibly live up to the hype

 

[Cobrabit]

Visiting in-laws in WV and picked up a sampler from Southern Tier that includes the 2XIPA, Un-Earthly IIPA, and Iniquity Black IPA. Also picked up a six pack of Double Dog IIPA from Flying Dog. Working my way through them today slowly since the ABVs are 8.2, 9.5, 9.0 and 11.5 respectively.

 

[thecrow124]

Ballast Point Sculpin IPA (by far the best IPA i've had imo)
Green Flash West Coast IPA
Dogfish Head 60/90/120 IPA

I also plan on trying Alchemist Heady Topper if it's ever available in my area to see if it can possibly live up to the hype

You are disqualified for mentioning DFH. In general they suck, but that is probably my opinion and not shared by many.

 

[Win TWINS!!!]

Something the OP should be noticing is that almost all of the recommendations are west coast IPAs. No coincidence there. You generally get more malt character from IPAs from the east coast and midwest than the west coast. We tend to dry hop the shit out of our beers, then in the harvest season, we'll churn out wet-hopped IPAs, which require the hops to be included within 24 hours of them being harvested.

They're stupid good.

Only because there are more breweries in general, not because they are any better. Shit... anyone can make a West Coast IPA.

It's been said; "Its easier to brew an extremely hoppy beer than an extremely balanced beer." And you know us, we are always looking for the easy way out, so we jumped on the West Coast IPA Bandwagon and brewed this dry and hoppy ale.

 

[Podunkparte]

Only because there are more breweries in general, not because they are any better. Shit... anyone can make a West Coast IPA.

Sure, anyone can but the fact remains that the vast majority of the top tier IPAs come from the West Coast. Keep your balance in a Pale or Pilsner. If I'm drinking an IPA I want to taste the fresh hops, not a sweet malty grain bill.

 

[fknhippie]

I lean more towards the EPA's.

 

[757Hokie83]

forgot to mention Ranger IPA and Rampant IIPA from New Belgium. Good stuff as well.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Visiting in-laws in WV and picked up a sampler from Southern Tier that includes the 2XIPA, Un-Earthly IIPA, and Iniquity Black IPA. Also picked up a six pack of Double Dog IIPA from Flying Dog. Working my way through them today slowly since the ABVs are 8.2, 9.5, 9.0 and 11.5 respectively.

Southern Tier is awesome. Some of their really hoppy stuff is a little medicinal, but overall they are good. Iniquity?? Oh lawwdddd...that stuff is smooth.

Another Black IPA that I like is the one Stone puts out. It has a name that is about five words long and I can't remember it now; had it in part of a mixed 12 pack and had to fight for it with my in-laws. That was in PA a couple months ago, been looking for it in NYC but no luck yet.

Hopslam was my favorite for a while back in the spring.

 

[Raid]

-Pliny the Elder by Russian River (Santa Rosa, CA)
-Dirtwolf by Victory (Downington PA)
-Hoptopus by Beach Brewing Co. (Va Beach)
-Brew Free or Die by 21st Amendment (San Fran, CA)
-Racer 5 by Bear Republic (Sonoma CA)
-Shipwrecked by Mission (San Diego CA)
-Torpedo by SN
-Lot 3 by Evolution (Salisbury MD)

to name a couple of my go to's

Was just @ Victory last Sat. I love their beers, and the Dirt Wolf rocks.

 

[Taz_Hokie]

- Bell's Two Hearted
- Dogfish Head 60 minute (though I'm currently enjoying the 61 minute)
- Victory Dirtwolf is delicious
- 21st Amendment Brew Free! or Die
- Sierra Nevada Celebration (and it should be coming out in a couple months)
- Flying Dog Raging Bitch is good in a pinch

 

[Taz_Hokie]

Just saw in your other thread you picked up some Blithering Idiot from Weyerbacher and it reminded of their Double Simcoe IPA which is pretty damn tasty.

 

[Iggloo]

Ballast Point is the best I have had but it is pricey. For that money I prefer buying something like a big bottle of St Bernardus or Duvel.

 

[Taz_Hokie]

forgot to mention Ranger IPA and Rampant IIPA from New Belgium. Good stuff as well.

I was drinking Rampant during the Hokies game on Saturday. I think that may be my new Gameday beer.

 

[Cobrabit]

Lots of great suggestions fellas. I'll be sure to keep an eye out when I'm around better selection than my local area. So for now, I've been picking up SN Torpedo (can't wait for Celebration), FT Ranger and Rampant, Devils Backbone 8 point IPA, and a couple other VA breweries offerings.

 

[thecrow124]

Another one I can't believe I forgot is Worthington's White Shield. It is an English IPA made in Burton Upon Trent, I do have to warn you though, it is not in any way shape or form an American IPA. It is 100% English IPA, with noble hops. No citrus flavors, no pine flavors, just a smooth, mellow, Euro-hopped IPA.

I think in today's market it would pass as a session IPA, but the amount of body that it has is unreal.

 

[Labgrownmangoat]

Ruination from Stone is one of my favorite beers, and puts to rest any notion that malt shouldn't be in an IPA.

DFH 90 is heavier than I usually want, but their 75 is pretty nice. I believe they just started bottling it. If not, you're close enough to go to one of their restaurants where they'll blend 90 and 60 to make one for you.

Sierra Nevada Torpedo and Bell's Two-Hearted are prevalent in the DC area (outside Montgomery county, that is), an are my go-to IPA choices for regular drinking.

Locally (I live within eyesight distance of DC), Flying Dog's Raging Bitch (Belgian IPA) and DC Brau's The Public (pale, but hoppy) are both nice. Starr Hill and DuClaw are big around here, but I am not a fan of the IPAs from either of them.

 

[Podunkparte]

Ruination from Stone is one of my favorite beers, and puts to rest any notion that malt shouldn't be in an IPA.

DFH 90 is heavier than I usually want, but their 75 is pretty nice. I believe they just started bottling it. If not, you're close enough to go to one of their restaurants where they'll blend 90 and 60 to make one for you.

Sierra Nevada Torpedo and Bell's Two-Hearted are prevalent in the DC area (outside Montgomery county, that is), an are my go-to IPA choices for regular drinking.

Locally (I live within eyesight distance of DC), Flying Dog's Raging Bitch (Belgian IPA) and DC Brau's The Public (pale, but hoppy) are both nice. Starr Hill and DuClaw are big around here, but I am not a fan of the IPAs from either of them.

Yes they did bottle 75 minute recently but it wasn't simply a blend of 60 and 90 minute. They aged it in maple syrup barrels if I remember right, which just goes against the spirit of an IPA, yet is just so DFH in nature. I didn't spend the $15 or so the bottles cost because I've learned from my mistakes.

 

[wartyOne]

You are disqualified for mentioning DFH. In general they suck, but that is probably my opinion and not shared by many.

You're not the only one. I won't say they suck, but they're very mediocre, especially as IPA is concerned.

 

[wartyOne]

Only because there are more breweries in general, not because they are any better. Shit... anyone can make a West Coast IPA.

They named it appropriately. Surly has a massive diacetyl problem. Not sure if it's in the packaging or in the brewing since I don't have access to their brewery, but what I've tasted has been undrinkable.