HOP-heads unite (whats your favorite I.P.A. ?)

funkmonkey · « **on:** 23 Jan 2011, 02:13 am »

I'm always on the hunt for great BEER

With the recent barleywine thread, I thought that a dedicated IPA thread was appropriate.

Here is some history about IPAs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Pale_Ale
http://www.brewingtechniques.com/library/styles/2_2style.html
http://www.brewingtechniques.com/library/styles/2_3style.html

An interesting little fact:
The closest cousin to the Hop is Cannabis

So, to kick it off I will list a few of my favorites, hopefully you guys will chime in with your favorite hoppy treats.

My go-to beer, and always great:

RACER 5
(I'm enjoying one right now actually)

This one got me into IPAs in the first place, and still my favorite:

I introduced this beer to a friend a few days ago and about half way through the bottle he held his up,
re-read the label and stated: "Wow, this Ruination is really something special, isn't it."
That about sums it up.

These two I have only seen in the 22oz. size, but are both very nice:

HOP JUICE

and Hopportunity Knocks

A new one (to me) that I really like is:

Titan IPA
the Belgian style ale from the same brewery (Great Divide) is also excellent.

Cheers

EDIT:

My New favorite Beer!!!!!!!!!!!

Took some doin' but I managed to get ahold of some on the west coast!!!!!!! Man I wish Bell's had distribution in CA.

If you haven't had it yet, it is a must try, the best of the best IPAs in the world (my opinion of course).

Cheers, enjoy

Wasatch · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 02:33 am »

Racer X growlers are AWESOME, DFH 90 Min., Bells Hopslam, Masala Mama are some of my favorities.

Cheers!

Nick77 · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 02:50 am »

Quote

DFH 90 Min

+1 Love the 60 & 90min Dogfish Head

sts9fan · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 03:05 am »

Right now my favorite ipas are:
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
Founders Centennial IPA
Russian River Pliney the Elder IPA

I am digging the super citrus bombs.
For bitter I love
Stone Ruination
Green Flash West Coast IPA
Bells Hopslam

santacore · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 03:55 am »

Love the Racer 5 and the Ballist Point already mentioned.

Lately I've been enjoying the Sierra Nevada Torpedo. Another favorite is Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA or their Double Daddy.

For more great options, check out the offerings from Lagunitas.

mbakes · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 03:57 am »

Pliny the Elder and Younger
Cigar City Humidor Series IPA
Cigar City Jai Alai
DFH 60/90
Hopslam
Racer 5

EthanH · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 04:29 am »

Stone (Ruination, IPA, and especially Cali Belgique are all good)
Pizza Port Wipeout
Oskar Blues Gordon
Founders Devil Dancer
Victory Hop Wallop

funkmonkey · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 06:52 am »

Quote from: santacore on 23 Jan 2011, 03:55 am

For more great options, check out the offerings from Lagunitas.

True. The Lagunitas IPA is excellent.

Also EthanH mention the Pizza Port Wipeout IPA that is great, they also have a Hop 15(?) that I don't think is anywhere near as good as the Wipeout. Worth a visit if you ever find yourself in the area (North of San Diego). Beer garden atmosphere, family friendly, darn good pizza, and a HUGE selection of BEER!

sts9fan mentioned another San Diego favorite of mine as well, West Coast IPA from Green Flash. Super low key brewery, not far from Pizza Port nor the Stone Brewery for that matter, they love what they do there and it is certainly reflected in their beers.

Just Outstanding IPA (out of Portland, I think) was quite good too, and it is organic to boot.

Kinger · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 12:55 pm »

Try as I might, I have been largely unsuccesful in finding pale ales or India pale ales that I really like. Sucks because I love trying new beers and I feel like I'm missing a ton of the market.

sts9fan · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 04:15 pm »

Port brewing also has a fantastic wet hop ipa.
On a home brew note. I just tasted a pretty good ipa my buddy just brewed with all my Cascade hops. Single type of hops added at three points, 60min,30min and flameout. It was still flat but tasty.

zybar · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 04:29 pm »

Great topic!!

Here are a few of my favorites:

Sierra Nevada - Torpedo Ale
Dogfish - 90 minute and 120 minute IPA
Fuller's - India Pale Ale
Brooklyn Brewery - India Pale Ale
Middle Ages Brewery - Impaled Ale
Harpoon - IPA (not in the same class as the others, but easy to find - especially in Boston)

Will definitely try some of the others mentioned in this thread.

George

simon wagstaff · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 04:38 pm »

Definitely the Pliny the Elder for it's Simco Hops. Have to put in a plug for Weyerbacher Simco double IPA.

One VERY memorable one, probably impossible to find was Hop Lava from Double Mountain Brewery. Oh gee, here is there website. I loved this beer!

http://doublemountainbrewery.com/beers.html

PeteG · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 05:01 pm »

Will try and pick a couple of these up before the games today.

mca · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 05:56 pm »

My go to IPA is Ranger, by New Belgium Brewing.

My Favorite local IPA is Trixter, by Black Raven Brewing.

I also like Hale's Supergoose, Boundary Bay IPA, Midnight Sun Sockeye Red IPA, Red Hook Big Ballard Imperial IPA, Ninkasi Total Domination IPA, Snoqualmie Wildcat IPA, Mac and Jacks Two Tun IPA, the list could go on and on....

PeteG · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 07:04 pm »

Well picked up a six-pack of Racer 5 and Stone Ruination IPA, I’m standing in line all happy with my beer in hand get to the check-out was given the price… knocked that smile right off my face.
Oh well when I open that first beer I’ll get happy again.

sts9fan · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 07:16 pm »

Hops are $$$$

I love the Belgians play on an American ipa such as Houblan Schouffe or XX Bitter. Hopit is an example from Holland i think. Some americans are brewing this style now which is funny because it's an Americans take on a Beligans take on an American. American examples are Great Divide "Belgica(sp) and Stone Vertical Epic 08.

jriggy · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 07:27 pm »

Quote from: mca on 23 Jan 2011, 05:56 pm

My go to IPA is Ranger, by New Belgium Brewing.

New Belgium has hit the ball out the park with this IPA. Around here, for its price, it is the best thing going! With all of my faves going for $9.99, 10.99 and 11.99 - the $7.99 ranger is a no brainer!

Stone IPA, Ruination (and others)
DogfishHead 60's and 90's
Three Floyd's Alpha King
Boulder Beer co. Hazed and Infused

Cant leave out newest local brewers @ Sun King and their Grapefruit Jungle! Made with all american hops (Cascade, Golden and...?) for that over the top citrus bitter flavor. Wish they would put it in regular rotation.

Oh! Also cant forget the fresh batch of Bell's Hop Slam that just came out last week end... 10%er

funkmonkey · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 08:46 pm »

The Ranger IPA is pretty good. I bought a 6'er the first time I saw it, but didn't really like the first bottle. But, it grew on me and now I like it quite well. My guess is that the first one was too cold, which killed much of the flavor. I had one on tap and it was excellent.

"Life is too short to drink cheap Beer"
from a sign behind the bar of my favorite watering hole...

funkmonkey · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 09:05 pm »

Quote from: Kinger on 23 Jan 2011, 12:55 pm

Try as I might, I have been largely unsuccesful in finding pale ales or India pale ales that I really like. Sucks because I love trying new beers and I feel like I'm missing a ton of the market.

Kinger- if you don't like the IPA you might try some of the Belgian's esp. the Trapist Ales. Start out with a Chimay and go from there, they are very smooth. Most of the indie breweries make at least one in the Belgian style as well. Truth be told I go to the beer store about once a week and come home about $45 lighter but stock the fridge with a couple/few IPAs and a couple of Belgians. My wife is now a beer snob, and she didn't even like beer when we got married.

I added a couple of links to the first post that you guys might want to check out.
Cheers

krikor · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 Jan 2011, 10:44 pm »

My current regulars among IPAs:

Bell's Two Hearted Ale (my favorite)

New Holland Mad Hatter and Imperial Hatter

Founders Pale Ale