What’s Your Favorite IPA These Days?
Decatur Metro | February 26, 2015 | 10:15 am
The beer landscape has certainly evolved since we last discussed this question back in 2011 But since many of you are stuck in the house today with the kiddos, it seems a good time to restart a conversation on favorite beers.
Let’s start with a perennial favorite – ok, my favorite – the IPA. The style become such a staple among craft breweries that nearly every new brewery starts with – or quickly introduces – an IPA after opening. That means there are a LOT of them.
Which crates a bit of a paradox of choice. What are your favs these days?
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Great timing. Just downed a couple pints of that there Tropicalia at the Imperial the other night and, to my palette, it was muy bueno.
Where is that photo from? Are Tropicalia cans available in Decatur?
It’s from the brewery in Athens. I haven’t seen it in Atlanta yet. But if you’re ever out in Athens, you can get it in retail locations if you’re lucky. They can’t ramp up production fast enough. The Berliner-weisse, Athena, is also available in cans.
They’ve got Tropicalia at the Beer Growler in Avondale. One of the guys with Creature Comforts used to brew at Twains, so some folks might remember Tropicalia originally being on their beer menu a few years back.
Yep, the Tropicalia was essentially Twain’s house IPA back for a while back then.
Until the Tropicali is available, the Sixpoint Bengali Tiger in cans is very similar though maybe a bit higher ABV.
Correction: Sixpoint dropped the Tiger from the name. Their regular IPA is now just called Bengali.
Bells Two Hearted is still the standard and my favorite beer. Stone IPA and Founders Centennial are runners up. Of local IPA’s, I really do like the Creature Comforts Tropicalia, so good choice with the picture!
All personal preferences regarding the high and mighty IPA being the darling of the craft beer community aside, I’d vote for Bell’s Two Hearted.
But props to Sweetwater for carrying the local torch.
Three Taverns launches a new American IPA at Brick Store today, A Night On Ponce IPA. We always wondered what A Night In Brussels would taste like if we switched out our Belgian yeast strain for an American ale yeast. Curiosity got the best of us and the result is a 7.5% new IPA with lush new citrus fruit flavor and aroma notes released with the new yeast. Come out and try Decatur’s newest IPA. We launch it at the tasting room this Saturday if you can’t make Brick Store today. Cheers!
I’ve heard the Brickstore talk it up! I’m excited to try it!
Thanks Brian! Can’t wait to try it.
I like my IPA hoppy, a few I enjoy
Rogue Farms 7 Hop IPA (Imperial / Double IPA, 90 IBU)
Clown Shoes Galactica (Imperial / Double IPA, 86 IBU)
Blue Point Brewing No Apologies (Imperial / Double IPA, 93 IBU)
Sixpoint Brewery Resin (Imperial / Double IPA, 103 IBU)
the new Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter IPA is delicious. http://www.sierranevada.com/beer/year-round/hop-hunter-ipa
I enjoyed it as well. Great aroma.
No particular order (and I know some of these are not true IPAs):
Sweetwater IPA
Deviant Dales
G’Knight (Formally Gordon.)
Sculpin
Palate Wrecker
Centennial
Jai Alai
Dark Penance (Black IPA)
Sublimely Self Righteous (Black IPA)
Racer 5
Tropicalia
Resin
Burton Baton
Snake Handler
Monkey Naut
Tail Whipper (my homebrew)
Old Soul (my homebrew)
I am confident I am leaving some great ones off. Just can’t think of any more right now.
In other words, if the label says IPA, you probably like it.
Ha! Nah, there are a lot of bad/mediocre ones out there.
Nice list! As an IPA fan, do you think we’re getting to the point of market saturation with this particular style? I mean, everyone is trying to launch either a flagship IPA, or some sort of double chocolate imperial IPA 12.2% killer.
Every time I think that might start happening, a new one pops up that stands out, i.e. Tropicalia & Cannon Dragger.
Glad to see Racer 5 getting some love here- that’s my long time favorite West Coast IPA.
It’s made it to FL, but not not yet GA!
Interesting that DogFish Head, once the darling of the craft beer movement, did not make your list. I used to like their 60 minute very much but the 90 minute was the first beer to make me think “they’ve gone too far.”
Burton Baton is a DFH beer.
I agree with the others that Tropicalia is the top local choice right now. And for my money, a cold yellow can of Sweetwater IPA is as good as it ever was.
Agree completely regarding Sweetwater IPA. That local IPA is world class IPA. The amount of balanced hoppiness with that fairly low ABV is not an easy task. Something Tropicalia has accomplished as well.
Yeah, 60 and 90 Minute have been surpassed in my opinion. Burton Baton is still a stand out though, IMO.
My current favorite is Boulevard Doublewide. Available in bottles at The Imperial.
Yes, that should have been on my list.
Tropicalia is fantastic. Cannon Dragger from Burnt Hickory is probably my favorite local IPA these days. Steady Hopper from Wrecking Bar is amazing when they have it. Excited to hear about this new one from 3 Tavs, though!
Nationally, Heady Topper gets all the hype out of the northeast, but Second Fiddle from Fiddlehead is better IMO. Lawson’s Sunshine line is as good as advertised. And too many good ones to name out west. Just depends on what day it is, I suppose.
Just glad we’re getting multiple options locally these days. Fresh and local is usually the way to go.
Ah, Cannon Dragger should have been on my list as well! Have not had Heady Topper yet. It would be difficult for it to live up to the hype. Hop Dang Diggity and Hoplanta would be on my Honorable Mention list.
If you’re curious about Heady Topper, either seek out Steady Hopper at Wrecking Bar or just go to Vermont. Steady Hopper, as the name intentionally suggests, approximates what you can expect from Heady Topper. And, comparisons aside, it’s just a damn good hop bomb.
Good calls on Hop Dang Diggity and Resin!
Is that a recent addition to Wrecking Bar’s rotation? Don’t think I have seen it before.
I agree. I don’t get the Heady Topper hype. It’s certainly good, but I like Two Hearted, Jai Lai and others better. And it annoys me that it directs you to drink it out of the can. I don’t think it improves the flavor but instead enhances the metallic flavor.
Cans of good beer should always be poured into a glass unless you’re at the pool.
Yeah well, the preachy Heady Topper can says differently.
That bothered me too when I saw that on their can.
Hop Dang Diggity – Jekyll
Yes yes yes! Isn’t it tasty?!?
I thought I was going to be the only one showing love to Jekyll Hop Dang Diggity. Glad to see another enlightened soul on the board. I have that and Hopslam in my fridge right now, and, given the option would choose the Jekyll over the Hopslam. What a fantastic, well balanced brew!!!
PBR and Genny Cream Ale. What does IPA mean? Never mind, I don’t care.
Shocked it took you this long to write your silliness.
The only thing silly here are the names of the fancy hop hells that you beer “connoiseurs” shell out $7 a pint for!
I have to agree with you, at least to a large extent. Craft beer was a revelation, but it’s increasingly become silly, as reflected by both the ever-weirder names of the beers and their over-the-top flavor profiles.
Au contraire. The silliest thing in the universe is the person who takes the time to post a comment in thread just state that the topic of the thread is silly.
It’s the silly equivalent of holding a mirror up to a mirrors, seeing the repeated of reflections of reflections, and thinking that you’re thinking deep thoughts.
Moved back to Ohio and I’m getting to taste some that don’t make it down there. If you get up this way, grab a Mystic Mama from Jackie O’s or a Headhunter from Fat Head. In fact, anything from Fat Head is worth the trip…
21st Ammendment – Live Free or Die
Jekyll – Hop Diggity Dang
The Rampage IPA at TAPS is good too. Can’t remember the exact title, but the growler was empty pretty quick:)
Black Diamond Rampage. It’s solid.
Red Brick’s Brother Leo. I’m not 100% it counts here because it’s a “Belgian Style” IPA — but it’s great stuff.
Good to see Two Hearted getting lots of appreciation, but I’ve to see it’s significantly harder to find double IPA cousin, Hopslam, get any love.
Pretty sure I had some at Summits last Saturday. Really good.
I like Hopslam and there are a handful of other double IPA’s that I like, but I still prefer good ole’ regular IPA’s better.
Resin caught my eye with a skinny, Red Bull-type can. Figured I’d give it shot. Glad I did. Very nice. Nothing local beats Tropicalia right now.
My neighbors are a bunch of sots, lushes and drunks!
I think that’s why you guys are so much fun.
Bells Two Hearted and Bells Hopslam (when I can get it) remain go-to beers for me. Glad I can get the Two Hearted in cans now.
IPAs new to me I’ve really liked of late: Clown Shoes Galactica, Victory Dirt Wolf, Orpheus Transmigration of Souls (seasonal), SixPoint Bengal Tiger, Lagunitas Nighttime (Black IPA, seasonal).
Looking forward to trying the new Three Taverns IPA. And though not an IPA, I also really enjoyed the Second Self Mole Porter I had on draft at Taqueria El Vecino recently.
Scream IIPA from New Glarus Brewery. By far the best beer I’ve ever had. Only sold in Wisconsin, but worth the trip.
Sculpin, Big Eye, G’Knight, Sweetwater Yellow Can, Dorado, Lagunitas Sucks etc.
OK. I am now heading to Taps. I probably won’t be the only one.
Tell Lance I said hello!
Looks like we are starting to see more of Burnt Hickory’s brews on this side of town, particularly as he has begun bottling them.
Apologies for the thread jack, but since we’re talking adult libations, has anyone tried Proof, the cocktail syrup for making Old Fashioneds that Pinewood bottles? It’s supposed to be the same stuff they use at their bar. Picked up a bottle at Decatur Package recently, and I’m really loving the cocktails I’m making with it.
Yup, it is the same stuff Julian makes for their Old Fashioned on tap. And it is good.
My IPA-obsessed husband says his current faves are Unita Detour and of course, Racer 5.
Southern Tier 2X and Fort George Vortex, Green Flash and Hop Crisis are also on the list.
Late to weigh in here:
I like many, heck, nearly all, of the beers listed. Agree Tropicalia might be best of class in GA. I just wanted to add a few favorites not mentioned above:
Ballast Point’s Grunion (Sculpin’s li’l bro APA, soon will be here in cans but for now just in growler)
Victory Hop Ranch (seasonal) and Hop Devil
Stone Enjoy By series
Terrapin Hi5 (great for the pool, in cans), Hopsecutioner and Mosaic are all good, I think Terrapin rules in GA.
Lagunitas IPA. Consistently good, often a dollar or 2 less than the others
For those looking for a beer themed vacation in July, with a nearby Ben and Jerry’s and lots of local farms and crafts for the less beer loving other family members, Vermont can’t be topped – Lawsons, The Alchemist, Hill Farmstead, many others. Incredible.
Good call on the Enjoy By series. The most recent one was incredible. I have to say, though, I have never liked anything that has come from Victory. Don’t know why, but there is always an off flavor to their beer. And re Lagunitas – the bomber of Hop Stoopid that usually costs about $3.99 is one of the best values out there.
I haven’t cared for any of Victory’s beers before either, but I do like their Dirt Wolf DIPA (sold in 4 packs).
It is the best of the bunch for sure, but there is still something about it…
Interesting. I’ve recently rediscovered Victory and after drinking a Wild Devil on draft and really digging it. I wasn’t a big fan before but have a new appreciation for a lot of their product lines now.
When I first started getting into craft beer, I loved Victory, especially the Headwaters Pale Ale. But, as my tastes have changed, I no longer like their beer. Very, very bitter, but in a strange way.
Good description. They don’t balance the bitterness well. And I love bitter hoppy beers! But like 420, I respect the fact that Golden Monkey led many people to craft beer.
I remember the first time I had a Sweetwater 420 and being blown away. I don’t know what has happened to my palate lately but I’m sick of pale ale now. Could be that some of the way too hoppy choices put me over the edge, but it’s almost all porter and stout for me now. Wish there were as many choices at the store for porter over pale ale.
Thinking that we’ll do a similar porter/stout thread next week.
I love Sweetwater IPA. I think the 420 is swill. I appreciate the role it played long ago in transitioning people into craft beer, but it is not a good beer in my opinion.
Hate to say it, being from here, but I don’t really care for any of Sweetwater’s beers, and especially not 420. They all have a chemical-y taste to me, which I also find to be true of the New Belgium beers.
Sweetwater has some good beers. Completely agree about New Belguim – I have never been able to articulate my dislike until you described it as “chemical-y”, which is dead on.
I do sort of like the Happy Ending. I don’t dislike the IPA. It’s just not one of my faves.
Happy Ending is good. And I love the IPA. Other than that, not a lot that I like. Some of there one offs are good.
“I remember the first time I had a Sweetwater 420 and being blown away.”
For me it was the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Had it in California, back when it was hard to get here. I’ll still order one every once in a while and be reminded of what a solid beer it is. Never cared for 420.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ales were my go to beer in my 20s in the late 90s early 00s. I used to get their Porter and Stout from time to time back then too (not sure they even make these any more). But they have been on a roll lately with the Hoppy Lager, the Hop Hunter, and their other “Beer Camp” bottles they have been putting out.
Going to drink a few of the Hop Hunters tonight – after I have a few Hop Slams that I have had in rotation for the past month.
I’m with The Walrus: love the Sweetwater IPA, can’t drink the 420.
No question – best IPA in the world is Pliny the Elder
Found it underwhelming, but I need to get my hands on some more to really decide.
Pliny and Heady Topper are the “Holy Grails” of the IPA world. Hoping to try these someday and see if they live up to the hype.
“The style become such a staple among craft breweries that nearly every new brewery starts with – or quickly introduces – an IPA after opening.”
Interesting that Wild Heaven has been a hold out in this regard (and yet they might be my favorite local brewery, at least ITP; I haven’t had any of the Burnt Hickory beers that people are praising). Perhaps they have one in the works.
Terrapin Hopsecutioner…it’s almost as good as Bell’s Two Hearted in my opinion. Not normally a big fan of IPA, but those two converted me.