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Top 47 IPAs

Our highest-rated and overall best India Pale Ales including Hazy IPAs, Double IPAs, Session IPAs, Black IPAs, Belgian IPAs and more!

Top 47 IPAs

IPAs. All craft beer lovers have an opinion about them, and all craft breweries make one. They’re hopped-up, bitter and delightfully ubiquitous; the staples of the modern craft beer scene.

With so many different options saturating the market, it’s hard not to get a little fatigued with the innumerable options. The style itself is so popular that the Beer Judge Certification Program has splintered the category into a kaleidoscope of colors and descriptors. Instead of just an American IPA, brewers can now make Hazy IPA, Session IPA, Red IPA, Black IPA, Belgian IPA, Double IPA, etc. You get it. IPAs are everywhere.


Anchor Liberty Ale, the granddaddy of all IPAs.


Top IPA

However, some IPAs are better than others. Sure, you pretty much know what you’re going to get when you crack one open, but chances are you have some personal favorites, as well as some you think are inferior to those favorites.

We too, have our favorites, and they are all represented here in this list. In honor of the 47th year that Anchor Brewing’s Liberty Ale (debatably the first modern American IPA) has been in production, I present to you: the Top 47 IPAs The Beer Connoisseur has reviewed!

(Disclaimer #1: I’m sure there are hundreds, perhaps thousands more IPAs out there that we have not reviewed, but for this list, I’ve stuck with ones that we have an actual opinion on.)

(Disclaimer #2: This list does not delineate between American IPA, Double IPA or Specialty IPA since this is a celebration of all IPAs -- hence the title of "Top 47 IPAs" not "Top 47 American IPAs," "Top 47 Double IPAs," or Top 47 Session IPAs." Cheers!)


#47

Hoppyright Infringement NOLA Brewing Co.

95
by Michael Heniff
Hoppyright Infringement
NOLA Brewing Co.

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Featuring one of the best beer names on this entire list, Hoppyright Infringement from NOLA Brewing Co. in New Orleans is a New England-style DIPA that's double dry hopped with Centennial, Equinox, Mosaic and Citra hops.


#46

Weekend Vibes IPA Coronado Brewing Co.

95
by Dan Martich
Weekend Vibes IPA
Coronado Brewing Co.

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#45

Sticky Icky Icky Short's Brewing Co.

95
by Dan Martich
Sticky Icky Icky
Short's Brewing Co.

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#44

Juice Above the Clouds Altamont Beer Works

95
by Joseph Formanek
Juice Above the Clouds
Altamont Beer Works

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#43

Suicide Squeeze IPA Fort George Brewery

95
by Tracy Hensley
Suicide Squeeze IPA
Fort George Brewery

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#42

DirtWolf Victory Brewing Co.

95
by Nelson Crowle

DirtWolf
Victory Brewing Co.

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Unassuming name, powerhouse beverage: Victory's DirtWolf Double IPA has been a stalwart of the style since its inception in 2013. A howlingly impressive hop profile headlined by Mosaic, Simcoe and Citra, this Wolf is here to stay.


#41

Digital Bath Belching Beaver Brewery

95
by Tracy Hensley

Digital Bath
Belching Beaver Brewery

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Have you ever had a shower beer? What about a bath beer? Belching Beaver Brewery answers this question in the affirmative with this delectable American IPA brewed with five seminal hop varietals: Citra, Galaxy, Mosaic, Nelson and Simcoe Cryo. Now that's clean.


#40

Samuel Adams Wicked Easy The Boston Beer Co.

95
by Sal Mortillaro II

Samuel Adams Wicked Easy
The Boston Beer Co.

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#39

Mad Hatter New Holland Brewing Co.

95
by Richard Wong

Mad Hatter
New Holland Brewing Co.

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The beer is as stellar as the name, with light yet highly aromatic citrus and peach notes, born of the Galaxy and Nelson Sauvin hopping. The malt base is equally light while remaining firm enough to provide a fine platform with which to fully savor the bounty of some of the year’s biggest hop stars.


#38

Captain’s Daughter Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island

95
by Rodney A. Tillinghast

Captain’s Daughter
Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island

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Rhode Island, the smallest state in the union, makes one of the biggest Double IPAs around. Grey Sail Brewing’s Captain’s Daughter is a terrific canned DIPA with a nose full of lemon, papaya and pine. Light grassiness in the flavor along with dense, hop-derived dankness make this a standout DIPA that’s worth walking the plank for.
 


#37

Mirror Universe Fair State Brewing Cooperative

95
by Nelson Crowle

Mirror Universe
Fair State Brewing Cooperative

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#36

Heady Topper The Alchemist

95
by Brian Eichhorn

Heady Topper
The Alchemist

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A pioneering, classic brew that has spawned legions of imitators looking to improve upon the ultra-hoppy flavor and ultra-hazy appearance of this Vermont IPA. However, some would argue that perfection cannot be improved upon, and it must be admitted that this still holds up as a preeminent hazy Double IPA.


#35
 

Alter Ego Tree House Brewing Co.

95
by Dan Preston
Alter Ego
Tree House Brewing Co.

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The first of two Tree House Brewing IPAs to make this list, Alter Ego's sumptuous blend of Mosaic and Amarillo hops makes for a massive punch of citrus in this hazy, New England-style IPA.


#34

All Day IPA Founders Brewing Co.

95
by BC Review

All Day IPA
Founders Brewing Co.

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Just as the name indicates, this beer strikes a perfect balance between flavor and drinkability. A true Session IPA in the sense that it does not sacrifice flavor for lower ABV.
 


 

#33

Hop Stoopid Lagunitas Brewing Co.

96
by BC Review

Hop Stoopid
Lagunitas Brewing Co.

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Described as a “hop minefield,” this 102 IBU hop bomb is tempered with a subtle balance of sweet, light malts that allow the hops to shine without completely blinding you. And the head is incredibly billowy.


#32

Extended Play Lakefront Brewery

96
by Phil Farrell

Extended Play
Lakefront Brewery

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#31

Juicy Harvest Upland Brewing Co.

96
by Richard Wong

Juicy Harvest
Upland Brewing Co.

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#30

Habanero Sculpin Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits

96
by Nelson Crowle

Habanero Sculpin
Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits

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#29

Blast! Brooklyn Brewery

96
by Josh Weikert

Blast!
Brooklyn Brewery

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#28

Big Guns Fort George Brewery

96
by Tracy Hensley
Big Guns
Fort George Brewery

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As the highest-rated Session IPA on this list, Fort George Brewery's Big Guns sports a blend of Nugget, Meridian and Mosaic hops with a miniscule 4.2 percent alcohol content -- perfect for beachfront or poolside imbibing.


#27

Feasta Väsen Brewing Co.

96
by Dan Martich

Feasta
Väsen Brewing Co.

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#26

Jockamo Juicy IPA Abita Brewing Co.

96
by Joseph Formanek

Jockamo Juicy IPA
Abita Brewing Co.

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A lively, lovely IPA, this offering from Abita in New Orleans showcases a citrusy, juicy variant of the omnipresent IPA. With a blend of Citra, Apollo and Experimental hops, this blend truly defines “juiciness.”


 

#25

Moirai India Pale Ale Fate Brewing Co.

96
by Randy Scorby

Moirai India Pale Ale
Fate Brewing Co.

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#24

Cali-Belgique Stone Brewing Co.

96
by Phil Farrell

Cali-Belgique
Stone Brewing Co.

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#23

Two Hearted Ale Bell's Brewery

96
by Phil Farrell

Two Hearted Ale
Bell's Brewery

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Crisp, clean, biscuity, and checking the entire spectrum of hop flavors, this gem is a gateway IPA any connoisseur can be proud of drinking. And as Bell’s most widely-available offering, it’s almost guaranteed to be super fresh.


#22
 

Mach 10 Bear Republic Brewing Co.

96
by Nelson Crowle
Mach 10
Bear Republic Brewing Co.

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#21

Duet Alpine Beer Co.

96
by Tracy Hensley

Duet
Alpine Beer Co.

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Duet is a reference to the “harmonious” balance of Simcoe and Amarillo hops present in the beer, which provide top-shelf aroma with only mild bitterness. Structured beautifully, with a slight creaminess and a hint of alcohol heat, it is the embodiment of a West Coast IPA.
 


#20

Unsessionable Revolution Brewing

96
by Joseph Formanek

Unsessionable
Revolution Brewing

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#19

Tropicália Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

96
by Phil Farrell

Tropicália
Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

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The juiciest IPA to ever come out of Georgia, Tropicália has been reaping plaudits from anyone and everyone that has tried it since its debut in cans in early 2015 – including our expert judges. An abundance of tropical fruit flavors (guava, mango, orange) couple with a toasty malt backbone with hints of caramel to create a lush, nuanced and well-balanced IPA.
 


#18

Jet Black Scream Gnarly Barley Brewing Co.

96
by Brad Darnell

Jet Black Scream
Gnarly Barley Brewing Co.

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Black IPAs are becoming rarer these days, but Gnarly Barley in Hammond, Louisiana is keeping the dream alive with this world-class offering, which features a blissful combination of Amarillo, Centennial and Cryo Citra hops with a robust malt bill of Two-Row, Crystal and Midnight Wheat. Rich and rewarding, this IPA hits the spot for dark beer fans and IPA fans.


#17

Modus Hoperandi Ska Brewing Co.

96
by BC Review

Modus Hoperandi
Ska Brewing Co.

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#16

Todd the Axe Man Surly Brewing Co.

96
by Jason Johnson

Todd the Axe Man
Surly Brewing Co.

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While 3 Floyds Brewing tends to rock some of the most “metal” beers around, Surly’s Todd the Axe Man is a one-man show of an IPA. Featuring maximal flavor from minimal ingredients, Axe Man only requires Citra and Mosaic hops and Golden Promise malt to provide an IPA rock opera for the ages.


#15

Juicy Bits WeldWerks Brewing Co.

96
by Michael Heniff

Juicy Bits
WeldWerks Brewing Co.

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#14

Too Pure To Be Pink Wild Leap Brew Co.

96
by Sean Coughlin

Too Pure To Be Pink
Wild Leap Brew Co.

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#13

Lupulin River Knee Deep Brewing Co.

96
by Randy Scorby

Lupulin River
Knee Deep Brewing Co.

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#12

Tunnel Vision DDH w/Citra Bearded Iris Brewing

96
by Sal Mortillaro II

Tunnel Vision DDH w/Citra
Bearded Iris Brewing

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Watch out! Imbibe too many of these beautiful hazy IPAs and you might get Tunnel Vision! This sterling example of a modern and hazy American IPA features a pillowy mouthfeel and gushes forth with juicy and citrusy aromas.


#11

Kiwi Double IPA Lawson's Finest Liquids

96
by Nelson Crowle

Kiwi Double IPA
Lawson's Finest Liquids

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#10

Rare Trait Cerebral Brewing

96
by Mike Castagno
Rare Trait
Cerebral Brewing

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This New-England Style IPA showcases all the striking haziness and immense hop quotient that one would expect of the style, as Azacca, El Dorado, Mosaic, Citra and Columbus hops express the finest hop aromas and flavors imaginable. A delightful Denver favorite.


#9

Hopslam Bell's Brewery

96
by Joseph Formanek

Hopslam
Bell's Brewery

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Generally regarded as one of the finest DIPAs in the land, our expert judges mostly agreed with that assessment. A pungent, thunderous hop character assails the nostrils, but is tempered by a soft, creamy mouthfeel courtesy of the honey used during the brewing process.


#8

Alpha Abstraction, Vol. 15 Wild Leap Brew Co.

96
by Randy Scorby

Alpha Abstraction, Vol. 15
Wild Leap Brew Co.

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Wild Leap Brew Co. in LaGrange, Georgia might be best known for this series of gorgeously hoppy Double IPAs. While they are uniformly wonderful, this is the best of the bunch according to our judges. “Intense mixed tropical fruit with light resin, and spicy, pungent hops take center stage initially with a light candy-like residual sweetness and bready malt following behind,” is how our judge described it and that pretty much sums it up. Amazing work from our 2021 Brewery of the Year.


#7

Sculpin Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits

97
by BC Review

Sculpin
Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits

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You thought Sculpin would only make our list twice? Think again! An all-time classic beer, Sculpin practically wrote the book on resinous, tropical West Coast-style IPAs. It is still a benchmark beer for any brewery that makes IPAs (i.e. any brewery anywhere) or any person who calls themselves an IPA connoisseur.
 


#6

The Partner Ships Series: Stone Brewing Co. Heavy Seas Beer

97
by Pat Mulloy
The Partner Ships Series: Stone Brewing Co.
Heavy Seas Beer

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A fascinating style combination from two heavy hitters in the craft beer sphere, this Imperial Brown IPA brewed with blackstrap molasses is a sticky, sweet IPA delight of the highest degree.


 

#5

Haze Tree House Brewing Co.

97
by Graham L. Barron
Haze
Tree House Brewing Co.

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A pioneering hazy Double IPA, this lush and tropical DIPA from Tree House Brewing Co. typifies the tremendous style elements of this popular IPA style.


#4

Santilli Night Shift Brewing

97
by Rick Franckhauser
Santilli
Night Shift Brewing

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A better example of an American IPA is almost impossible to find: Night Shift Brewing's Santilli continues to expand the New England Style IPA into the collective craft beer consciousness. Bright and fresh in flavor and slightly hazy and golden in appearance, this is a stunning example of the evolution that the American IPA style has undergone in recent years.


#3

Wookey Jack Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

98
by Phil Farrell

Wookey Jack
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

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As our highest-rated Specialty IPA, the pine is strong with Wookey Jack – in the best way possible. This Double Black Rye IPA sets a delightfully complex, smoky-sweet malt base tempered by sharp Pacific Northwest hops, making for a journey as unique and mysterious as the Wookey itself.


#2

Hazy Sabro IPA pFriem Family Brewers

98
by Pat Mulloy

Hazy Sabro IPA
pFriem Family Brewers

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The highest-scoring IPA from the Greatest Brewery of All Time stands as a stunning achievement in less is more. The name states exactly what it is, and the beer delivers on that factual name with flavor that’s astounding and a perfect balance between hops and malt (remember those in IPAs?). In a world where envelope-pushing is the norm, this beer is happy to be perfect in its field.


#1

King JJJuliusss Tree House Brewing Co.

99
by Dan Preston
King JJJuliusss
Tree House Brewing Co.

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A transcendent example of a supremely limited release living up to sky-high expectations, this Double IPA from Tree House Brewing Co. in Monson, Massachusetts is a white wale of the highest degree. An orgy of passion fruit, mango, orange, citrus fruit and pineapple aromas and flavors greets any craft drinker lucky enough to get his or her hands on this extremely rare release. As the highest-rated IPA in The Beer Connoisseur's history, King JJJuliuss stakes its claim to the history books with a near-perfect score of 99.


Check out all of our other IPA reviews!

Comments

pmwarner's picture
Okay is this an IPA review or an IPA, session IPA, and double IPA review? I would not rate all these together as they are all different categories of beer. If you are going to include all of them there are a lot others out there that should be on this list. Beachwood Amalgamator should be number one or at least on the list. Along with heady topper, treehouse, pipeworks, pliny which are all some of the most sought after beers and better than most on the list. Modus Hoperandi has to be one of the worst beers I have ever had in my life and a disgrace to an IPA. This list no credibility to me.
Sparky702's picture
Ok so i just have to say i know this is all personal preference and individual taste but....if you guys put sculpin ballast point that's become an everyday over the counter not that great sold out beer over victory dirt wolf...YOU'RE FRIGGIN CRAZY HAHAHAHAHA
Sparky702's picture
Hahaha yeah second that other guy to pmwarner i was thinking the same thing...yall might as well have put blue moon white ipa in there at the top hahahahaha
Sparky702's picture
Don't take me wrong I'm not trying to be mean at all its all opinion and i do respect everyone's opinion just thought I'd throw mine in there all in good fun
edbeglau's picture
Some very fine beers in this list but missing some of the very best IPAs in the world. Neither Pliny the Elder nor Pliny the Younger on your top 10 nor top 20 nor top 30 - these are not even on your list. Really? And what about IPAs from The Alchemist, AleSmith and Trillium? Oh my. Jesus wept.
Editorial Dept.'s picture
Hello enthusiastic and opinionated readers! We recommend you read the introductory paragraphs in this article. This list was populated in 2016. It includes only the top rated IPA's that have been reviewed by our Judges Panel in our single-blind review. Our Official Review is a highly controlled process to protect the integrity of the single-blind format. Therefore we have not reviewed many IPA's that, yes, could possibly have made the list at the time. There are a number of reasons why these IPA's have not yet been reviewed. 1. We have limited space in our review each month. (do the amount of work involved producing single-blind reviews) 2. The brewers of these absent IPA's haven't submitted their beer to our review yet. Help The Beer Connoisseur by contacting these brewers via social media or email and let them know you would like to see us review their beer. Hope this helps clarify and thx for reading. Cheers! BC
chickman's picture
Wookey Jack at #1??? I don't get it as that beer isn't even in production anymore. No mention of Other Half, Tree House, Equilibrium, Trillium, Magnify, Tired Hands, Sand City, Russian River, Aslin....no Vermont IPA's either. This is a very questionable list in my opinion. Stone Enjoy By series ranks above most of these as well. Anyway, to each his own.
rennieboy's picture
Thanks! Look forward to trying some of these. Haven’t seen Anchor as much as I used to. Probably because of all our local beer in North Carolina.

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