My Top 5 IPAs
Jeff here, and today I want to talk about something near and dear to my heart: India pale ale, or IPA as we all know and love it. If you've been following this blog for a while, you know I'm not one to play favorites too often – there are just too many great beers out there. But when it comes to IPAs, I've got to admit, there are five that have consistently blown me away over the years and keep me coming back for more.
These aren't necessarily the rarest or most hyped IPAs out there, but they're the ones that represent everything I love about the style. They're the beers that made me understand why people get so passionate about hops, and they're the ones I find myself recommending over and over again to anyone looking to explore what great IPA can be.
So grab your favorite hoppy beer, settle in, and let me tell you about the five IPAs that have earned permanent spots in my personal hall of fame.
What Makes a Great IPA?
Before we dive into my favorites, let's talk about what I look for in an exceptional India pale ale. After trying hundreds of IPAs over the years, I've developed some pretty specific criteria for what separates the good from the great.
First, balance is everything. A great IPA isn't just about cramming as many hops as possible into the beer. It's about creating harmony between hop bitterness, hop flavor, hop aroma, and malt character. The best IPAs have enough malt backbone to support the hops without getting overwhelmed by them.
Second, complexity matters. I want an IPA that reveals different flavors and aromas as I drink it – maybe citrus up front, some pine in the middle, and a clean bitter finish. One-dimensional hop bombs get boring fast.
Third, drinkability is crucial. An IPA can have all the complexity in the world, but if it's so intense that you can only handle one, it's missing the point. The best IPAs make you want another sip, then another beer.
Finally, freshness is non-negotiable. IPAs are hop-forward beers, and hop character fades quickly. A great IPA brewery understands this and works hard to get fresh beer to consumers quickly.
With those criteria in mind, let's talk about my top five.
Maine Beer Company Lunch: The Perfect East Coast IPA
If I had to pick just one IPA to drink for the rest of my life, it would probably be Maine Beer Company's Lunch. This beer represents everything that made me fall in love with East Coast IPAs in the first place, but executed with a level of perfection that's genuinely rare.
Lunch pours a beautiful golden color with a thick, persistent white head that leaves gorgeous lacing on the glass. The aroma hits you immediately – bright citrus, tropical fruit, and pine resin that's complex but never overwhelming. You can smell the quality before you even take a sip.
The flavor is where Lunch really shines. You get waves of citrus – grapefruit, orange, lime – followed by tropical notes like mango and passion fruit. There's enough pine character to remind you this is a serious East Coast IPA, but it never becomes harsh or astringent. The malt backbone is present but subtle, providing just enough sweetness to balance the hop bitterness without getting in the way of the hop flavors.
What really sets Lunch apart is its finish. Instead of leaving you with overwhelming bitterness, it fades to a clean, almost refreshing conclusion that makes you immediately want another sip. At 7% ABV, it's substantial enough to be satisfying but not so strong that it becomes heavy.
The consistency of Lunch is also remarkable. I've had this beer dozens of times over the years, in different seasons and from different batches, and it's always exceptional. That level of quality control is genuinely impressive, especially for a brewery that's grown as much as Maine Beer Company has.
Maine Beer Company's commitment to freshness also deserves recognition. They've built their distribution carefully, ensuring that Lunch reaches consumers as fresh as possible. When you buy Lunch, you know you're getting the beer at its peak.
Russian River Blind Pig IPA: The Benchmark
Russian River's Blind Pig IPA holds a special place in IPA history, and for good reason. This beer helped define what American IPA could be, and it remains one of the finest examples of the style decades after its creation.
Blind Pig is what I think of as a "brewer's IPA" – a beer that showcases technical excellence and perfect balance rather than trying to shock you with intensity. At 6.25% ABV, it's substantial but approachable, with a hop profile that's complex without being overwhelming.
The aroma is classic American IPA – citrus, pine, and floral notes that blend beautifully together. But what sets Blind Pig apart is the way these aromas integrate with the malt character. You can smell the quality of the base beer underneath the hops, which is something many modern IPAs miss.
The flavor profile is perfectly balanced. You get bright citrus flavors – primarily grapefruit and orange – along with pine and a subtle floral character. The malt backbone is more prominent than in many modern IPAs, providing a slight sweetness and body that supports the hops beautifully. The bitterness is substantial but never harsh, fading to a clean finish that leaves you wanting more.
What impresses me most about Blind Pig is its restraint. In an era when many breweries try to outdo each other with hop intensity, Blind Pig proves that sometimes less is more. Every element of this beer serves a purpose, and nothing feels excessive or unnecessary.
Russian River's reputation for quality is well-deserved, and Blind Pig is a perfect example of why. This is a brewery that understands IPAs at a fundamental level, and it shows in every sip.
Bell's Two Hearted Ale: The People's Champion
Bell's Two Hearted Ale might be the most beloved IPA in America, and after drinking it regularly for years, I completely understand why. This beer manages to be both accessible to newcomers and satisfying to hop enthusiasts, which is no small feat.
Two Hearted is built around Centennial hops, and Bell's showcases this variety beautifully. The aroma is predominantly citrus – grapefruit and orange – with some floral notes and a touch of pine. It's immediately recognizable and consistently appealing.
The flavor is where Two Hearted really wins people over. The hop character is bright and citrusy without being aggressive. There's enough malt sweetness to balance the bitterness, creating a beer that's flavorful but incredibly drinkable. At 7% ABV, it has enough body to be satisfying without becoming heavy.
What sets Two Hearted apart is its approachability. This is an IPA that works equally well as someone's introduction to hoppy beer or as a regular choice for experienced IPA drinkers. It's complex enough to be interesting but straightforward enough to be accessible.
The consistency of Two Hearted is also remarkable. Bell's has been brewing this beer for decades, and it tastes the same whether you're drinking it in Michigan or across the country. That level of quality control at their scale is genuinely impressive.
Two Hearted also represents excellent value. For a beer of this quality and complexity, the pricing is very reasonable. It's proof that great IPA doesn't have to be expensive or rare to be exceptional.
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA: Innovation and Tradition
Sierra Nevada's Torpedo Extra IPA represents everything I love about this pioneering brewery – respect for tradition combined with innovative techniques and an unwavering commitment to quality.
Torpedo is brewed using Sierra Nevada's "torpedo" dry-hopping method, where beer is passed through a torpedo-shaped vessel filled with whole-cone hops. This technique extracts maximum hop flavor and aroma while minimizing harsh bitterness, and the results are spectacular.
The aroma of Torpedo is intense and complex – citrus, tropical fruit, pine, and floral notes that layer beautifully. You can smell the difference that the torpedo dry-hopping makes – the hop character is more integrated and nuanced than you typically get from traditional dry-hopping methods.
The flavor profile is classic West Coast IPA done exceptionally well. You get waves of citrus – grapefruit, orange, and lime – followed by tropical notes and a solid pine backbone. The malt character is subtle but present, providing just enough sweetness to balance the substantial hop bitterness.
At 7.2% ABV, Torpedo has enough body to stand up to the intense hop character without becoming heavy or overwhelming. The finish is clean and bitter but not harsh, with lingering hop flavors that make you want another sip.
What impresses me most about Torpedo is how Sierra Nevada has managed to create an intensely hoppy beer that remains balanced and drinkable. Many high-hop IPAs become one-dimensional, but Torpedo maintains complexity throughout.
The availability of Torpedo is also worth celebrating. Sierra Nevada's distribution network means you can find this exceptional IPA almost anywhere, often at very reasonable prices. It's proof that innovative brewing techniques don't have to result in limited availability or premium pricing.
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA: Florida's Finest
Cigar City's Jai Alai IPA represents the best of what Southern brewing can offer – bold flavors, creative brewing, and a beer that perfectly matches its environment and culture.
Jai Alai is a big IPA at 7.5% ABV, but it carries its strength well. The aroma is immediately appealing – tropical fruit, citrus, and pine with some subtle spice notes that add complexity. You can smell the quality and freshness from the moment you open the bottle.
The flavor profile is where Jai Alai really shines. The hop character is intense but well-balanced, with prominent citrus flavors – grapefruit and orange – along with tropical notes like mango and pineapple. There's enough pine character to give it some West Coast IPA DNA, but the tropical fruit flavors give it a distinctly Florida personality.
The malt backbone in Jai Alai is more substantial than in many modern IPAs, providing a slight sweetness and body that balances the significant hop bitterness beautifully. This isn't a thin, one-dimensional hop bomb – it's a full-bodied IPA with real complexity.
What sets Jai Alai apart is its character. This beer has personality in a way that many IPAs don't. It feels distinctly Floridian – bold, tropical, and unapologetic. It's the kind of beer that reflects its brewery's location and culture, which I always appreciate.
Cigar City's commitment to freshness is also notable. They've worked hard to build distribution that gets Jai Alai to consumers quickly, and it shows in the quality of the beer. When you find Jai Alai, you're usually getting it at peak freshness.
What These IPAs Have in Common
Looking at these five beers together, a few patterns emerge that I think explain why they've become my favorites:
Balance: Every one of these IPAs achieves perfect balance between hop character and malt backbone. None of them are one-dimensional hop bombs or overly sweet malt-forward beers. They all find that sweet spot where every element supports the others.
Complexity: These IPAs all reveal different flavors and aromas as you drink them. They're not simple or straightforward – they reward attention and contemplation while remaining approachable.
Drinkability: Despite their complexity and intensity, all of these beers are genuinely drinkable. You can have more than one without palate fatigue, which is crucial for a great IPA.
Consistency: These breweries have all mastered the art of brewing the same exceptional beer repeatedly. When you buy these IPAs, you know exactly what you're getting.
Freshness: All of these breweries understand that IPA is a fresh beer style and work hard to get their beer to consumers quickly.
The Evolution of My IPA Palate
My relationship with these five IPAs has evolved over the years as my palate has developed and the IPA landscape has changed. When I first started drinking craft beer, Two Hearted was a revelation – I'd never tasted anything so hoppy yet balanced. As I explored further, Blind Pig showed me what technical excellence in brewing looked like.
Lunch opened my eyes to what modern American IPA could achieve – taking the best elements of the West Coast style and refining them to near-perfection. Torpedo demonstrated how innovation could enhance tradition rather than replace it. And Jai Alai proved that great IPA could have regional character and personality.
Together, these five beers tell the story of American IPA – from its roots in the craft beer revolution to its current status as the most popular craft beer style in the country. They represent different approaches to the style while all achieving excellence in their own ways.
Beyond the Big Names
While these five IPAs represent my personal favorites, I want to acknowledge that the IPA world is constantly evolving. New England IPAs have brought haziness and tropical fruit flavors to the forefront. West Coast breweries are pushing boundaries with lupulin powder and new hop varieties. Session IPAs are proving that great hop character doesn't require high alcohol content.
But no matter how the style evolves, I keep coming back to these five. They represent everything that made me fall in love with IPAs in the first place – bold hop character, perfect balance, exceptional brewing, and the ability to surprise and delight with every sip.
The Verdict
These five IPAs – Maine Beer Company Lunch, Russian River Blind Pig, Bell's Two Hearted, Sierra Nevada Torpedo, and Cigar City Jai Alai – represent the pinnacle of what the India pale ale style can achieve. They're not just great examples of their respective regional approaches to IPA; they're great beers period.
Whether you're new to IPAs and looking for exceptional examples to try, or you're a longtime hop lover looking to revisit some classics, these five should be on your list. They've earned their reputations through years of consistent excellence, and they continue to set the standard for what great IPA can be.
Each of these beers has taught me something about what makes IPA special, and together they represent a masterclass in hop-forward brewing. They prove that the best IPAs aren't just about hop intensity – they're about balance, complexity, craftsmanship, and the ability to create something that's both exciting and approachable.
So the next time you're looking for a great IPA, consider seeking out one of these five. They've been making hop lovers happy for years, and I'm confident they'll continue to do so for years to come.
Here's to great hops, exceptional brewing, and the IPAs that make it all worthwhile. Cheers!