Like many girls, my first encounters with beer were in the basement of a frat house drinking warm keg beer out of red solo cup. The first beer that I drank without wincing was Bud Light Lime. However, as I have gotten older and matured (as I would like to think), I have moved away from warm piss water as my drink of choice and developed a more acquired taste. So if you trust my judgement, which you should, duh, then definitely try out these IPA’s. Here is your ultimate ranking of the best IPA beers to try:
If you’re from Boston, you’re definitely drinking Harpoon IPA. The brewery is in Boston and unless you live under a rock you have definitely attended at least one Harpoonfest. Since it is usually on tap and available at basically every liquor store, it is one of my go to choices. It’s pretty much your basic medium bodied, hoppy IPA, so if you’re looking for a place to start, it’d be here.
Technically an imperial IPA, Dogfish Head is often available on draft. It has a heavy piney and citrus hop aroma. Like most IPA’s it is full and malty, but since it is a heavier IPA it also has more of a lingering bitterness.
Interesting fact- Lagunitas IPA is made with 43 different hops and 65 malts, which might mean nothing to you as it doesn’t mean much to me, however it does sound smart. This IPA is definitely lighter and hoppier than a lot of IPAs out there, easily making it one of the best IPA beers! It is described as having the flavor and aromas of white wine, pear, grape juice, pine, lemongrass, gooseberry, pineapple and melon.
This is another IPA that has a fruity flavor, which is good for the warmer months. It is a medium bodied IPA with aromas of sharp, piney, and spiced hops. On their website they describe it as the “beer that bites back at you,” which is fitting because the brewery is in Massachusetts, and I always get bit by greenhead flies in the summer in MA. I’d definitely prefer this Greenhead all day every day.
An imperial beer, this one is different from the others on this list in terms of taste. It is fairly difficult to get, and my brother (who went to UVM) claims that you can only buy them in Vermont, which I fact-checked and it’s true. Additionally, you are supposed to drink it right out of the can, so don’t try to get all fancy with a pint glass unless you want to look like a rookie.
There are two versions of the Supernaut by New England Brewing Company. One is a regular IPA and the Super Supernaut is an imperial IPA. They are both mosaic rich beers with hints of berry, passion fruit, and pineapple. The Super Supernaut has an ABV of 8.2%.
A very hoppy beer (an astute observation I know), this beer is brewed in Worcester, MA but has a west coast feel. The hoppiness adds a citrus taste and aroma. Tbh, the only reason I originally ordered this beer was because of the cute smiley face on the bottle so big ups to whoever is doing their marketing/advertising.
Treehouse Brew has a lot of cool beers, so you should definitely try them all out. Julius is one of their more popular brews. It is another hoppy and cirtus-y beer with flavors of mango, orange, and passion fruit. It is opaque and looks similar to orange juice. It’s incredibly refreshing and does not feel heavy so you won’t be bloated. It is also the highest-rated IPA on both Ratebeer and Beeradvocate so if you want the best, definitely try it.
Orange, floral tangerine, cantaloupe, fresh green grass, guava, and pastry dough have all been described as the aroma for this IPA. Which seems confusing and although I have not tried this one before I am unequivocally intrigued. Plus, it has a great name so it gets points for that in my book.
This beer is an Indian Wheat Ale which is different than many of the Pale Ale’s above. It is brewed with Rakau and Citra hops, so you can see how it got such an original name. This means that it is made with more malted wheat than your typical IPA, which gives it a different taste. It is described as tasting of cantaloupe, lemon, and grass.
I’m no beer snob and am certainly not above drinking dollar beers, but if you’re looking for beer with more depth, definitely try these out. Go to your local liquor store and treat yourself to a you-pick-six. You deserve it.
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