Belgian IPAs : What's Your Take?

This beer right here.

 

Lagunitas Wild right up at the top from Lagunitas, and I find all of their offerings outstanding.

I enjoy most all Stone offerings as well. Outstanding brewery, Cali-Belgique is FANTASTIC.

Another American, Raging bitch by Flying dog, also great.

I love Belgian, and IPA, or this is truly best of both worlds in one for me!!


Cheers!

 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/24903/72465/?ba=mudbug
Bitter Monk.. World class (And almost in a class of it's own)

 

Wildeman is a really great beer. Although I think they've kind of miscategorized it as a "Farmhouse IPA." It's definitely got some farmhouse funk to it, but seems more like a PA than an IPA. In any case, I actually prefer it to Raging Bitch these days.

 

I liked Cali-Belgique, but I truly love Little Sumpin' Wild! I think there may be something to the style and thinks it's worth exploring further. Cheers! ^^

 

Love 'em! Some of my very favorite beers are Belgian IPAs, with much diversity in the style...

Duvel Tripel Hop 2012 (Citra hop version) and 2013 (Sorachi Ace version)

Hop God, from Nebraska Brewing

Bitter Monk (which says DIPA on the bottle) and Galaxy White from Anchorage Brewing

...and Piraat (rather un-IPA-like, but not (to me) like anything else either, for that matter)


The lowest abv Belgian IPA I've ever had was the Galaxy White, coming in at 7%. But I also note that there is no such thing as a "Belgian DIPA" style, making "Belgian IPA" something of a catch-all style. I searched the style on the site, and there are well over 100 "BIPA"s (lol) less than 7% abv, but I guess none of them have ever attracted my attention yet...

 

It is my understanding that they intended for Farmhouse = Saison type beer. Saison beers typically are not funky (but there are some Saisons which include some Brett so those particular beers will have a touch of funk).

I homebrew Saisons frequently. I have made two Saisons in the past 2 months. Neither of those beer were Brett’ed; they are not funky.

Cheers!

 

This is the correct answer... I like most Belgian IPAs I have had but this is the only one that blows me away! It is in season for another month.

 

Love this style
Bitter monk
Bedlam
Blvd Collaboration #2 (retired )
Tramp Stamp

 

Another take on the IPA style is fine by me.

 

Some BIPAs like Stone's and Green Flash's and wheat IPAs like Deschutes's and SA's were great, others not so much. Not sure exactly what it was but seemed like in some BIPAs the Belgian yeast and the hops didn't mix well, whereas some wheat IPAs didn't have enough hops to warrant the IPA style.

 

La Choufe Doublen is one of my all time favorite brews...

De Ranke's XX Bitter I really enjoy also, and amazingly DC Brau has pulled off what I think is the best beer they ever made to date, a sort of farmhouse saison Belgian IPA blur called Yonder Cities.

There's many more out there that are great as well.

 

Raging Bitch, Cali-Belique, Le Freak all hit you with a blast of hops up front and a nice back up with the Belgian yeast. This style has become one of my favorite quaffing groups. I was at Sierra Tap House in Reno last week and they had a Sierra Nevada Belgian Black IPA that was to die for! Carmel dry stout, big up front hops and the perfect hint of Belgian yeast flavor that was off the hook. However, at 8+% abv, you have to be careful or bring a walker with you. My all time favorite is Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen, but I feel it has it's own style since it's brewed in Belgium.

 

I'm having the Sierra Nevada Beer Camp #94 Belgian-style Black IPA right now, and I must it's the most impressive beer in the pack this go-round. I like it!

 

See BA beer profile.

 

Gotta agree. That's one of the best beers I've ever had.

 

Agree with a lot mentioned so far.

Got to give a shout out to Allagash Hugh Malone. It just sucks that it's pricey.

 

I really enjoy BIPAs but they are not an everyday beer for me. Something special for a quiet, unrushed beer drinking experience. Once or twice a month.

I agree that Dominus Vobiscum Lupulus is an excellent Quebec BIPA. Very spicy and complex.