What IPA is your "par"?

Garrison's Imperial IPA, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Unfiltered.

 

Black Raven Trickster
Georgetown Lucille
Deschutes Fresh Squeezed
Union Jack

 

I would have to echo some of the same sentiments I have seen posted here already, I would have to go with the Schlafly Twins, TIPA and AIPA. These are at the top for me and expertly crafted. I judge others against these two and usually nothing comes even close, with a few exceptions.

On the lower end, I would say that if an IPA isn't at least as good as Bell's Two Hearted, Lagunitas IPA, or Goose Island IPA (a recent strong contender); then I usually don't go back to it. Those are very well crafted go to IPA's for me. I would put Odell's IPA somewhere right under the Schlafly twins and Fresh Squeezed right above those three go to's I listed.

All IPA's are judged by this band, and have to fall somewhere within this criteria to warrant a revisit.

 

bells two hearted

 

Fresh Squeezed - par
Dagger Falls - birdie

 

The category exemplars to which I compare all other IPAs are Another One, Two Hearted, and Bengali. I would also throw in fresh Jai Alai.

 

Probably Columbus IPA or Jackie O's Mystic Mama.

 

It's a tough question to answer because by "par" I think of average, and I tend to compare my IPAs to other ones that I think are better than average.

That said, even though I'm not a huge fan, I've always thought 60 Minute was kind of the barometer of what an IPA is, with the perfect balance. But I don't really compare other IPAs to it because as a hophead I prefer my IPAs much more hoppy. So a better answer for me is probably Hop Nosh, which I consider better than par, but it's also my easily attainable go to IPA. Fresh Squeezed is a good one too (which reminds me of Hop Nosh).

 

Although not listed as an IPA, nor my favorite... my par is Dale's Pale Ale.

 

Anti-Hero
Jai Alai - not near me though

 

^^^Beat me to it

Anti Hero

 

Stone IPA. If a brewer can make an IPA comparable or better, he's doing something right.

 

Yes, but is this your par? Or simply your favorite IPA?

 

I find myself responding with "Two Hearted" a lot in these types of threads.

 

Stone IPA. Although having just tried two hearted and founders centennial is the last 4 months, I've been comparing a lot of ipas to those two lately.

 

This is my favorite IPA on the planet.

 

NEBCO Seahag seems to be my base ipa and one I drink the most. I tend to rate others based on it

 

Is this beer you "par" IPA? I don't think the OP was asking for a "favorite" IPA. Unless I'm wrong?

 

Although not my favorite, in my head 60 minute is the american IPA that started the IPA craze(this may be bc I am not on the West Coast?), and a good one to judge IPA worthiness..

 

Just spreading some love to a beer I like, as you can see, I answered his question in my next comment.