Best Michigan-brewed, year-round IPA?

Drank some Two Hearted this weekend and it was delicious. Such a balanced IPA!

I'll never forget my first Huma, though--Kalamazoo in '07 or '08 @ Shakespeare's...blew my mind away.

Simply said, Michigan brews some damn fine IPA's.

 

It is a Rye PA, an IPA brewed with a significant amount of rye. When a malt bill contains that much rye the beer will usually be grouped with rye beers instead of IPAs no matter how similar they are. It is not wrong to compare Reds Rye to an IPA, it is a good comparison, personally I would not include the beer with my top IPAs however.

 

I've had them all:

Huma
2 Hearted
Crooked Tree
Mad Hatter
Sacred cow
Centennial

The Huma and 2 hearted are probably tied, but I also prefer a more hop forward IPA do the Huma gets a little bump. The Centennial I had way back when and all I remember was it wasn't very hoppy. I should try it again.

 

Being from Michigan I've actually had all of the beers mentioned and have to go with Two Hearted, definitely one of my go-to beers.

1. Two Hearted
2. Huma Lupa
3. Crooked Tree
4. Centennial
5. Mad Hatter (a distant 5th)
6. Sacred Cow

 

Haven't had them all, but I'm a 2-hearted guy.

 

Two Hearted isn't just the best IPA or best beer, it's the best thing on Earth, ever.

 

Aside from getting a nice selection of Boulevard when visiting the in-laws I get an opportunity to consume to my hearts content all of the Two Hearted I want, and seeing that we are going back for Thanksgiving I am ready and willing.

Cheers......

 

Two Hearted gets my vote narrowly over Huma. Have not had Sacred Cow, but generally Arbor beers don't hold up to the other 5 breweries. Also, I don't know if Odd Side Citra is year round, or if it is an IPA, even, but if the answer to both is yes, it gets my vote.

 

Eh, I'll start one now. It's pretty good here right now!

 

I take it a lot of people haven't had Dark Horse Crooked Tree.

 

This!!!

 

Agree with the Red's Rye comments!

 

I agree with all of the Two Hearted voters.....but I gotta give a shoutout to my hometown Hopnoxxxious IPA from Walldorff!

 

Centennial is the best imo. Although 2 hearted is a close 2nd. Funny that sacred cow gets no votes and my first impression was that it wasn't any good.

 

I like it on the handpump at the brewpub. Not as good on draft at the Corner, or in bottles.

 

I've only had it at the Corner. I live like 2 miles from there.

 

Bell's2HAle. Then Founders All Day IPA, then North Peak's Wanderer, then Crooked Tree, then the rest.

Although 2HA seems to be widely distributed outside of MI, this has got to seem like a complete 'gift' for those of us who can't get it easily, and can't drink it Uber Fresh! This is the geographic equivalent of living at the base of a picturesque mountain. It's easy to appreciate, and then easy to forget, just how lucky one is to have such a view: And as surely as we are, to have such a brew. Cheers!