The Concourse: American IPAs, Ranked

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by LambicPentameter, Jun 30, 2014.

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  1. LambicPentameter

    LambicPentameter Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2012 Nebraska

    I know what you're thinking.

    "Not another arbitrary list of beer rankings from some random site that doesn't really specialize in beer."

    And I hear ya. I really do. I wouldn't even have posted this one, but I thought the author's introduction to the list was pretty reasonable, and he sets some specific parameters and sticks to them. Given that, he creates a list that's hard to argue with outside of some nitpicks about the order.

    I'd definitely encourage any IPA lovers to take a look, but make sure you read the opening instead of jumping straight into criticizing the list. For example, there are very obvious reasons why you won't see beers like Heady Topper or Pliny the Elder on here. Same with Bell's Two-Hearted.

    http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/14-american-ipas-ranked-1595664496

    Can any of you think of any glaring omissions (that fit the criteria)?
     
    #1 LambicPentameter, Jun 30, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2014
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  2. pjvie

    pjvie Initiate (0) May 30, 2014 Oregon

    I'm actually happy they included Titan on there. I don't think I've seen Titan mentioned once on these forums (in the short amount of time I've been browsing) and I think it deserves a good review. It may not be the hop explosion that some seem to expect, but it is still a delicious, well-balanced beer.
     
    #2 pjvie, Jun 30, 2014
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  3. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Pleasantly surprised that we're 20 mins in, yet nobody has complained why the DONG IPA made by their local nano-brewery didn't make the list.

    Guess that means BA's reading comprehension is improving.

    Yeah solid list given the criteria - can't think of anything obvious that should be on there. Other than two hearted, Lunch and Jai Alai are two good ones we get in NYC, but limited quantity and/or distribution mean they shouldn't make the list IMO.
     
    #3 rozzom, Jun 30, 2014
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  4. Purp1eOne

    Purp1eOne Initiate (0) Oct 23, 2010 Illinois

    Good list but Sculpin should be number one.
     
    #4 Purp1eOne, Jun 30, 2014
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  5. Treyliff

    Treyliff Grand Pooh-Bah (5,025) Aug 10, 2010 West Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Can't say I disagree with #1!
     
    #5 Treyliff, Jun 30, 2014
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  6. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,242) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Nice. Union Jack is actually my favorite single IPA regardless of criteria.
     
    #6 AlcahueteJ, Jun 30, 2014
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  7. Immortale25

    Immortale25 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,775) May 13, 2011 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Wow, a list that actually makes some logical sense besides, as LambicPentameter already mentioned, a few nitpicks in the order. This is actually a pretty good list to go off of if you're going to a store with a huge singles section (like Total Wine) and you're trying to pick out a bunch of good but readily available IPAs to introduce someone to the wonderful world of hops.
     
    #7 Immortale25, Jun 30, 2014
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  8. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Plus they have Racer 5 on the list which I bet makes you happy :wink:
     
    #8 rozzom, Jun 30, 2014
  9. beardown2489

    beardown2489 Pooh-Bah (1,966) Oct 5, 2012 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    Sumpin Sumpin is an IPA in my eyes. That beer is amazing
     
    #9 beardown2489, Jun 30, 2014
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  10. HuskyHawk

    HuskyHawk Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2014 Massachusetts

    Few complaints. Very pleased to see Harpoon IPA rate fairly well. Surprised by Titan, as I had to drain poor it last week. May have been a bad bottle. Not at all surprised to see some combination of Sculpin, Union Jack and Racer 5 near the top. I'd pick Racer 5 from that group, but to each his own. I would put Little Sumpin' Sumpin' on the list, and put it at the top, it's clearly better than their regular IPA in my view.
     
    #10 HuskyHawk, Jun 30, 2014
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  11. miketd

    miketd Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2006 Ohio

    Not a very good list in my opinion, regardless of his parameters. His mention of Two Hearted being a glaring omission makes it even less relevant to me.
     
    #11 miketd, Jun 30, 2014
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  12. LambicPentameter

    LambicPentameter Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2012 Nebraska

    After giving it a bit more consideration, the only one I can think of that was left off is Uinta Hop Nosh. I'd likely take that over Sam Adams Rebel IPA, and I'd probably take it over Victory HopDevil as well.

    Unita has pretty solid distro on both coasts, including Massachusetts, which I believe is the author's home state. Ironically, it doesn't come to Kansas or Missouri.

    Do you think you could make a better list with those parameters?
     
    #12 LambicPentameter, Jun 30, 2014
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  13. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    So aside from two hearted, what would be on your list of the top 14 American IPAs that have good distro across most of the country, that isn't already on this list?
     
    #13 rozzom, Jun 30, 2014
  14. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    As long as the person making the list sets forth the criteria that goes into the selection, there isn't a problem. You know what the list maker is going for so if you don't like the criteria, you can pass up the list. And even if the criteria is pretty narrow, as this list maker sets out, there's so many good IPAs out there, it's rather difficult to include everybody's favorite in a list of 14. And better yet, even though the list maker's criteria here sets out the reason he didn't include Two Hearted, he makes light of it "(so no Bell's Two-Hearted, which I realize is a glaring omission that renders this list useless and my continued oxygen use felonious)". I don't believe he stated what state he was from which would have made an analysis of what he didn't list easier. OK I read some of the comments posted after the article and it looks like the writer lives in MA.
     
    #14 otispdriftwood, Jun 30, 2014
  15. miketd

    miketd Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2006 Ohio

    You have a point, but I'm not sure the reason for the list when half of the beers on there are below average. What's next, the 10 best fast food joints? Eh, it is what it is and I probably should have ignored. Peace.
     
    #15 miketd, Jun 30, 2014
  16. miketd

    miketd Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2006 Ohio

    After consideration, maybe not. Just don't see the point.
     
    #16 miketd, Jun 30, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2014
  17. moshea

    moshea Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2007 Michigan

    #17 moshea, Jun 30, 2014
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  18. SammyJaxxxx

    SammyJaxxxx Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2012 New Jersey

    Consider some Hop Nosh "on the way"
     
    #18 SammyJaxxxx, Jun 30, 2014
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  19. SammyJaxxxx

    SammyJaxxxx Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2012 New Jersey

    I fixed that for you.
     
    #19 SammyJaxxxx, Jun 30, 2014
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  20. mudbug

    mudbug Pooh-Bah (1,762) Mar 27, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    I guess he never heard of Oregon?
     
    #20 mudbug, Jun 30, 2014
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