What IPA is your "par"?

Bell's 2 Hearted and Rhinegeist Truth, both easily available all around me.

 

Odell IPA.

If it's not as good or better, then I won't buy it again.

 

Well, "par" is the average, what you're supposed to score if you have a basic amount of skill. A lot of the beers being listed seem to be beers that would be well under par. For me, there are a lot of solid, local, fresh IPAs that would be par: play the course to it's level. Scullers IPA from Skagit River, Evolutionary IPA from Two Beers, Immortal IPA from Elysian (pre-sellout), Pike IPA, and Gale Force IPA from Scuttlebutt are a few examples of beers that are just what is expected from the style.

 

It'd have to be something like 60 Minute or maybe Founders Centennial. Good beers but if you aren't better then them, don't expect a repeat purchase.

 

IPA - Hop Nosh
IIPA - Dirtwolf

 

Citra Ass Down (Extra Billy's version)

 

That's a good point. I had said Union Jack as my par beer, and thats by no means an average beer. There are plenty of average IPA's out there that have a fairly similar malt and hop flavor to them, so many in fact that nothing really stands out about them even if they may be good. Locally, Two Brothers Outlaw kinda fits the bill for me as far as that goes. It's a good IPA, but there are others like it.

I guess for Union Jack being my par, I mean that its a really good beer, and anything around as good or better is a beer I'd gladly pick up anytime, anything less than that, I'm not sure I'd come back to it with all the other options to choose from.

 

I cut my hop teeth on San Diego IPAs, so those are my standard. My baseline or "par" has to be Stone IPA (and formerly GF West Coast when it was closer to 7% abv). I am also inclined to include Alesmith IPA or Port Wipeoput in this category, but when I find either of those beers fresh, I still consider them a cut above most of the field.

Honorable mentions include Lags IPA, Racer 5 and Sculpin.

 

I know its not technically an IPA, but I would probably say my baseline is Zombie Dust. There are lots that I like better, but for me its easy to acquire, relatively inexpensive, not too high in abv, and damn tasty.

 

Centennial and Hop Devil

 

When I think of "par," I think of one that's not necessarily my absolute favorite, but perhaps the best and most well-balanced example of the style. There are IPAs I would rather drink, but they generally have twists that don't make them the best points of comparison.

For a West Coast IPA, definitely the Sculpin and Deschutes Fresh Squeezed. For an IIPA, probably Deschutes Hop Henge (what can I say, Deschutes kills it).

 

Green Flash West Coast IPA, FW Union Jack, or Fat Heads HeadHunter

Block 15 Sticky Hands would be a birdie

 

60 Minute

 

For that specific style, yes. They utilize Nelson better than almost anyone.

 

All things considered, price and availability it would have to be Torpedo for me but if I drop price then I go with Revolution Anti-Hero

 

Sierra Nevada Torpedo. It really is a great beer and cheap. Anything that doesn't measure up to that isn't worth my time.

 

Lagunitas, hits all points for me. Taste good, great example of the style, and priced well.

 

Dont these differ by like 1$ if not less?

 

Captain's Daughter

 

Columbus Brewing Company IPA