What IPA is your "par"?

Hmm...I like this question. I'd have to say O'Dell's IPA would be my par. Double eagle? Surly's Todd the Axe Man.

 

Alesmith IPA & or Blind Pig

DIPA = Pliny

 

Having gotten seriously into craft beer 6+ years ago I've had quite a few IPAs, but nowhere near as many as a lot of BAs have. And there have been only a few that I've purchased more than once—more because I like variety and there are so many IPAs still to try than because those few were head and shoulders above the rest. So, to meet the criteria of this thread I'd have to go with Flower Power and Jai Alai from among those 2X (or more)-purchased IPAs.

 

Gotta be Stone. It's what an IPA should taste like. Great nose. Balance of citrus/pine. A bit of sweetness + solid bitterness. That's the formula.

 

dogfish head 60 minute

 

Four Peaks Hop Knot

 

Stone Enjoy By

 

Am I allowed two? Torpedo as the standard for balanced and piney IPAs and Smutty Finest Kind for bitter, citrus forward.

 

Dirwolf, and tröegs perpetual.

 

Bell's Two Hearted is my Par

 

Fat Heads Head Hunter is the second choice

 

Summit Saga!

 

When in Massachusetts: Wormtown - Be Hoppy
When in Florida: Cigar City - Jai Alai

 

If I could get Jai Alai or Yellow Rose all the time they would be my go to, but since they are not distributed here. I tend to buy Two Hearted,Torpedo, or Sculpin because they are on par with my standards. If Sculpin wasn't so damn expensive it would totally be go to. But since Two Hearted is not in tallboy cans, got to be the true go to par! I guess Jai Alai and Yellow Rose are Birdies or Eagles! Now when we are talking about DIPA's that is a whole other course. If IPA's are local standard course, drinking Heady Topper would be Pebble Beach!

 

For me this is Smuttynose's Finest Kind. Hits all the right notes, and is aggressively hopped without being an unapproachable bomb. A good measuring stick for other IPAs.

 

Both 60 minute and Stone IPA were always really assessable, and made me seek the style as I ventured into IPA land. Two Hearted tried very early on really showed what could be done.

 

Revolution Anti-Here is probably the most solid 'default' in my book.

 

Stone or Lagunitas. My favorite being IPAs by Stone, Lagunitas, Noble Ale Works, Alpine, Sante Adairius, Kern River, Hill Farmstead, El Segundo, AleSmith, Russian River, Toppling Goliath, and Lawson's Finest Liquids.

 

Two Hearted, or maybe Lagunitas IPA, since it's so ubiquitous around here.