what should my first IPA be?

Bell's Two Hearted ... great IPA and great beginner IPA or Dogfish Head 60 minute. Both should be easy to get for you as well.

 

Bell's Two Hearted Ale, Cigar City Jai Lai, Dogfish Head 60 or 90 Minute are the ones I'd give my closest friends/family if they asked me the same question.

 

Most important point. You have been given many good suggestion for beers to choose, but freshness is way more important in an IPA than in most stouts. I would suggest buying a very fresh refrigerated one out of the list given to you.

 

Miller lite duh....it's triple hopped.

 

Two hearted. First and last and in between

 

I'll have to respectfully disagree with Smuttynose & Stone, while I enjoy them both, I think they might be too bitter for someone newer to the style. Agree with Lagunitas and 60min

 

Sucks, Sucks, Celebration, sucks, maybe Stone. Nah SUCKS!

 

Smutty's IPA for sure. If you like that you can branch out in either direction of more hop or malt forward IPA's. Buuuut, if you can get it you should definitely try Allagash's Hugh Malone. Considering you like "some Belgians" this brew would suit you well. Super balanced with a nice hop character to it, amazing fresh but it still drinks just fine this time of year.

 

My heart would say Ballast Point Sculpin. By locality, get a Dogfish Head and take alternate sips from a Midas Touch.
Sorry, that last part makes me visibly twitch. Skip the Midas.

 

DeFlower Power

 

twas my first....

 

I would say start with a Ruination and then 120 min, and then a palate wrecker followed by Hop Damn.

In all seriousness:

I would say Two hearted as a start, my wife doesn't like IPAs but she likes two hearted. Stone IPA is a good start to get the full on flavor of a west coast IPA. southern Tier 2X or Unearthly would be good and to me are not as harsh on the palate. 90 minute is also a good start. IMO the ST IPA and the 60 minute are too bitter and not as balanced. If you can find Green Flash, the Hop Head Red. I wish i could send you some West Sixth from here in Lexington

 

lagunitas

 

Whatever you try, For the love of god, make sure its FRESH!!!!

 

Gubbna, or something big. No need to just dip your toes, go big, get the full effect of an ipa if you want to know what it tastes like

 

As suggested before two hearted would be a great intro to ipas, but you're not gonna find it in ny. Loose cannon is a gentle way of getting into ipas and a good one at that. When I first got my girlfriend into ipas, she had an easier time drinking a 90 min as opposed to a 60 ,just because 90 has a bigger malt backbone. The balance of an ipa will affect your hop perception more than the ibu. I would recommend ballast point big eye, stone ipa, sierra nevada torpedo, 60 min, racer 5, smuttynose ipa, southern tier,alesmith, fsw union jack, founders centennial, and ithaca flower power. All available in ny. For double ipas 90 minute and fsw doublejack would be a good way to start.

 

go buy a goddamn beer and try it. If you dont like it, buy another one, like the rest of us.

 

The WORST entry IPA is Flower Power. It is tongue shriveling bitter and dry. This will turn you off, I have been there.
If you are NYC area in the NYC area these available..... Hop Tasty and not too bitter. If you are into BCBS you shouldn't be bothered by high ABV.
The new Captain Lawrence IPA (not the reserve). It has only been around for a few weeks.
Maine Lunch, harder to get because, sells out a lot.
Dog Fish Head in this order 75 min in a 750ml (new batches all over the city. Then 90 mins, or 60 mins.
West coast has great stuff and gets to NY within a week. Just check for dates and stay with in 30 day window witj any of these...
Ballast Sculpin, Stone IPA, SN either Torpedo or celebration. Bear Rebuplic racer 5, Firestone Double Jack (union jack is bland). Lagunitas Sucks is also good...
Not sure where in the NY area but if you see Kelso Industrial IPA on tap anywhere go out of your way to get some. Brew York growler bar at the Union Sq is having a Kelso tasting tomorrow from 4 to 7.o don't k ow what is o tap but between that growler bar and whole foods down the block you should find almost everything I listed.

Just avoid flower power for your first.

 

Go big or go home, sixpoint resin. It's just plain awesome, who cares if it's 9% it's freakin delicious

 

My first IPA was Red Racer.