What's your favorite IPA? (2022)

Hill Farmstead Society & Solitude #4.

Locally, Southern Grist Insert Juicy Pun.

 

Sticking to American IPA only and sorting by my ratings of such here on BA, it's Three Magic Letters by Hill Farmstead, although that maybe should be more of an NE IPA.

The first one I bump into below that that's more traditional is Celestial Map by Bookhouse, which is surprising to me at first, but a solid, local microbrewery here in Cleveland that I otherwise think of for lagers.

But, highest rated and favorite might be two different things. I think I hold Lush by Fremont closer to my heart.

 

Many BA's here know what I often call my "house beer".

Sip of Sunshine

I can always get SOS fresh in my area any time of year. Some of my other favorites are not as easy to obtain.

 

Always varies, but my 2022 faves are

DFH 120 Minute
Cigar City Florida Man
Knee Deep Brewing Simtra TIPA.

 

"What's your favorite IPA?" A fresh one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A couple of days ago while grocery shopping I really wanted to buy a 6-pack of Fat Heads Head Hunter IPA but none of the boxes had dates on the box (WTF). I actually was frustrated enough that I opened one box to see the date on the bottom of the can. While there was indeed black ink on the rim of the can it was unreadable.

I did luck out and found a six-pack of Victory Dirt Wolf in the refrigerator and those beers were bottled last week. Those beers have a vibrant and enticing aroma which gets you salivating before you even take a sip.

Cheers!

 

Tree House Green.

Haven’t really topped it overall, over the many years.

 

For love of the beer and ease of access, Two Hearted. Less accessable is Pliny but equally as enjoyable. Short's Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is also equally enjoyable but it's gotten to the point that they brew it only every 3-4 years .

 

Troegs Perpetual as an always available go to IPA. So many others.........

 

Tropicalia has entered the chat.

 

I’ve had 1,456 IPA’s.

That’s like asking me to pick my favorite kid if I had 1,456 kids.

Wait …..

If you go by my ratings, it’s Surly Abrasive - but that’s from WELL before the bastages changed it (and not for the better). Next is King Sue - and that was DEFINITELY before the bastages changed it into a heavy hazy.

Next up is Softly Spoken Magic Spells, which in my taste recollection (I had it 6 years ago for the first time) would probably be my favorite - but I had it two other times a couple of years later, and it was great, but I’d say not my favorite.

I could say Sip o’ Sunshine or Dinner or Focal Banger, but those are “rare occurrence” beers for me, and if I’m picking a favorite out of a lotta beers, I think it should be something I enjoy at least semi-regularly.

When we lived in Minnesota and up until 2015 or so, that would’ve been Surly Furious - but then the bastages changed it (originally it had a Scottish malt that fit the bitingly bitter hops perfectly).

So I’ll go with Two Hearted, especially when it’s really fresh. It’s nicely bitter, with a substantial malt presence on my palate, and is consistently excellent, IMHO.

I better click “Post Reply” quickly or Imma change my mind AGAIN!!!

 

My favorite IPA is (almost) always the one I have in the glass

 

I just had a Double Two Hearted, I thought it was excellent, but its seasonal. I would say it's a toss up between Centennial and Two Hearted (side by side someday?), as they're available all the time usually 45 days old, and Crystal Lakes Slalom King is right up there, (local for me) as is Maximus. Another favorite seasonal is Big Daddy, also from Crystal Lake.

As a short side note, they were stocking Stone IPA today at the local grocer today so I grabbed a sixer, checked the date, it was 3/20/22. I put it back.

 

Most things from Fat Heads, Outer Range or Cerebral

 

I'd be proud to have 1,456 kids, all with different mothers of course, sound like something Donnie Johnnie would say.

 

White Rajah is my favorite IPA!

 

Bissell Brothers Swish

 

I would be very happy if I could have these in the fridge on a regular basis.
Alpine Nelson
Schafly Tasmanian
SN Celebration
Fat Head Head Hunter
Surely Axe Man
Bells Hopslam
RR Pliney the Elder
Lickinghole Creek Nuclear Nugget
Commonwealth Papi Chulo

 

I'm a big fan of Tired Hands Alien Church.