Calling all IPA lovers...what are your favorite 3?

Williams 728
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IPA's:

SN Ruthless Rye IPA
Lakeside IPA
Goose Island IPA
(Honorable Mention: Ranger)

IIPA's:

Stone Ruination
My Ruination-based (Nugget Empire).
DFH 90
 
Founder's Red's RyePA (not classic IPA I understand, but I'll take this one any day of the week)
Stone IPA
Goose Island IPA
 
There can be only one.
All the rest are not worthy.
In fact, you are not worthy.

~ Arrogant Bastard
 
We all want a tally, but nobody wants to do it all, so counting can be a collaboration. Here it is through just the first two pages of this thread. Somebody else can continue starting at page 3.

EIGHT VOTES:
Stone IPA

SIX VOTES:
Bells Two Hearted

FOUR VOTES:
Victory Hop Wallop
Pliny the Elder

THREE VOTES:
Victory Hop Devil
Stone Ruination

TWO VOTES:
Hopslam
Smuttynose IPA
Sierra Nevada Celebration
DFH 90
Bear Republic Racer 5
Goose Island IPA
Great Divide Hercules

ONE VOTE:
Southern Tier IPA
Ballast Point Big Eye
Avery's IPA
Dogfish Head 60
Sweetwater IPA
Leafer Madness
Hop Whallop
Meantime English IPA
Schlafly Export IPA
Bridgeport
Red Hook Longhammer
O'Dells: IPA
Left Hand: Warrior IPA
Abita Jockamo
Kashmir IPA
Hop15
West Coast IPA
Avery IPA
sam Smith IPA
Diamond Bear IPA
Short's Huma Lupa Licious
Arcadia IPA
Three Floyd's Alpha King
Caldera IPA
Ninkasi Total Domination IPA
Elysian Jasmine IPA
Southern Tier Gemini
 
Coming to a consensus by counting these votes does not technically define the best IPA, just the most popular. But it is still interesting to see the results.
 
I still haven't narrowed it down to 3 yet since my last post here a few years ago, but I am going to say that Alpine Nelson is definitely on my short list. Pliny, Heady Topper, and Sculpin are all contenders, too.
 
Here is the tally of the votes in the first 5 pages of this thread. Few surprises.

SIXTEEN VOTES:
Stone IPA

EIGHT VOTES:
Bells Two Hearted
Pliny the Elder

SEVEN VOTES:
DFH 90

SIX VOTES:
Stone Ruination

FIVE VOTES:
Victory Hop Wallop
Victory Hop Devil
Sierra Nevada Celebration

FOUR VOTES:
Goose Island IPA

THREE VOTES:
Smuttynose IPA
Bear Republic Racer 5
Acery’s IPA

TWO VOTES:
Great Divide Hercules
Dogfish Head 60
Sweetwater IPA
Southern Tier IPA

ONE VOTE:
Ballast Point Big Eye
Leafer Madnes
Meantime English IPA
Schlafly Export IPA
Bridgeport
Red Hook Longhammer
O'Dells: IPA
Left Hand: Warrior IPA
Abita Jockamo
Kashmir IPA
Hop15
West Coast IPA
sam Smith IPA
Diamond Bear IPA
Short's Huma Lupa Licious
Arcadia IPA
Three Floyd's Alpha King
Caldera IPA
Ninkasi Total Domination IPA
Elysian Jasmine IPA
Southern Tier Gemini
 
Pliny the Elder wins the 2012 votes... followed closely by Bell's Two Hearted, Goose Island IPA, Founders Red's Rye, and Stone Ruination
 
Kern River Citra DIPA
Pliny the Elder
Heady Topper

If No DIPA
Two Hearted
Union Jack
Torpedo
 
Just browsed through much of this discussion...

IPA, Double IPA, Extra IPA, Imperial IPA... whatever you want to call them.

Is it really that big of a deal to make a huge distinction between these styles in a simple forum discussion about Favorite IPAs?

If someone says Pliny or Heady Topper, why is it a big deal? Do you really have to point out, like a Ref with a stick up his butt, that those are technically not regular IPAs? ...Anyway, just a pet peeve of mine.
 
Here are the totals through page 15. Votes tallied through January 2010 (have a long ways to go). I have these in Excel and may go back some time in the next week or two to complete the list. Yeah there are a lot, thanks to all who voted obscure :)

Stone IPA 33
Bells Two Hearted 25
Pliny the Elder 22
Stone Ruination 20
DFH 90 17
Sierra Nevada Celebration 13
Bear Republic Racer 5 10
Dogfish Head 60 10
Sierra Nevada Torpedo 10
Goose Island IPA 8
Lagunitas IPA 7
Victory Hop Wallop 6
Bridgeport 6
Green Flash IPA 6
Russian River Blind Pig 6
Bells Hopslam 6
Victory Hop Devil 5
Smuttynose IPA 5
Sweetwater IPA 5
Flying Dog Snake Dog 5
O'Dells: IPA 4
Three Floyd's Alpha King 4
Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA 4
Acery’s IPA 3
Great Divide Hercules 3
Southern Tier IPA 3
Hop15 3
Arcadia IPA 3
Boundary Bay Inside Passage Ale 3
Avery IPA 3
Three Floyd's Dreadnaught 3
Lagunitas Hop Stoopid 3
Hop Ottin' 3
Rouge Yellow Snow IPA 3
Ballast Point Big Eye 2
Left Hand: Warrior IPA 2
Abita Jockamo 2
Short's Huma Lupa Licious 2
Ninkasi Total Domination IPA 2
Pliny the Younger 2
Founders Double Trouble 2
Saint Arnold's Elissa 2
Tyranena Bitter Woman IPA 2
Mountain Sun FYIPA 2
Alaskan IPA 2
Bittersweet Lenny IPA 2
New Holland Mad Hatter 2
Surly Furious 2
Moylan's HopSicle 2
Great Divide Titan IPA 2
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA 2
Leafer Madnes 1
Meantime English IPA 1
Schlafly Export IPA 1
Red Hook Longhammer 1
Kashmir IPA 1
West Coast IPA 1
sam Smith IPA 1
Diamond Bear IPA 1
Caldera IPA 1
Elysian Jasmine IPA 1
Southern Tier Gemini 1
Big Daddy IPA 1
Breckenridge 427 1
Bear Republic Hop Rod IPA 1
Bear Republic Apex 1
Kodiak IPA 1
Heavy Seas Loose Cannon 1
Northern Lights IPA 1
Big Sky IPA 1
Diamond Knot IPA 1
Deschutes Hop Henge IPA 1
New Glarus Hop Hearty IPA 1
Founders Centennial 1
Flossmoor Station X-IPA 1
Lakefront Brewery IPA 1
Summit IPA 1
Deschutes Red Chair 1
DFH Burton Baton 1
Troeggs Nugget Nectar 1
Stone Cali Belgique 1
Founders Devil Dancer Tripple IPA 1
Michigan High Seas IPA 1
Sierra Nevada Anniversary 1
Alesmith IPA 1
Boulder Mojo 1
India Beer 1
Hercules DIPA 1
Lagunitas Maximus 1
Terminal Gravity 1
GF West Coast 1
Scuttlebutt Gale Force 1
Boulevard Single-Wide IPA 1
Alpine Nelson Rye IPA 1
Sierra Nevada Wet Hop Harvest Ale 1
Hop Devil 1
Sixpoint Begali Tiger 1
Harpoon IPA 1
Firestone Union Jack 1
Pike 1
Ska Modus Hoperandi 1
Deschutes Inversion 1
Mikkeller Single Hop Sauvin 1
Rogue Brutal IPA 1
 
Here we are with all votes tallied through post #261. DIPA's, IPA's, Rye PA's, and APA's were all added. Results were tabulated even if there were more than 3, I didn't feel like reffing. Might be some duplicates, or brews that are named wrong. I don't have the extensive IPA background to get this perfect. Did learn about a lot of IPA's I have yet to try though :)

Bells Two Hearted 44
Stone IPA 41
RR-Pliny the Elder 37
DFH 90 31
Stone Ruination 27
Sierra Nevada Torpedo 22
Bear Republic Racer 5 19
Sierra Nevada Celebration 16
DFH 60 15
Bells Hopslam 13
Goose Island IPA 11
Victory Hop Devil 11
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA 10
Green Flash IPA 10
Victory Hop Wallop 10
RR-Blind Pig 9
Smuttynose IPA 9
Avery IPA 8
Lagunitas IPA 8
O'Dells: IPA 8
Bridgeport 7
Flying Dog Snake Dog 7
Sweetwater IPA 7
Firestone Union Jack 5
Founders Double Trouble 5
Great Divide Titan 5
Southern Tier IPA 5
Three Floyd's Alpha King 5
Boundary Bay Inside Passage Ale 4
Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA 4
Lagunitas Hop Stoopid 4
Lagunitas Maximus 4
Left Hand: Warrior IPA 4
New Belgium Ranger IPA 4
Ninkasi Total Domination IPA 4
Port Hop15 4
Surly Furious 4
Three Floyd's Dreadnaught 4
8 Wired Hopwired IPA 3
Alchemist Heady Topper 3
Alpine Nelson Rye IPA 3
Arcadia IPA 3
Ballast Point Big Eye 3
Bear Republic Hop Rod IPA 3
Deschutes Inversion 3
Founders Centennial 3
Founders Devil Dancer Tripple IPA 3
Founders Red Rye 3
Great Divide Hercules 3
Harpoon IPA 3
Hop Ottin' 3
Ithaca Flower Power 3
Moylan's HopSicle 3
New Holland Mad Hatter 3
Rouge Yellow Snow IPA 3
Terrapin Hopsecuitioner 3
Troeggs Nugget Nectar 3
Abita Jockamo 2
Alaskan IPA 2
Alesmith IPA 2
Bittersweet Lenny IPA 2
Boulevard Single-Wide IPA 2
Breckenridge 471 2
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA 2
Flying Dog Raging ***** 2
Hair of the Dog Blue Dot 2
Heavy Seas Loose Cannon 2
Lakefront Brewery IPA 2
Magic Hat Lucky Kat 2
Mikkeller Single Hop Sauvin 2
Mountain Sun FYIPA 2
Ninkasi Tricerahops 2
Red Hook Longhammer 2
RR-Pliny the Younger 2
Saint Arnold's Elissa 2
Schlafly Export IPA 2
Short's Huma Lupa Licious 2
Sierra Nevada Hoptimum 2
Sierra Nevada Wet Hop Harvest Ale 2
Ska Modus Hoperandi 2
Southern Tier Gemini 2
Speakeasy Double Daddy 2
Summit IPA 2
Terrapin Hopzilla 2
Tyranena Bitter Woman IPA 2
West Coast IPA 2
21A Hop Crisis 1
21st Ammendment Brew Free or Die 1
Acme California 1
Bear Republic Apex 1
Big Daddy IPA 1
Big Sky IPA 1
Black Raven Trickster 1
Blue Point 10th Anniversary IPA 1
Boulder Mojo 1
Boulevard Double Wide 1
Breckenridge 427 1
Brooklyn East IPA 1
Caldera IPA 1
Captian Lawrence Imperial IPA 1
Central City Red Racer IPA 1
DC Brau On the Wings of Arnageddon 1
Deschutes Hop Henge IPA 1
Deschutes Red Chair 1
DFH Burton Baton 1
DFH Squall 1
Diamond Bear IPA 1
Diamond Knot IPA 1
Elysian Jasmine IPA 1
Evolution #3 1
Firestone Walker IPA 1
Flossmoor Station X-IPA 1
Four Peaks Hop Knot 1
GF West Coast 1
Great Lakes Commodore Perry 1
Great Lakes Erie Monster 1
Henry's Short Lived IPA 1
Hercules DIPA 1
Hop Wallop 1
Ice Harbor 1
India Beer 1
Ipswich IPA 1
Kashmir IPA 1
Kern Just Outstanding 1
Kodiak IPA 1
Laguniatas Little Sumpin Wild 1
Leafer Madnes 1
Leefer Madness 1
Left Coast Hop Juice 1
Long Trail IPA 1
Loose Cannon 1
McMinamins Sunflower IPA 1
Meantime English IPA 1
Michigan High Seas IPA 1
Mikkeller 1000 IBU 1
New Glarus Hop Hearty IPA 1
Northern Lights IPA 1
Odell Mercinary 1
Pike 1
Port High Tide 1
Rocky Mountain IPA 1
Rogue Brutal IPA 1
Rogue Imperial IPA 1
Roots Woody IPA 1
Sam Smith IPA 1
Saranac Imperial IPA 1
Scuttlebutt Gale Force 1
Sierra Nevada Anniversary 1
Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA 1
Sixpoint Begali Tiger 1
Ska Euphoria 1
Stone Cali Belgique 1
Stone Subliminally Self Righteous 1
Summit Saga IPA 1
Terminal Gravity 1
Terrapin Big Hoppy Monster 1
Town Hall Masala Moma 1
Walking Man Imperial IPA 1
Waschusett IPA 1
Weyerbacher Double Simcoe 1
Yards Philly Pale Ale 1
Mikkeler 19 1
Stone Arrogant Bastard 1
Epic New Zealand 1
Kern River Citra 1
Alpine Duet 1
 
solbes said:
Here we are with all votes tallied through post #261. DIPA's, IPA's, Rye PA's, and APA's were all added. Results were tabulated even if there were more than 3, I didn't feel like reffing. Might be some duplicates, or brews that are named wrong. I don't have the extensive IPA background to get this perfect. Did learn about a lot of IPA's I have yet to try though :)
Click to expand...

yea I think a lot of this has to do with region. I can't get Russian river, ballast point, 3 Floyd's, surly or some others in Missouri. They could be great, just can't get em.
 
solbes said:
Here we are with all votes tallied through post #261...
Click to expand...

My friend, YOU ROCK!!! :rockin:

I'm thinking about starting a poll with the top 10 or 15 or so from this list and see what happens. BUT region issues might skew things. Like some others, I can't get many west coast beers here in the Michigan.
 
After many, many Pliny the Elder tastings and also having been a huge fan.... I have declared Hair of the Dog Blue Dot the greatest IPA i have ever had. Didnt see it on the list. Cheers. SW

Update: I saw there has been 2 votes for Blue dot. Atta Boys.
 
solbes said:
Here we are with all votes tallied through post #261. DIPA's, IPA's, Rye PA's, and APA's were all added. Results were tabulated even if there were more than 3, I didn't feel like reffing. Might be some duplicates, or brews that are named wrong. I don't have the extensive IPA background to get this perfect. Did learn about a lot of IPA's I have yet to try though :)

Bells Two Hearted 44
Stone IPA 41
RR-Pliny the Elder 37
DFH 90 31
Stone Ruination 27
Sierra Nevada Torpedo 22
Bear Republic Racer 5 19
Sierra Nevada Celebration 16
DFH 60 15
Bells Hopslam 13
Goose Island IPA 11
Victory Hop Devil 11
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA 10
Green Flash IPA 10
Victory Hop Wallop 10
RR-Blind Pig 9
Smuttynose IPA 9
Avery IPA 8
Lagunitas IPA 8
O'Dells: IPA 8
Bridgeport 7
Flying Dog Snake Dog 7
Sweetwater IPA 7
Firestone Union Jack 5
Founders Double Trouble 5
Great Divide Titan 5
Southern Tier IPA 5
Three Floyd's Alpha King 5
Boundary Bay Inside Passage Ale 4
Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA 4
Lagunitas Hop Stoopid 4
Lagunitas Maximus 4
Left Hand: Warrior IPA 4
New Belgium Ranger IPA 4
Ninkasi Total Domination IPA 4
Port Hop15 4
Surly Furious 4
Three Floyd's Dreadnaught 4
8 Wired Hopwired IPA 3
Alchemist Heady Topper 3
Alpine Nelson Rye IPA 3
Arcadia IPA 3
Ballast Point Big Eye 3
Bear Republic Hop Rod IPA 3
Deschutes Inversion 3
Founders Centennial 3
Founders Devil Dancer Tripple IPA 3
Founders Red Rye 3
Great Divide Hercules 3
Harpoon IPA 3
Hop Ottin' 3
Ithaca Flower Power 3
Moylan's HopSicle 3
New Holland Mad Hatter 3
Rouge Yellow Snow IPA 3
Terrapin Hopsecuitioner 3
Troeggs Nugget Nectar 3
Abita Jockamo 2
Alaskan IPA 2
Alesmith IPA 2
Bittersweet Lenny IPA 2
Boulevard Single-Wide IPA 2
Breckenridge 471 2
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA 2
Flying Dog Raging ***** 2
Hair of the Dog Blue Dot 2
Heavy Seas Loose Cannon 2
Lakefront Brewery IPA 2
Magic Hat Lucky Kat 2
Mikkeller Single Hop Sauvin 2
Mountain Sun FYIPA 2
Ninkasi Tricerahops 2
Red Hook Longhammer 2
RR-Pliny the Younger 2
Saint Arnold's Elissa 2
Schlafly Export IPA 2
Short's Huma Lupa Licious 2
Sierra Nevada Hoptimum 2
Sierra Nevada Wet Hop Harvest Ale 2
Ska Modus Hoperandi 2
Southern Tier Gemini 2
Speakeasy Double Daddy 2
Summit IPA 2
Terrapin Hopzilla 2
Tyranena Bitter Woman IPA 2
West Coast IPA 2
21A Hop Crisis 1
21st Ammendment Brew Free or Die 1
Acme California 1
Bear Republic Apex 1
Big Daddy IPA 1
Big Sky IPA 1
Black Raven Trickster 1
Blue Point 10th Anniversary IPA 1
Boulder Mojo 1
Boulevard Double Wide 1
Breckenridge 427 1
Brooklyn East IPA 1
Caldera IPA 1
Captian Lawrence Imperial IPA 1
Central City Red Racer IPA 1
DC Brau On the Wings of Arnageddon 1
Deschutes Hop Henge IPA 1
Deschutes Red Chair 1
DFH Burton Baton 1
DFH Squall 1
Diamond Bear IPA 1
Diamond Knot IPA 1
Elysian Jasmine IPA 1
Evolution #3 1
Firestone Walker IPA 1
Flossmoor Station X-IPA 1
Four Peaks Hop Knot 1
GF West Coast 1
Great Lakes Commodore Perry 1
Great Lakes Erie Monster 1
Henry's Short Lived IPA 1
Hercules DIPA 1
Hop Wallop 1
Ice Harbor 1
India Beer 1
Ipswich IPA 1
Kashmir IPA 1
Kern Just Outstanding 1
Kodiak IPA 1
Laguniatas Little Sumpin Wild 1
Leafer Madnes 1
Leefer Madness 1
Left Coast Hop Juice 1
Long Trail IPA 1
Loose Cannon 1
McMinamins Sunflower IPA 1
Meantime English IPA 1
Michigan High Seas IPA 1
Mikkeller 1000 IBU 1
New Glarus Hop Hearty IPA 1
Northern Lights IPA 1
Odell Mercinary 1
Pike 1
Port High Tide 1
Rocky Mountain IPA 1
Rogue Brutal IPA 1
Rogue Imperial IPA 1
Roots Woody IPA 1
Sam Smith IPA 1
Saranac Imperial IPA 1
Scuttlebutt Gale Force 1
Sierra Nevada Anniversary 1
Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA 1
Sixpoint Begali Tiger 1
Ska Euphoria 1
Stone Cali Belgique 1
Stone Subliminally Self Righteous 1
Summit Saga IPA 1
Terminal Gravity 1
Terrapin Big Hoppy Monster 1
Town Hall Masala Moma 1
Walking Man Imperial IPA 1
Waschusett IPA 1
Weyerbacher Double Simcoe 1
Yards Philly Pale Ale 1
Mikkeler 19 1
Stone Arrogant Bastard 1
Epic New Zealand 1
Kern River Citra 1
Alpine Duet 1
Click to expand...

You forgot my vote for Avery Maharaja
 
I enjoy Stone Ruination
Bells Hop Slam
Three Floyds Dreadnaught
Sierra Nevade Torpedo, Ruthless Rye, IPA
Bear Republic Racer 5
Green Flash IPA
DFH 60,90,120
Modus Hoporandi
Firestone Walker Wookie Jack, Union Jack
New Holland Mad Hatter Imperial Barrel aged
Thats all I can think of that I have had in the past couple months that I have truely enjoyed.
 
DFH 90 Minute
Russian River Pliny the Elder
Sixpoint Resin

I see the Resin didn't make the list. Really? Very interesting.
 
1. Racer 5
2. Dogfish 60 min.
3. Founders Centennial IPA
4. Victory Hop Devil
5. Ithaca Flower Power

Yeah I did 5, because let's face it...3 is not enough
 
So many yet to try. These are my current favorites:

Golden Nugget IPA (Toppling Goliath)
Captain's Reserve IIPA (Captain Lawrence)
Bell's Two Hearted
 

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