Photo: Chef Fresco
Summer is over, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop drinking IPAs. Just because the beer is more suited for hot, sticky summer days than mellow, crisp fall evenings, doesn’t mean that you have to stop buying them immediately in favor of darker beers like marzens, strong ales, stouts and harvest ales.
Also: Try These Eight Beers At Your Oktoberfest Party
We rounded up the best IPAs you can drink to help bridge the gap between summer and fall.
Todd the Axe Man (Surly)
Brewed in Collaboration with Amager Brewery in Denmark, Todd the Axe Man is a 7.2% ABV American IPA with hints of pine needles and grapefruit.
Sculpin IPA (Ballast Point)
Ballast Point has really gained in popularity in the last few years, mostly because everything they produce is amazing. That starts with their Sculpin, a 7% ABV, 70 IBU IPA that has won numerous awards for its crisp, fruit-filled flavor.
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Project Dank (La Cumbre)
Albuquerque, New Mexico isn’t widely known for its craft beer scene. La Cumbre is out to change that. Their IPA, Project Dank, is 7.5% ABV and contains “a lot” of IBUs and more than eight different varieties of hops.
All Green Everything (The Other Half)
This is a serious IPA. At 10.5% ABV, this Triple IPA isn’t for those without a hop-heavy palate. The Brooklyn brewery has only been producing beer since 2014, but already has somewhat of a cult following in the beer-geek world.
Lunch (Maine Beer Company)
You might hear the name of this brew and think, “beer for lunch sounds pretty good”. But, that’s not what the name means at all. This 7% ABV IPA is named for a famous whale that was seen off the coast of Maine in the early 80s. Another animal took a bite out of one of her fins and she got the nickname “lunch”. They made the beer to honor her and the fact that she didn’t stop swimming around even though she was missing a fin.
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AleSmith IPA (AleSmith)
This IPA is a San Diego classic at 7.25% ABV and 73 IBUs. San Diego area breweries know how to make West Coast IPAs and this is one of the best. It’s teeming with citrus and pine flavors with just the right amount of bitterness at the end.
Blind Pig (Russian River)
Russian River is home to two of the most sought ever beers (Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger) as well as a ton of other amazing brews. Everyone knows that they know how to make great IPAs. The 6.25% ABV Blind Pig is the perfect IPA to enjoy while you watch the leaves change.
Two Hearted Ale (Bell’s)
This IPA is one of the most popular Beers Bell’s makes. This is one of the most crushable, easy drinking IPAs around. You should be careful though, because the 7% ABV will sneak up on you.
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Hop Rod Rye (Bear Republic)
This 8% ABV IPA is known for its extremely high gravity and the fact that it was brewed with 18% rye malt, giving it a spicy, citrus, sweet flavor.
Odell IPA (Odell)
This 7% ABV IPA is Odell’s idea of the Americanization of the original IPAs the British would bring with them to India in the 18th century. They added hops only found in the US to give it a distinct, American flavor.
