IPA subcategories dominated entries at the International Beer and Cider Awards this year.
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The best IPA gold medal winners in various IPA subcategories were recently announced at this year’s International Beer and Cider Awards. In early June, judges tasted 1436 entries at this year’s competition held in Idaho Falls. The competition divided IPAs into 10 categories that celebrate a diverse range of hop-forward beers ranging from English-style IPAs to experimental IPAs and the ever-popular hazy IPAs. As expected, breweries entered more IPAs in the category than other styles.
“IPA entries continue to dominate the competition,” Lisa Smith, vice president of the North American Brewers Association, which runs the competition, told me via email.
As is standard for beer competitions, only three medals are awarded per category: gold, silver and bronze. Though the competition is open to breweries across the globe, American-made craft beers dominated the IPA category. West Coast breweries had a good showing but were not the only states represented, as can sometimes be the case with IPA categories at beer competitions.
One thing I love about the International Beer and Cider Awards is the diversity of IPA offerings mentioned above. I remain a big fan of the IPA style overall, but even I grow tired of endless variations of hazy IPA offerings, though very few things in life beat a well-done one. The IPAs below vary in taste, style and appearance but were all deemed the best of the best in their respective categories.
The World’s Best IPAs
Best English Style Pale Ale/English Style India Pale Ale
Prickly Pear Lewis & Clark Brewing Company Helena, MT
Best Session India Pale Ale
Helper Beer, Mindset extra Pale ale Helper Beer Helper, Utah
American-Style India Pale Ale
Citra Starburst, TapRoom Beer Co., San Diego, CA
West Coast India Pale Ale
Punk Rock Time IPA, Baerlic Brewing Co., Portland, OR
New Zealand or Australian-Style India Pale Ale
Wastelandia, Grains of Wrath Camas, WA
Double or Imperial India Pale Ale
Breakside Kyoto Soul, Breakside Brewery Milwaukie, Portland, OR
Flavored, Specialty, or Experimental India Pale Ale
Featherweight Light IPA, Mother Earth Brew Co., Nampa, Idaho
Hazy Pale Ale/Hazy Session IPA
Take Me to the River, Meanwhile Brewing Co., Austin, Texas
Hazy or Juicy India Pale Ale
Albumurky, Boxing Bear Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM
Hazy or Juicy Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
Fukiphino, Redrock Brewing, Salt Lake City, Utah
Finding Elite IPAs
Unfortunately, many of these IPA award winners are regional specialties. If you’re interested in a particular IPA, however, you should contact the brewery and see if they ship their beer or have plans to distribute to an area near you. Most of these breweries are also located in wonderful places to visit, so it’s a good excuse for a beer-centric trip. I’m also a big believer that the best IPA is often the one that’s brewed closest to you. So if a certain sub-type of IPA appeals to you, tell the staff at your local brewery and see if they make anything like it or have recommendations for where you might find it nearby. As I’ve said before, the best IPAs I’ve had include award winning brews as well as obscure IPAs I’ve found fresh on draft in taprooms near my home.
