What is the best India Pale Ale (IPA), and where can I purchase it?

Question

What is the best India Pale Ale (IPA), and where can I purchase it?

Answer 1

Some of the other posters have noted Dogfish Head.  I have to agree that make great beers.  I would contend however that neither of their beers are a true IPA.  The 90 minute (at 9% alcohol) is really a double IPA.  The 60 minute (at 6% alcohol) is somewhere in the middle of an IPA and a straight Pale ale.  To me, the ideal alcohol level of an IPA is between 6.5% and 7.5% abv.

Some of my favorites:

Bells Two Hearted (noted by other posters, this beer highlights Centennial hops like none other in the nation)

Brooklyn East India Pale Ale

Stone Ruination IPA

Alesmith IPA

Victory Hopdevil

Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale

IPA's used to be my favorite beer style.  Although, that has changed in recent years.  I still love this style.  These would be my 6 deserted island IPAs!

Answer 2

Delhi sorry if that is spelled wrong The Y!A Dictionary and I had a fight. And it  won.

Answer 3

Sierra Nevada

Answer 4

You can have lots of answers to this question. I personally think Dog Fish head makes a great IPA, a 60 and a 90. They are a small micro brewer out of Delaware but I see their beers in all sorts of stores now. If there is a specialty store in your area chances are they sell Dog Fish Head beers.

Answer 5

My personal favorite is the Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA. But Bell's Two Hearted comes in a close second.

DFH:

http://ratebeer.com/beer/dogfish-head-12...

Bell's:

http://ratebeer.com/Ratings/Beer/Beer-Ra...

As far as getting them... The DFH is available in any state they distribute in that doesn't have a limit on ABV...it's 21%. They are based in Delaware, but distribute to most of the country. The Bell's you pretty much have to live in the Midwest to get. They are based in Michegan and only distribute to the surrounding states...minus Illinois...effing horrible distribution laws.

EDIT:

Just had a Hoppin' Frog Hoppin to Heaven IPA the other night... so wonderful. Surprised I for got about it.

http://ratebeer.com/beer/hoppin-frog-hop...

I've been a fan of their Mean Manalishi for a while...heavier handed than the Heaven...wonderful in different ways.

http://ratebeer.com/beer/hoppin-frog-mea...

Answer 6

Again Mr Adam West answer is largely the same as mine.

While dogfish head puts out a great product, as far as a simple IPA goes, Bell's Two Hearted Ale is the best IMO.

Once you get into Double/Imperial IPA, that's more of a discussion.

Find a good liquor store in your area, maybe somewhere that specializes in quality liquors, wines an beers. You should be able to find one of several great IPA's

Answer 7

IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU LIVE,,REALBEER.COM WILL GIVE YOU THE NAMES OF ALMOST EVERY MICROBREWERY IN THE COUNTRY THAT MAKE ALL KINDS OF REALLY GOOD IPA.I LIVE IN MO AND THE LOCAL MICRO MAKES A IPA CALLED COPPERHEAD.IF YOU EVER GET TO ST LOUIS GO TO SCLAFFLYS AND TRY THE 3 IPAS THEY BREW