Justine Sterling
Before you beer nerds get angry with me, this is an article about the best IPA beer you can find at the grocery store. So you won’t see Heady Topper on this list, nor will Pliny the Younger be making an appearance. This is a ranking of the best IPAs you can easily find in a grocery store.
Also, I want you to know that pretty much every beer I tasted was good and something I would buy again—or at least not turn down if someone offered me a can. But the eight listed below were the ones that really wowed me. They were the IPAs that I would earnestly urge beer drinkers to drink if they hadn’t tried them yet. And they’re the IPAs I would point IPA-curious folks to, as well, as a means of introducing them to the category.
What I looked for in the best IPA
Here’s what I looked for: defined hop flavors (IPA—aka India pale ale—is characterized by the hop-forward profile), gulpability (IPAs should be a pleasure rather than a challenge to drink), and uniqueness (if it tasted like a billion other IPAs I’ve tried, I threw it out).
What’s new in this ranking
In our most recent IPA taste test, we tried some new IPAs on the market and also searched for the best light IPA. You’ll find that, as well as the best non-alcoholic IPA we’ve ever had, plus an all new number one best IPA. It’s a classic that we didn’t try in our initial taste test. But we fixed that and we were rewarded with a truly perfect IPA.
I fully expect to get screamed at in the comments (I also am outraged that Founders All Day didn’t make the list! But it was edged out!) and I will continue to reassess this selection with new brews. But right now, I stand by these eight. This is the definitive (for now) ranking of the best IPA beers you can buy at the supermarket.
Best IPA Beers, Ranked
- Brewdog 95
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Brewdog is kinda known for its super IPA-y IPAs, but their light IPA doesn’t just go light on the calories it also goes light on the hops. To me, this tastes like peach. But not peach soda. It has a very gentle peach flavor that meshes well with the mild malt and hops flavors. It’s way more flavorful than most of the other light beers I tasted (and I tasted a lot for our best light beer ranking). It’s not necessarily the best IPA for serious IPA lovers who need hoppy F-ing hops, but at just 95 calories (hence the name), it’s the best IPA for folks craving a light beer that still falls in the hazy IPA category.
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
- Sierra Nevada Trail Pass IPA
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One of the best non-alcoholic beers you can buy, period, this NA Sierra Nevada IPA is hoppy and delightfully bitter. It packs just as much pine and Alpine flavors as a regular Sierra Nevada IPA. If you tasted this blindfolded I’m not sure you would know it was non-alcoholic beer. It’s for sure the best IPA if you’re skipping booze.
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
- Elysian Space Dust IPA
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Even at 8.2% ABV, this powerful IPA is extremely drinkable. It’s so drinkable that it’s sold in a tall-boy can. Buy one of those and you have quite an afternoon ahead of you. It smells like a brewery—like someone just added fresh hops to the mash. It’s on the drier side of the spectrum and tastes like the best IPA beer for a real hop nerd. I’m talking about someone who wants to nosh like a billy goat on fresh hops. That said, it’s not too astringent or bitter and it won’t wipe out your palate.
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
- Lagunitas IPA
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Disclaimer: Lagunitas is based very close to my hometown, so I have a bit of a bias toward the brand and its apple-tinged IPA. But I dare you to tell me it’s not one of the best IPAs you can find in the grocery store. It is just plain delightful. It leans into both the malt and the hops but goes easy on the bitterness, making it a great entry point for beginners. It doesn’t punch you in the face with hops, but gently caresses your cheek with a grassy twang.
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
- Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
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I remember when Bell’s first made its way into New York City bodegas and beer stores. It was a revelation. Such craft. Such polished flavors. So I was glad to find it still holds up when I revisited the brand’s most celebrated IPA. It has a delicious citrus flavor—almost like you expressed orange zest into the bottle. It keeps your tongue tingling. If nothing else, I’m glad this best IPA taste test reminded me how damn good this beer is.
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
- Bear Republic Racer 5
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Here’s the best IPA to drink all day long. Bear Republic Racer 5 has fine bubbles and a touch of fruity apricot flavor that makes it extremely easy to drink. There’s a touch of fall spices in the mix, as well. It tastes like sitting around a campfire in Upstate New York on a crisp October evening. It tastes like a puffy vest over a cozy flannel. It tastes like kicking back with absolutely nothing to do. Who doesn’t want that?
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
- Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
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Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA is refreshing, with a mix of citrusy hops that’s balanced by malt. It’s just a nice, straight down the middle IPA with a lovely bitter note that runs all the way through but doesn’t coat your palate. It’s hard to say anything bad about it. Go on, I dare ya. If you’re wondering why it’s called 60 Minute, it’s not because that’s how long it will take you to drink it (that’s closer to 60 seconds). It’s called that because during the boil stage of brewing, they boil the mash for 60 minutes while continuously adding hops, so you get an even distribution of hop aroma and flavor in the end product. Something else I appreciate: Dogfish Head 60 Minute doesn’t take sides when it comes to IPA geography—it’s not a West Coast style and it’s not a hazy New England IPA. It’s IPA, classic. Until our most recent taste test it was our number one—and it’s still the best IPA to buy if you want a slightly lower ABV (it’s around 6%).
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
- Brewdog Punk IPA
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This is a pretty perfect IPA. It has a hint of fruit—I taste tangy, juicy nectarine—but not too much, and then it’s balanced by citrusy, grassy hops. It’s not too bitter. It’s easy drinking. I get the hype! The best IPA shouldn’t be a challenge to your taste buds—it should be a pleasure. And Punk IPA is a true pleasure to sip. It’s just complex enough and it’s 7.5%, which may be a touch strong for some, but I think that’s about right for a real IPA. Welcome to the number one spot, Punk!
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
Best Light IPA
Best Non-Alcoholic IPA
Best Ultra Hoppy IPA
Best IPA for Beginners
Best Orange Zesty IPA
Best IPA for Day Drinking
Runner-Up Best IPA
Best of the Best
Other IPA beers we tried:
Stone IPA, New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA, Stone Delicious IPA, Founders All Day IPA, Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA, Deschutes Fresh Haze IPA, Cigar City Jai Alai, Goose Island IPA, Founders Mortal Bloom Variety Pack, Brewdog Hazy Jane, Brewdog Elvis Juice, Firestone Mind Haze Cosmic Crusher, Firestone Mind Haze Brain Melter, Firestone Mind Haze Hazy Tropical, Dogfish Head 30 Minute Light IPA, Dogfish Head Grateful Dead Juicy Pale Ale
Gwynedd Stuart
Jessica Block
