24 of the Best Black IPAs, Blind-Tasted and Ranked

Learn about how we rate & review beers with our BJCP blind panel here


Lagunitas Brewing Night Pils (80)

“Night Pils marries everything we know about making black IPA and Pils. The dark malt backbone brings notes of chocolate and dark fruits while the lager yeast provides a crisp, clean finish. The result is a beer that looks like a stout but drinks like a lager.”

Line Creek Brewing Gnarly Knucklehead (83)

"Hop forward and Roasty? A balancing act that is a pleasure to drink!"

Samuel Adams / Boston Beer Company Rebel Rider IPA (83)

“Bursting with bright citrus and tropical fruit notes of apricot and tangerine, with hints of pine and a slight resinous character, this IPA finishes with just enough subtle bitterness to bring you back for another sip.”

Green Flash Brewing Co. Soul Style IPA (84)

“Citra, Simcoe, and Cascade hops are layered, allowing bright tropical waves of citrus and floral notes to break gently on the palate. Get stoked on a laid back single and ride a wave to soothe your soul.”

Captain Fatty's Carry The Fire (86)

“Aromas of chocolate, piney citrus. Palate is dark chocolate, with an undertone of roastiness.”

Stoudts Queen of Hops Brut IPA (86)

Brewed using Pilsner and pale-ale malts and flaked rice for added dryness. Then dry hopped with loads of Citra, Amarillo, and Azacca for a pungent yet crisp flavor!

Mikerphone Brewing The Black IPA Parade (87)

“West Coast–style black India pale ale with Citra, Amarillo, Columbus hops.”

Pondaseta Brewing Co. I Seek A Darkness (87)

“Black IPA with notes of chocolate-covered oranges, pine, and an aggressive bitterness.”

Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Effortless IPA (88)

“Domestic and imported malts play the back seat to the loads of American-grown hops that were dumped into both the kettle and the fermentor. Dry hopped for a mouthwatering aroma with Mosaic and Palisade hops.”

Meanwhile Brewing Co. Icarus's Revenge (92)

“New World American hops wrapped in a black velvety malt blanket.”

Allusion Brewing As You Wish (92)

“Brewed with dark malts and Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe.”

Black Shirt Brewing Okul Wheat IPA (92)

Star fruit, melon, and watermelon rind. Dry hopped with Simcoe and Galaxy.

To Øl Sur Simcoe (92)

“At 4.5 percent ABV, this is sure to be a winner, a low pH means the beer stays fresher longer and offers everyone the chance to knock back glass after glass of session sour IPA.”

Eastlake Craft Brewery Nicollet Mauler Black IPA (93)

“A black IPA with notes of pine, rye, chocolate.”

New Belgium Brewing 1985 IPA (93)

"Like totally loaded with juicy mango flavor, 1985 takes you back to the future of hazy IPAs."

Oskar Blues Brewery Pinner Throwback IPA (93)

“With tropical fruits, citrus juices, pineapple, and spice berry up front in the aroma and flavor, the biscuit and toasted bread at the back balance out all the hops and make a great finish.”

Firestone Walker Brewing Co Wookey Jack Black Rye IPA (94)

“Big toasty malt flavors with balanced hop bitterness and spicy rye.”

Golden Road Brewing Co. Heal the Bay IPA (94)

“The straw colored malt body takes a back seat to the bright citrus and juicy, tropical hops contributions, making this the perfect IPA for the beach.”

Pax Verum Brewing Nectar of the Night (95)

“Brewed with Simcoe, Idaho 7, Citra Incognito, Citra Spectrum.”

Black Spruce Brewing Company Ice and Magic (95)

“Strata T-90 in whirlpool, dry hopped with Strata, Mosaic, Nelson Sauvin.”

Coronado Brewing Set West (97)

Set West IPA is single dry hopped and fermented with Cal Ale yeast for a lingering dryness and notes of sticky pine and ripe stone fruit. Laid back yet assertive. It’s West Coast through and through.

Absolution Brewing Co La Mort Noire (98)

“West Coast–style black IPA with midnight wheat and Simcoe, Columbus, Cascade, Mosaic, Amarillo hops.”

Wallenpaupack Brewing Company Lake Haze #15 (98)

Coffee Double IPA brewed with Mosaic & Sultana hops. Conditioned on Vanilla Bean & Black & Brass Coffee.

Black Spruce Brewing Company Aroma Dome (99)

“Citra- and El Dorado–driven IPA.”