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Five on Five: Brewers Pick Their Favorite IPAs

Few styles have evolved faster than IPA. In this era of softness, haze, and rethought, fruit-forward West Coast iterations, what beers do brewers themselves like to drink? We asked five for their faves.

Craft Beer & Brewing Staff Dec 20, 2020 - 4 min read

Five on Five: Brewers Pick Their Favorite IPAs Primary Image

Photos, From Left: Jamie Bogner; Dino Funari; Courtesy Smuttynose Brewing; Courtesy sally Morrow Creative; courtesy Finback

Few styles have evolved faster than IPA. Much of what sells in this hugely popular category is virtually unrecognizable compared to the beers that defined it a mere decade ago. But in this era of softness, haze, and rethought fruit-forward West Coast iterations, what beers do brewers themselves like to drink? We asked five for their faves.

Highland Park Hello LA

Evan Price, co-owner and brewer, Green Cheek Beer in Orange, California
“Drinking Bob’s beers might just make you rethink your profession. The guy is good at making every beer style, which is absolute bullshit, and this clear and bitter IPA from him is no different. Punchy on the aromatics and flavor, with a firm bitterness that is never harsh. Dude is one of the greats. I give up.”

Widowmaker Blue Comet

Dino Funari, cofounder, Vitamin Sea Brewing in Weymouth, Massachusetts
“Blue Comet from Widowmaker Brewing in Braintree, Massachusetts, is an IPA that I search out whenever they release it. We’re fortunate that they are close by to us, so we get our hands on it regularly. Packed with Simcoe, Comet, and a kiss of Citra hops, it’s like a NEIPA with West Coast roots. Two-row, white wheat, flaked oats, and Golden Promise round out the malt bill to produce a crisp, clean, easy-drinking IPA. Don’t sleep on this up-and-coming brewery!”

Smuttynose Finestkind

Noah Bissell, cofounder, Bissell Brothers Brewery in Portland, Maine
“Smuttynose Finestkind forcibly opened my eyes to the wonders of hops, and honestly never got the measure of acclaim it warrants. It sits perfectly in the middle of East and West Coast style, raw in all the ways, with an elusive dryness most beers only dream to have.”

Mountains Walking Nelson Sauvin Cloud Curtain

Mark Hastings, Director of Brewing Operations, Überbrew/By All Means Brew Lab in Billings, Montana
“It’s a big beer, but it drinks soft and smooth, especially on a warm day like today in Montana. It goes down nice and easy, and you can get in trouble with the 8.5-percent ABV. It’s hazy, but I wouldn’t put it as sweet, and at 20 IBUs is a gentle giant. I’m an aroma guy, so if I’m falling in love with it, it’s got a big aroma. I’ve always loved Nelson Sauvin, and that hop variety makes it easy drinking, with big aromatics but no hop burn, no bite. I’ve had it at least six times in the last few months.”

Finback Oscillation

Karl Volstad, owner/head brewer, Civil Society Brewing in Jupiter, Florida
“The Oscillation series from Finback is always one of my favorites to drink. Those guys are continually pushing the boundaries of what hoppy beers can be. We have brewed with them multiple times and come away with a wealth of knowledge each time.”

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