IPA Week (or so) on Year of Beer

Over the next eight days, I’ll be sampling eight different IPAs (India Pale Ales), a style known for its hop-forward flavor.  Just as in the hip-hop world of music, there is an East Coast vs West Coast rivalry in the hip-HOP world of brewing when it comes to IPAs.  In general, West Coast IPAs are known for being more aggressively hopped, for having higher IBUs (International Bitterness Units), and for a more “in-your-face” and on-your-palate hop presence.  Of course, these are just generalizations, and both highly hopped and well-balanced examples of the style appear on both coasts (and in the middle as well).  Here are the beers I’ll be sampling in the days ahead:

• Ithaca Flower Power IPA
• Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA
• Smuttynose Finest Kind IPA
• Stone IPA
• New Holland Mad Hatter IPA
• 21st Amendment Brew Free or Die IPA
• Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
• Green Flash West Coast IPA
• Captain’s Reserve Imperial IPA

In the epic battle between coasts, who will prevail?  Drink along with me, feel free to share your thoughts in the “Comments” section, and let your taste decide.

Cheers!

Keith