Happy National IPA Day! You may have already noticed, but we’ve been giving hops their humble (laugh) due for the past couple of weeks to celebrate this revered holiday. A day that pays homage to every single version of these hoppy ales—American IPA, West Coast IPA, hazy IPA, double hazy IPA, sour IPA, black IPA, Cold IPA, Brut IPA, Belgian IPA, brett IPA, English IPA, farmhouse IPA, DIPA, TIPA, quad IPA, milkshake IPA, New Zealand IPA, and more.
Last week, we showed you a banger: “Untappd’s All-Time Top-Rated Imperial New England-Style / Hazy IPAs.”
And we’re not stopping there. All month long, you’ll see us dropping big-time Untappd lists, profiles of some of the hoppiest gangsters and iconic beers, a revival of our beloved “Beers Available in Most Stores Near You,” and IPA pairing guides.
Welcome to hoppy heaven. You’re welcome.
Let’s keep the Lupulin party bumping with another Untappd list that slaps (your tongue): The Top 10 All-Time Top-Rated American IPAs.
One must bow down to a style we consider the foundation of the American craft beer movement. We have greats like Ken Grossman’s Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Fritz Maytag’s Liberty Ale, and Firestone Walker’s Union Jack to thank for turning brewers in the direction of hoppy = happy. (Don’t believe us? Just look at what some of the best brewers in the country count as their first life-changing IPA).
Good ol’ American IPAs are best fresh, right from the source. They express beautiful floral, fruity, citrus characters piled on top of a piney, dank, bitter backbone. Hop-forward with a clean fermentation profile, American IPAs finish dryer for a substantial-bodied beer that stands as strong as a California redwood tree (which, fun fact, is known for living more than 2,000 years).
And, although this style is still “fairly new” in the scheme of things, we’re guessing American IPAs will continue to age wisely (although not in the can or bottle) and pile up the “tree rings” for years to come.
At the end of the day, American IPAs have a special place in all our hearts.
Look, we’re not going to lie. Pretty much one brewery dominates this list. But hey, as we always say, this list is based on factual data via Untappd check-ins. We’d love to hear what beers you think should make this list. Hit us up on Instagram (@hopculturemag) and let us know!
Untappd’s All-Time Top-Rated Imperial New England-Style / Hazy IPAs
Editor’s Note: These are not Hop Culture’s personal ratings. This list is based on Untappd’s ratings on the American IPA. The list shows the top beers based on Untappd’s weighted average formula, which effectively rates all beers against each other. A beer must have 150 ratings or more to qualify for this list. For more information on our rating system, please view the Untappd ratings explainer.
We’re simply reporting on Untappd’s list based on statistics from check-ins from people all around the world.
Jjjuliusss | Tree House Brewing Company
Charlton, MA
Tree House took Julius to the moon and back with its coveted third-anniversary edition—Jjjuliusss. “We pushed the levels of citrus to the fringes of obscenity through additional kettle and dry hopping with the base Julius hop blend,” Tree House writes in the beer’s Untappd description. “The result is perhaps the most juicy and delectable creation we have ever made!”
People agree, with this celebration version of the iconic Julius landing the number one spot on the list. Out of a whopping 54,490 ratings, Jjjuliusss maintains an epic 4.56 rating on Untappd. The mind-blown emoji just doesn’t do this beer justice.
Julius – Tree House Brewing Company
Charlton, MA
Seems reasonable to find the original Julius rocking the second spot on this list. Tree House’s flagship American IPA bursts with tropical American hops, giving this iconic beer pops of mango, peach, and passionfruit.
Like most of Tree House’s hoppy ales, Julius drinks with a dreamy, creamy mouthfeel that “ensures Julius will never tire the palate,” writes Tree House. “A true joy to drink!”
With almost triple the ratings as the aforementioned Jjjuliusss (154,328), Tree Houses’ original American IPA sits just .08 points shy of nabbing the top spot (4.48).
When we think of American IPAs and this entire style, Julius always comes to mind. This is a classic that can do no wrong.
Double Dry Hopped Congress Street – Trillium Brewing Company
Canton, MA
One of the only breweries to inch itself amongst the Tree House greats in the top ten, Trillium’s Double Dry Hopped Congress Street takes the original Congress Street IPA and revs everything up a little bit.
A study in Galaxy, DDH Congress Street reeks of nectarine, mango, and grapefruit paired alongside earthy pine tar and fresh-cut grass. A velvety mouthfeel and soft carbonation round things out to make sure this beer stays balanced through every sip.
Knocking down 34,007 ratings on Untappd, this American IPA shares the spotlight with Julius with an average 4.48 rating. You’re in good company, my friend!
Curiosity Thirty Four* – Tree House Brewing Company
Charlton, MA
Unlike Tree House’s previous two beers that appear on this list, Curiosity Thirty Four is no longer in production. Tree House imagined this beer transitioning between the colder and warmer New England months.
According to the brewery, Warrior, Simcoe, Amarillo, Citra, and Columbus hops give this 4.44-rated beer notes of “papaya, pineapple, sweet orange, and a hint of honeydew melon.”
Tree House calls Curiosity Thirty Four “a beer fit for a tropical excursion or a sunny day in the backyard.” If you need some time away, a staycation of sorts, this beer whisks you away.
*This beer is no longer in production.
Green – Tree House Brewing Company
Charlton, MA
Another one of Tree House’s big three IPAs (up there with Julius and Haze), Green is a team favorite at Tree House.
Considered a cross-continental IPA, Green uses both Australian and American hops for an IPA erupting with spritzy lemon soda, juicy pineapple, and creamy tangerine gelato. Also, in part, thanks to a big kettle and dry hop.
No sense in beating around the Green bush; this 4.42-star American IPA is a worthy beer to round out the top five.
Hundred Thousand Trillion* – Trillium Brewing Company
Canton, MA
When Trillium and Other Half team up to make a beer 99.9 percent of the time, it will be epic. Case and point: Hundred Thousand Trillion.
A beer with swagger, this limited-edition American IPA may have only garnered 3.4k ratings but knocked out a legendary 4.41 average rating. Probably thanks to the crazy mid-fermentation addition of mangos, peaches, and apricots.
As Trillium writes in the beer’s Untappd description, “Crisp. Fruity. Citrusy. Hazy, No Exaggeration Necessary.”
*This beer is no longer in production.
Doubleganger Guava – Tree House Brewing Company
Charlton, MA
Keeping the tropical train chugging, Doubleganger Guava takes Tree House’s Doubleganger base and adds a massive amount of guava.
“The result,” writes Tree House, “is a hop-saturated, juicy hop treat that is sure to be refreshing and delicious on a humid day.
Curiosity Twenty Two – Tree House Brewing Company
Charlton, MA
Tree House notes three things that inspired the development of Curiosity Twenty Two: “A fresh lot of Amarillo hops, a renewed sense of focus for coaxing character out of our house yeast strain, and a wonderful piece of artwork by our friend Dean McKeever.”
Pouring a ravishing hazy orange, this 4.4-star American IPA douses your nostrils in stone and tropical fruit—scarlet peach, pink pineapple, yellow watermelon, and mangosteen (yes, those are all real fruits. Look it up!).
Although Tree House typically brews its Curiosity beers on a smaller scale, Twenty Two got a bit of a more extensive run, so its 3,167 ratings eke out Thirty Four’s 2,689. However, the beer’s 4.4-star rating didn’t quite catch up to its slightly higher brethren, falling to eighth place.
Focal Banger – The Alchemist
Stowe,VT
The Joker has Harley Quinn; Scobby Doo has Shaggy; Batman has Robin. Even the most iconic heroes and villains have sidekicks. Which is why we love seeing Focal Banger on this list because, yes, Heady Topper is an incredible beer, but so is this American IPA that’s often overshadowed by its epic counterpart.
Despite the hypeness of Heady Topper, Focal Banger actually holds its own as a bangin’ beer, nabbing 2.7k five-star check-ins on Untappd last year.
Featuring Citra and Mosaic hops, Focal Banger pours a gorgeous, slightly hazy yellow with tropical fruit and honeydew aromas.
With 90 IBUs, Focal Banger is definitely more assertive in bitterness. However, it mellows out with equally punchy grapefruit and pineapple flavors.
Making this list proves that Focal Banger is way more than just a beer sidekick.
Alter Ego – Tree House Brewing Company
Charlton, CA
Another member of the Julius family, Alter Ego, rounds out Untappd’s top ten list here with its 77,267 ratings and 4.39 average.
Tree House adds a fair amount of Mosaic and just a hint of Amarillo to the dry hop to create a beer that has echoes of Julius but punches through with its own pungent identity. Hence, Alter Ego, right?
This beer may have roots in Julius, but it genuinely stands on its own.
As Tree House writes, “Alter Ego has become a truly singular member of the Tree House family.
Looking for more?
