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Top 68 Double IPAs (DIPAs)
Double IPAs (also known as DIPAs) and its lower-ABV forerunners, American IPAs, are two of the most popular styles in the world of craft beer. All over the world, people just can’t seem to get enough of that glistening, hoppy liquid that emanates aromas of resin, tropical fruit and a general dankness topped off with a lip-smacking bitterness that keeps drinkers coming back for more.
Though many new styles of “out-there” Double IPAs have sprung up in every corner of the globe – fruited, sour, milkshake, barrel-aged, unfiltered – the original Double IPA, “An intensely hoppy, fairly strong pale ale,” according to the BJCP’s 2015 Style Guidelines, is still the most recognizable example of this ubiquitous style.
In honor of the 1,995th anniversary of Pliny the Elder’s birth year (the Roman philosopher whose name inspired the very first Double IPA ever – Russian River Brewing Co.’s Pliny the Elder), we’ve highlighted the Top 68 Double IPAs that we’ve ever reviewed here at The Beer Connoisseur.
Disclaimer: As usual, this list is very much non-exhaustive and limited only to Double IPAs that our beer judges have reviewed, as there are more Double IPAs in the world than there are stars in the sky (no research done there, but it sounds right).
So read on, and discover the best Double IPAs that we’ve ever reviewed here at The Beer Connoisseur!
(Disclaimer: Though there are hundreds, if not thousands more DIPAs out there that we have not reviewed, for this list we’ve stuck with beers that have been reviewed by our judges.)
Header Photo Courtesy Stone Brewing Co.
#68
91
Coastal Evacuation
"Consistent with what I would expect for the style, there was a moderate toasted malt flavor with low sweetness – enough malt to support the hopping. The floral and fruity hops from the aroma also appear in the flavor, and meld in interesting and pleasant ways with the caramel-tinged malt flavor."
– Beer Judge Jessica Sullivan
#67
91
AleSmith Double IPA
#66
91
Transmigration of Souls
"The flavor featured strong bursts of tropical fruity bitterness with a honey-like malt character, but with a pronounced alcohol kick in the finish. After a few sips, I was struck by the beer’s quite rounded bitterness, which almost seemed mild for the style."
– Beer Judge Rodney A. Tillinghast
#65
91
Puff
"Massive is an understatement for the hop flavor in this beer. Grapefruit and orange juices dominate the hop profile with additional help from resin, floral and guava notes. The balance is decidedly bitter due to the high level of bittering hops, but this beer isn’t one-dimensional at all with a significant charge of caramel malt helping to keep it interesting."
– Beer Judge Michael Bury
#64
91
Molten Lava
#63
91
1Z Enuff
#62
91
Nimble Giant
"The beer is light amber and surprisingly clear, and a medium-sized, off-white head persists extremely well. The hop resin seems to coat the tongue with every sip but the high bitterness is well balanced within the beer. The hop flavor is bright and citrus-laden, following the hop profile of the aroma."
– Beer Judge Sean Coughlin
#61
91
Double D
Fordham & Dominion Brewing Co.
#60
92
Fruitallica
#59
92
Hobbit Juice
#58
92
Missing Pieces
"The flavor is hop-forward, yet the bitterness is medium-low for the style yet high enough to still balance, as the beer has a dry finish. The low bready malt is also simple enough that it doesn’t compete with the hops or add extra sweetness unlike many double IPAs, which helps the balancing act and negates the need for high-level bitterness."
– Beer Judge Dan Preston
#57
92
Gemini
#56
92
Double Duckpin
"This is a dangerously easy-drinking beer despite its fuller-than-ordinary body. In a crowded field where hops know no boundaries, this beer offers a distinctly fresh flavor that will have you reaching for a second before you know what hit you."
– Beer Judge Jim Koebel
#55
92
Boomsauce
#54
92
The Oracle
"Overall, this is an excellently produced beer showcasing its hop aroma and flavor. This beer does a fine job at representing the style, and the different hop characters noted could not be in better harmony. There is also a sweet caramel malt note as it warms, which gives this beer yet another positive dimension."
– Beer Judge Dan Martich
#53
92
Ruination 2.0
#52
92
Tesseract
"This hazy, peach-colored Double IPA with a medium-white head delivered a very distinct passion fruit aroma with notes of overripe tangerines and just a wisp of citrus. Overall, Tesseract is a fruit basket of a beer that lends its own spin to the oft-employed Double IPA style."
– Beer Judge James Link
#51
92
Tony Goes Dancing
"This beer is a great example of an East-meets-West Double IPA. The piney, citrusy hops are a reminder of some of the best West Coast IPAs, but the big, juicy, tropical fruit character of New England IPAs is also present. A well-played concerto of hops to please the most discerning hop lover."
– Beer Judge Dan Martich
#50
93
Upslope Imperial IPA
#49
93
Dorado Double IPA
#48
93
Blah Blah Blah IPA
#47
93
The Brother Imperial IPA
"This is a balanced, nuanced yet still HUGE beer. The nose wafts beautiful grapefruit and evergreen aromas out of the glass, reminiscent of northern California's Sequoias, with undertones of tawny port, alcohol and old fruit. An almost tart hop sharpness is cut by a rich barleywine-like, mouth-coating malt backbone."
– Beer Judge SJ Klein
#46
93
Big A Double IPA
#45
93
7 Hop IPA
#44
93
Night Game
"This beer’s flavor is expectedly hoppy, but limited to pine and resinous characteristics. Bitterness is elevated, yet smooth; it is not extreme by any means. It finishes bitter and hoppy with an enjoyable resinous sweetness. This example is very smooth and hides its strength exceptionally well. It’s an easy drinker and beckoningly mellow."
– Beer Judge Jim Koebel
#43
93
Resin
#42
93
Freak of Nature
#41
93
Future Tripping
#40
93
Double Platinum
"There is quite an impressive expression of hops throughout this beer. Huge levels of pine and resin with minor notes of tropical fruit (guava) and a hint of citrus rounds it out. This is a beer of very good clarity with a reddish-orange hue, wearing a beautiful off-white head."
– Beer Judge Mike Castagno
#39
93
Citra Ass Down
#38
93
Samuel Adams Rebel Raw
#37
93
Phantasmagoria
"Phantasmagoria is a delicious and approachable take on a Double IPA. Definitely not a bitterness bomb or palate destroyer, the balance of this hop flavor-centric brew makes it a quite approachable example of the style."
– Beer Judge Joe Formanek
#36
94
30th Anniversary Double IPA
#35
94
8 Hop IPA
#34
94
Tropical & Juicy
"I feel that this beer provides a more mellow and rounded hop bitterness and flavor rather than a sharp one associated with most Double IPAs. This beer had the necessary alcohol strength, though this element was quite deceptive -- the flavor was very mellow and smooth. This is a very nice Double IPA approached with different brewing methods than most."
– Beer Judge Richard Wong
#33
94
Racer X
#32
94
Hop Henge
#31
94
Insurrection
#30
94
Hoptometrist
"When a Double IPA gets it right, it's easy to tell. This beer was a cinch. Its aroma begins with dank, sticky-sweet hop character that smells of fruity bubblegum, citrus, lavender, and perfume all at once. A first-tier technical achievement that offers a unique aroma, this DIPA belongs in more refrigerators."
– Beer Judge Jim Koebel
#29
94
16 Point IPA
#28
94
Crowd Control
#27
94
The Rainmaker
"Double IPAs are omnipresent these days, but this wonderfully smooth and easy-drinking example manages to stand out from the pack. A huge bready malt aroma blended with apricot, earthy and floral hop aromas makes itself known, and the beer's flavor follows suit with smooth alcohol and earthy, apricot-like hops and bready, slightly toasty malt combining together to create a complex and interesting profile."
– Beer Judge Susan Ruud
#26
94
White Caps
#25
94
Blind Pirate
"A big bold Double IPA, with an assertive hop flavor that makes it stylistically on point. It does not overwhelm or seem under-attenuated as some New England-style IPAs. This one resembles the West Coast style yet fresh by taking on today’s popular hop character and showcasing them upfront and center."
– Beer Judge Dan Martich
#24
94
MC²
#23
94
Nectar & Knife
#22
94
Ozark Double IPA
"This canned Double IPA from northwest Arkansas seems quite unassuming in appearance -- just a basic, silver can with a small green label. Once opened, however, this beer is anything but unassuming! Apparently, Arkansas does have a west coast, at least as demonstrated by this fine West Coast-style Double IPA!"
– Beer Judge Michael Heniff
#21
95
The Maharaja
#20
95
3rd Anniversary Ale
#19
95
Dogs & Boats
#18
95
Decadent Imperial IPA
"This has everything that you want to see in a Double IPA: plenty of hops abound with enough malt character to lend support. The finish is moderately bitter and palate-cleansing with a lingering grapefruit hoppiness. This is a delightful (and dare I say decadent?) Double IPA that pushes all the right buttons."
– Beer Judge Michael Heniff
#17
95
Apex
#16
95
DirtWolf
#15
95
Stone 21st Anniversary Ale
"This beer is a hop showcase in all aspects. The aroma is a cornucopia of stone fruit and tropical fruit with a grapefruit zest kick. A light bready, grainy maltiness opens up as the beer warms, providing a pleasant balance to the hop character. The flavor turns more toward citrus, with grapefruit being the predominant character along with fresh pineapple and mango."
– Beer Judge Randy Scorby
#14
95
Hopothermia
#13
95
Fastback Racer
#12
95
Hoppyright Infringement
#11
95
Captain's Daughter
Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island
#10
95
Clencher
"This highly hop-forward Double IPA has some interesting hop characteristics that slightly deviate from the usual suspects of citrus notes “du jour." The hop balance is such that it doesn’t undermine the malt backbone, so you better drink it -- it’s excellent!"
– Beer Judge Dan Martich
#9
95
SFY
"There is only a slight alcohol warmth from this Double IPA so you don’t get the impression that you need to be overly cautious... but that impression is misguided.! In spite of the big hop presence, the beer is smooth, creamy and dangerous quaffable -- a true pleasure to drink."
– Beer Judge Rick Franckhauser
#8
96
Hop Stoopid
"Lagunitas’s Hop Stoopid is an almost terrifyingly hoppy brew from the outskirts of Petaluma. This beer’s label cheekily yet proudly proclaims “102 I.B.U. 4 U,” and they are not kidding: This thing is a hop minefield. With this beer and a plethora of other delightfully characterful brews to their credit, Tony Magee and his band of brewers continue to strike liquid gold."
– Reviewed by BC Review
#7
96
Blast!
"At the end of the day, this is an outstanding example of what a hoppy beer can be. It's decidedly hop-centric, but not hop-exclusive. There's plenty of light malt character to support and accentuate the hops and bitterness, and it doesn't rip your teeth out with IBUs; each element has its place and serves its purpose to perfection. Get yourself a bottle or six and keep them on hand for a reminder of what a Double IPA can do."
– Beer Judge Josh Weikert
#6
96
Hopslam
"When you hear the words "Hop" followed by "Slam," the immediate expectation is of a brew with an overwhelming and one-dimensional hop character assault on the senses. In fact, while there is solid hop presence in this beer, it offers much more – delivering a well-crafted and delicious overall package. Overall, this is a very impressive, well-balanced and extremely drinkable Double IPA."
– Beer Judge Joe Formanek
#5
96
Unsessionable
"Revolution's Unsessionable IPA makes its presence known even before opening the can. The bold graphics and claims of massive hop impact on the can almost taunt you into popping it open. Once you do, there is an immediate explosion of fresh and bright pine, citrus and woody hop aromas even before pouring it into the glass. There is no disappointment here!"
– Beer Judge Joe Formanek
#4
96
Lupulin River
"This is an extremely well brewed, and big, American-style Double IPA with the expected hop punch in the face. If you’re a hop head this is the beer for you… and if you’re not a hop head, you just might become one after enjoying a can of this world-class brew."
– Beer Judge Randy Scorby
#3
96
Mach 10
"Overall, this Double IPA is very nicely balanced -- sure, it features a huge hop profile, but the malt provides a great counterpoint and balance. This is an amazing Double IPA that is perfect for sipping (use a snifter to contain all the hop aromas), but the tropical fruitiness would also go very nicely with some dry-rubbed Memphis-style baby back ribs."
– Beer Judge Nelson Crowle
#2
97
Haze
"The underlying liquid in this Double IPA is, true to its name, hazy and very pale-colored, suggesting little use of crystal malts or other darker grains. Despite its obviously large hop content, the bitterness of this beer is restrained with intense hop aromas and flavors in the spotlight and malt simply performing a supporting role. Highly drinkable and highly recommended."
– Beer Judge Graham L. Barron
#1
99
King JJJuliusss
"Wow! From the moment the can pops, hop aromas completely fill the air. Grapefruit, orange, mango, passion fruit, melon, citrus, pineapple – basically every juicy fruit you can think of is there plus a little bit of pine. Unlike most Double IPAs, there's not an ounce of sweetness to the malt, but rather a light, airy, doughy presence. This beer is aptly named as it just might be the new "King" when it comes to Double IPAs. An amazing beer that's incredibly well done."
– Beer Judge Dan Preston
Check out all of our other Double IPA reviews, comment with what DIPAs we should review in the future and share this article with the button at the top of the page. Cheers!
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