Top 10 IPAs and Imperials

my most researched category of the year, these are the top 10 IPA's and Imperial (or double) IPA's new to me in 2008. all time favorites include Speakeasy Big Daddy, Bear Republic Racer 5 , Russian River Pliny the Elder, and Lagunitas IPA.

Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA
Really a refreshing, sessionable offering from Firestone Walker that at the same time is over the top in hop aroma and flavor, quite a feat indeed. Light bodied, full aroma of grapefruit and orange, with resinous flavors that are even stronger, lemon,orange and pine, with a lingering but pleasant bitterness. A note of toast and caramel, but the hops dominate this! Great for Speakeasy Big Daddy fans, a light bodied, low ABV and highly hopped IPA.

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
Amazingly 2008 was my first endeavor into the world of DFH and their legendary IPA. This is a bomber, with amazing floral, resiny and sweet. The aromatics are perfume like in their pungence, with pine and citrus assaulting the nose. The flavor begins malty-sweet, slight caramel and toast, then switches to lemon, orange, pine and earth. The impression is very mouth filling (at 9%), sweet but not cloying, resiny, and very bitter through the finish.

Rogue Imperial IPA (XS)
Whew, another bomber. Jet black ceramic bottle with a swing top, just taking a look at this beer makes you shake. I expected a much sweeter, malt oriented ale, but got a hop bomb with the malts playing much more of a background role. Spicy, slightly noble hoppiness, blended with the citrus and grassiness found in northwest varieties. Slight caramel, toast and biscuit come into play, this is a medium bodied ale with a clean, not to bitter finish and unique blend of hop flavors.

Port Brewing Wipeout IPA
Grass, pine and citrus come into balance in this lighter bodied IPA. Toast and biscuit notes come through, but the fresh, resiny hop notes dominate. The finish is pretty bitter, but not distracting.

Bear Republic Apex
A fresh hopheads wet dream, with the powerful resin flavor, overt grassiness and citrus-earthy varieties showcased. Medium bodied, slightly warm and a little slick, the flavors start with caramel and toast in the background, and switch to grapefruit, orange, pine and slight tangerine.

Stumptown Fossil Fuel XP
This IPA has a very complex flavor profile. It tastes super grassy and resiny, like fresh hops. Apparently, however, much of the spiciness and "fresh" character comes from a 45 million year old strain of yeast that resembles brewers yeast! An experimental ale brewed by Stumptown after being approached by scientists, it is a zesty, light and refreshing ale. Notes of lemon, grass, grapefruit, and even a touch of clove, with a slightly toasty and caramelly background. Soon into production by Fossil Fuels Brewing Co.

Bear Republic Rebellion
A light, crisp and slightly grainy IPA, with a floral and very citrus character. Orange, piney and lemon zest in the nose, medium bodied, with a slight spicy undertone and biscuit, toast and almond notes in the background.

Three Floyds Dreadnaught IPA
Grass, pine and citrus. Caramel, toast, toffee. These are all present in massive quantities, with a slight pear ester undertone and slight warmth. Medium bodied, and mouth filling.

Sierra Nevada Chico Estate
Very resinous, medium bodied, almost slick IPA. This is a wet-hopped beer, and has the piney, woody and orangey flavors that go with it. Rather sweet malt profile, caramel, slight apples from the esters, and a considerably sugary finish to go with the bitterness.

Widmer Halo IPA
Really rich, sweet ale that has a solid hop backbone. The smooth caramel, toffee and toast are balanced with piney, floral hops. No residual sweetness, clean, dry, with slightly apple esters from the yeast, has a medium to full body and a lingering bitter finish.