Highest-rated IPAs in California

The craft beer revolution has taken a major bite out of macrobrew’s traditional dominance of the national palette, and India pale ale is perhaps the most popular category to find traction in its wake. A wide range of flavor profiles and varieties—not to mention a generally higher alcohol content—make what constitutes an IPA a much more diverse profile than the average lager, which tend to run thinner, less hoppy, and in some cases wheatier.

A full breakdown of precisely what makes an IPA an IPA is as complex as the process of its creation. Some brands position themselves by the “type” of IPA they are—session, double IPA, dry hopped, double dry hopped, and so forth; others focus on the region or state in which they are created, which explains East and West Coast varietals as well as Belgian and British IPAs. India pale ale actually takes its origins from the British Isles. During the British colonial era, the intense heat and humidity of then-colony India made the brewing of a sustainable beer impractical, particularly one that could withstand the months-long sea voyage from India to Britain, but that didn’t mean British sailors didn’t still need a drink. Thus—as hops are a preservative—a heavily hopped beer was devised, and now centuries later there exists a mass spectrum of hoppy, deeply profiled, occasionally fruity ales that have a loyal following.

In 2020, the overall IPA category accounted for 19% of all beer sales, according to Drizly, putting it ahead of all other beer types and second only to hard seltzer. Paige Guzman, chief marketing officer for California-based brewer Lagunitas, told Craft Brewing Business, “What started as a fixture of the craft brew category has now grown into its own subset on the shelf.” Pandemic-related shutdowns have only further fueled the success of the IPA market, and every state in the nation has both its favorites and its keystone brewers and producers.

Stacker compiled a list of the best IPAs from California using data from BeerAdvocate. A maximum of 5 IPAs per brewery were included. So if you want to know if your favorite made the list, or you’re looking for a new local brew to add to your go-to IPA arsenal, this list has got you covered.

#21. DOJO

– Rating: 4.43 (83 ratings)
– Type: New England IPA
– ABV: 8.40%
– Brewery: Moonraker Brewing Company

#20. Double Dry-Hopped Pliny The Elder

– Rating: 4.41 (135 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 8.00%
– Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company

#19. Sculpin

– Rating: 4.38 (14,623 ratings)
– Type: American IPA
– ABV: 7.00%
– Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Company

#18. The Pupil

– Rating: 4.39 (1,001 ratings)
– Type: American IPA
– ABV: 7.50%
– Brewery: Societe Brewing Co.

#17. Yojo

– Rating: 4.44 (118 ratings)
– Type: New England IPA
– ABV: 7.00%
– Brewery: Moonraker Brewing Company

#16. Enjoy By IPA

– Rating: 4.41 (11,200 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 9.40%
– Brewery: Stone Brewing

#15. Exponential Hoppiness

– Rating: 4.42 (1,349 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 11.00%
– Brewery: Alpine Beer Company

#14. Double Dobis

– Rating: 4.45 (172 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 8.50%
– Brewery: Cellarmaker Brewing Co.

#13. Citra Showers

– Rating: 4.43 (580 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 8.80%
– Brewery: Noble Ale Works

#12. Bomb Atomically

– Rating: 4.48 (95 ratings)
– Type: New England IPA
– ABV: 8.30%
– Brewery: Monkish Brewing Co.

#11. Winter Ale (5th Anniversary Ale)

– Rating: 4.44 (379 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 8.00%
– Brewery: Kern River Brewing Company

#10. Nelson

– Rating: 4.43 (4,345 ratings)
– Type: American IPA
– ABV: 7.00%
– Brewery: Alpine Beer Company

#9. Biggie, Biggie, Biggie

– Rating: 4.56 (47 ratings)
– Type: New England IPA
– ABV: 10.10%
– Brewery: Monkish Brewing Co.

#8. Foggy Window

– Rating: 4.5 (289 ratings)
– Type: New England IPA
– ABV: 8.10%
– Brewery: Monkish Brewing Co.

#7. Bad Boy

– Rating: 4.49 (625 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 9.00%
– Brewery: Alpine Beer Company

#6. Foggier Window

– Rating: 4.52 (307 ratings)
– Type: New England IPA
– ABV: 8.10%
– Brewery: Monkish Brewing Co.

#5. Adios Ghost

– Rating: 4.66 (48 ratings)
– Type: New England IPA
– ABV: 10.20%
– Brewery: Monkish Brewing Co.

#4. Keene Idea

– Rating: 4.56 (538 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 8.88%
– Brewery: Alpine Beer Company

#3. Citra

– Rating: 4.56 (1,882 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 8.00%
– Brewery: Kern River Brewing Company

#2. Pliny The Elder

– Rating: 4.64 (15,585 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 8.00%
– Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company

#1. Pliny The Younger

– Rating: 4.69 (3,512 ratings)
– Type: Imperial IPA
– ABV: 10.25%
– Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company