Is Ohio producing the best IPAs in the country?

I think I fall into the category of this not really being that important. More importantly the important thing is, if there is something important, is that we all enjoy our regional beers plus have our nation's favorites. And thats not very important in world of importance..... But it is important in the world of beer enjoyment......

 

Count me in the camp that suggests that the USA produces the best IPAs in the country. Folks, there are so many quality IPAs across this great land. Let's not take any individual opinion personally. I have no inclination to say that Half Acre's GoneAway is the top IPA in the country but I would pleased as punch if it were the only IPA I could drink ever again. Just enjoy your quality, local IPAs.

 

I've not yet had any of the NE IPAs, but Odell IPA is the best I've had so far. It's perfect.

 

Hahaha comparing Sixpoint to Treehouse is lunacy, either you need to expand your palate or you work for Sixpoint. There are a myriad of other readily available ipa's that can beat sixpoint.

 

I have actually tried at least 100 IPAs from 49 of the 50 states. I have never had an IPA from Oregon though, because I don't waste my time with "ish".

But seriously though, I haven't touched a million IPA's from my own state, let alone others. And I'm actually not even talking about my personal opinion but instead simply looking at ratings here, awards, reputation, etc. For example, a cursory glance at Oregon's top beers shows that, of their top 60 beers in the state, only 10 are IPAs. Ohio's top 20 has 10 IPAs and are more highly rated (in general) than Oregon's top 10 IPAs (for what it's worth). That is not necessarily definitive, but it's a start.

Look, Oregon is waaaayyyy better than Ohio overall in beer quality, but unless you have some data to back up the greatness of Oregon's IPAs, then it is a tough argument. And let me reiterate, I may live in Ohio, but it doesn't mean I like it that much. Truth be told, I'd much rather live in Oregon.

What is up with the Oregonians tonight?

 

Most importantly you need to buy a thesaurus haha

 

Ahh irony is sometimes stronger than the sword my friend...

 

I'm bias cause I live in Vermont. We have amazing IPAs. I do like Great Lakes (Ohio) though! Good shit. I haven't seen their stuff up here :/ Use to live in Jersey and was able to find it everywhere. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) Vermont likes to keep everything local so you would need to take a trip up here or trade to experience the full beer scene. It is truly a marvel. And I can assure you there is more then The Alchemist and Hill Farmstead. I give Ohio props. But it my opinion California, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts take the cake with IPAs. Honorable mention would be Pennsylvania. Lived there for a few years and they have an awesome beer selection.

 

Treehouse is incredible, especially fresh. I also have a heavy bias living in Iowa. King Sue from Toppling Goliath is tough to beat. Those two would have to be my personal favorites.

 

I don't think so.......top 10 perhaps.

 

White Rajah, Head Hunter, Hop Stalker, Columbus, PsycHOPathy, Citra High, and Hop Juju are all amazing. No doubt Ohio is putting out some quality IPAs - way better than Kentucky or west Virginia. I've heard nothing but good things about Hoof Hearted, too, but have yet to try any of their beers. Can't comment on the whole MA/CA/VT debate, but yeah.

 

How are we not discussing Iowa and Toppling Goliath. I would put Sosus and Psuedo Sue ahead of all the Ohio IPA's

 

Besides west and east coast states, even most bordering states make better IPAs. Indiana with 3 Floyds, Pennsylvania with Tired Hands, Michigan with Founders and Bells. Maybe Ohio has better IPAs than Kentucky, but that's about it.

 

Not sure about #1... But I would put Columbus Bodhi (maybe Juju too) against ANY (D)IPA. If it doesn't beat it. At the very least, it can hang.

 

With so many varieties of hops and so many subjective palettes I hate that "best IPA" is even a discussion.

Insert whatever state you live in, or live close to, and those are the best IPA's.

 

3 Floyds is super overhyped and most of their hoppy beers (except for Zombie Dust) are nowhere near the best in Ohio.

Founders and Bells? For real? Head Hunter, Hop JuJu, Bodhi, Creeper, Rain Delay, Konkey Dong, Roller Blabe, White Rajah, El Lupulo Libre, Citra High and I could just keep going are way way better. Two Hearted, The Oracle, Hopslam, Double Trouble, reDANKulous, etc. are nowhere near Ohio hoppy beers.

Tired Hands is doing some great stuff, but give me Hoof Hearted, Trillium, Other Half, Grimm or Tree House for those styles of beers over Tired Hands.

Turns out we all have opinions. I find it funny there's ONE article about Ohio killing it with IPAs (and we are just an FYI) and everyone turns it into a shitshow. Are we the flat out BEST out there for IPAs? No. Are we one of the best and typically ignored by people for some reason? Yes. There are so many amazing beers being made everywhere that there is zero reason to fight about it.

 

List of beer scenes I want to check out the most based purely on IPA (Love Ohio already ):
1. Oregon (They are way up in the Northwest and I keep hearing and reading spectacular things. I have to go for science.)
2. Massachusetts
3. Vermont
4. Toppling Goliath (I honestly don't know of any other breweries in Iowa)

Stouts, or overall beer scenes, are a different story.

 

Let's be honest, ZD is the beer that's overhyped. ZD can't touch Permanent Funeral, and IMO, very few beers, let alone IPAs, can.

Double Trouble and reDANKulous are right in the Fat Head's IPA wheelhouse. To say either is greater or lesser is splitting hairs. However I will agree that Fat Head's, at least for us Ohioans, is able to keep store shelves consistently stocked with tongue thrashingly bitter IPAs.

It's not a shitshow, it's a discussion. Maybe the most overhyped thing regarding beer lately is the validity of the word shitshow to describe anything ever. Is there a beer named shitshow yet?

 

I've had Heady and SoS and I've had Ohio IPAs that are better. I haven't tried enough to claim best in the country though and it doesn't matter anyway.

 

The thing about Heady, Pliny, and to a lesser extent SoS, is that a lot of more recent IPAs, Ohio's and elsewhere, are using these beers as templates to make their own reliable and popular hits with their local consumers. Sometimes they try to simply hit the nail on the head, other times they try to improve upon it in whatever way they can. This is the benefit of not being first in starting a new trend.