The Best Double IPAs—According To The World Beer Cup

The world’s best double or imperial IPAs were crowned recently at the World Beer Cup. The competition is arguably craft beer’s most prestigious and is organized each year by the Brewers Association, a not-for-profit trade organization that advocates for independent brewers.

Though brewers and some craft beer lovers have cooled in their enthusiasm for IPAs, they remain the bestselling craft beer style by a significant margin and the higher alcohol content double IPAs—sometimes described as “an IPA that’s been turned up to 11”—are a big part of that. At this year’s Word Beer Cup the double/imperial IPA category had 138 entries. Out of all those beers only three were chosen as medalists. They are listed below and all, in what is an unusual sweep by a state hail from sunny California. You can also read my story on the best Hazy IPAs from the World Beer Cup and the best German-style Pilsners, and follow my stories for more updates from the World Beer Cup and news about the world’s best beer in general.

Gold: Chance Favors The Prepared Mind, Green Cheek Beer Co., Orange, CA

This big bold and well-prepared imperial IPA features citra, citra cryo and mosaic hops. Per the brewery’s notes on the beer: “The brew team were all good lil Pallys the night before they brewed this one, got good sleep, ate their Wheaties, and watched this batch of hop saturated yum yum like a hawk. We were prepared this time! And I think it shows in how dope this one came out. Tasting notes? Think Navel Orange oils, yummo blueberry cereal, pineapple whips, and a linger of the freshest Maui Wowee.”

Beer fans in California can have beer shipped to their homes from Green Cheek Beer Co.’s website.

Silver: Rabbit Habit, Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano, CA

A chance to drink this beer is worth going down the rabbit hole. From the brewery: “The habit of rabit? No carrots here, Jack. This riddle of a double IPA is easliy solved when a bright blend of berry and citrus leap out of the glass. Whiskers wiggle above a healthy heap of Mosaic and Simcoe for an evolving aroma experience.”

Bronze: Nose Goblin, Ghost Town Brewing, Oakland, CA

Coming in third place is this golin-named gem of a beer that is made with strata, nelson and mosaic notes. Tasting notes from the brewery are minimal but words but per untapped it has notes of dank fruit, diesel, papaya and pine, all descriptors that have my mouth watering.