If you haven’t already, check out part 1 of this review for some more delicious IPAs. And if you finish reading both of these reviews and are still thirsting for more, there is a part 3 as well as a review of Belgian IPAs coming up soon!

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‘DOUBLE JACK’ – FIRESTONE WALKER – Imperial IPA – 9.50% ABV (Eye Choir’s Choice)

Appearance: Poured a pale, light copper-orange with a two finger, white head. The body is crystal clear, displaying ample carbonation. 4.5/5

Smell: Huge grapefruit hops presence, along with other citrus notes and even touches of pine and even some tropical fruit such as pineapple and melon. There is a subtle backbone of rich caramel malt which provides a slight but necessary counterbalance. 4.5/5

Taste: Moderate bitterness which evokes a depth of hop flavors which center around citrus fruits and spicy pine needles. There is also a mild sweetness which highlights a fantastic combination of tropical fruit and toffee-like malts which, along with a hint of booziness, balance the hops perfectly. 5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium body, though the mild bite of carbonation as well as the mildly boozy, slippery mouthfeel gives rise to a certain sense of fullness. Very smooth, and furthermore, pairs well with the intensity of the hops flavors. 4.5/5

Overall: An exemplar of the American double IPA style, with a perfect sense of propriety and balance which is embellished even further by some subtle, interesting details in the hop and fruit profiles. 4.5/5

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IMPERIAL IPA – EPIC – Imperial IPA – 9.40% ABV

Appearance: Poured a deep golden-brown with a two finger, yellow-beige head. There is a fair amount of both carbonation and slightly chunky sediment. 3.5/5

Smell: Starts with a big fresh hop presence which carries notes of citrus, honeysuckle, and pine. There is also a good amount of vaguely tropical fruit esters which support the hop front along with some lightly caramelized biscuit malt. 4/5

Taste: Moderately to strongly bitter, as expected, which enhances the pine needle notes. Yet, a mild to moderate sweetness brings up some traces of sugary toffee to the mix. Very in your face, but largely avoids being entirely gratuitous, though it could stand to have more subtleties underneath the strong flavors. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium body, though a slick mouthfeel prevents any sense of thickness. Lots of carbonation along with the bitterness gives a very bracing tactile mouthfeel. 3.5/5

Overall: Quite an intense beer, worthy of the imperial title, with a fair amount of balance which prevents it from going too far. Not particularly complex however. 3.5/5

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‘BENGALI TIGER’ – SIXPOINT – American IPA – 6.40% ABV

Appearance: Poured a moderate orange-amber with a one finger, light tan head. There is a moderate amount of fine haziness which mostly obscures some very mild carbonation. 4/5

Smell: Dominant hop aroma with grapefruit and orange, supported by a powerful presence of pine resin. Yet there is also a strong caramel malt undertone which has a faintly grainy aroma. Very distinctive and reasonably balanced. 4/5

Taste: Moderate to strong bitterness which joins with a very slightly tart earthiness which draws upon the dank resin as well as the darker notes present in the malt. There is very little sweetness, however, which tones down the fruit flavors, though it is odd in combination with the caramel flavor the malt. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium body, with a surprisingly punchy carbonation which gives the drink a dry bite similar to seltzer water. Virtually no alcoholic heat, though long-lasting bitter finish gives the smooth, slightly slick mouthfeel some balance. 4/5

Overall: An unexpectedly hard-hitting IPA which has a fairly unique hop profile, though there’s nothing here that is especially intricate (arguably, it doesn’t need to be). 4/5

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INDIA ALE – SAMUEL SMITH – English IPA – 5.00% ABV

Appearance: Poured a golden orange-brown with a two-finger, off-white head. There is a very faint haze present and some mild carbonation as well. 4/5

Smell: Strong herbal, flowery, and slightly citric hops with a pungent yet unobtrustive background of lightly buttery biscuit malt. There is a wide range of fruit notes, and those in the hops mesh with an apple and stone fruit aroma from the yeast. Very well-balanced between the malt and the hops. 4.5/5

Taste: Unexpected moderate sweetness which pairs with a merely moderate bitterness. There is also a touch of tartness which enhances many of the fruit flavors. Dry finish highlights some solid earthiness in the hop profile which pairs well with the rustic malt character. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Creamy and smooth mouthfeel with a medium body propped up by a mild to moderate carbonation which perks up some of the softer flavors . There is a very faint alcoholic heat despite the lack of alcohol flavor. 4.5/5

Overall: Not excessively bitter or strong-tasting in general, even for the typically milder English IPA style. Instead, this brew relies on a solid malt and hop contrast which is balanced quite well. 4/5