American IPA is a pale, bitter and hop-forward ale, typically dry-hopped with citrus- and pine-leaning American varieties. The style sits between West Coast clarity and the softer Hazy direction. The hopIQ Score for American IPA evaluates each beer against the American-IPA reference and weights medals from style-judged competitions.
Currently leading the ranking: pFriem IPA (pFriem Family Brewers), Union Jack (Firestone Walker Brewing Company) and DDH Pillow (Highland Park Brewery). pFriem Family Brewers places 3 of the top 10.
How this ranking works
The hopIQ Score judges every beer against its style first: it rewards medals from competitions that judge within style categories and deducts points where a beer measurably deviates from its style reference. Community ratings add to that. Non-alcoholic excluded. No paid placement — order follows the data alone. Ranking spans 1334 beers from 258 breweries.
Top 5 of 43
ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Colour
golden 8
pFriem IPA is the most bitter of the brewery's year-round beers at 65 IBU. Pale malt and a small share of crystal give it a light copper color and a candy-like backbone, while Chinook, Mosaic and Citra carry the hops. Dank aromas of peach,…pFriem IPA is the most bitter of the brewery's year-round beers at 65 IBU. Pale malt and a small share of crystal give it a light copper color and a candy-like backbone, while Chinook, Mosaic and Citra carry the hops. Dank aromas of peach, citrus, papaya and blueberry lead into bright flavors of lychee and grapefruit over gentle caramel sweetness. The finish is fresh and piney, with a touch of grapefruit rind and a firm bitterness.
Union Jack#36 worldwide
ABV
7.0%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Colour
golden 7
Union Jack is the brewery's original West Coast IPA, first released in 2008. Simcoe, Chinook and Centennial give it a bold hop profile of grapefruit, orange zest and classic pine, with touches of passion fruit, berry and orange blossom in…Union Jack is the brewery's original West Coast IPA, first released in 2008. Simcoe, Chinook and Centennial give it a bold hop profile of grapefruit, orange zest and classic pine, with touches of passion fruit, berry and orange blossom in the aroma. Only a hint of crystal malt sits beneath the hops, keeping the body lean. The bitterness is firm at 70 IBU and carries through to a dry, resinous finish.
DDH Pillow#76 worldwide
ABV
8.0%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Colour
amber 9
DDH Pillow is the double dry-hopped version of Pillow, the brewery's hazy double IPA, dosed with Citra and Mosaic both as pellets and as lupulin concentrate. It pours a dense, hazy golden yellow. The nose leads with orange creamsicle,…DDH Pillow is the double dry-hopped version of Pillow, the brewery's hazy double IPA, dosed with Citra and Mosaic both as pellets and as lupulin concentrate. It pours a dense, hazy golden yellow. The nose leads with orange creamsicle, guava and mango, and the palate follows with a smoothie-like mix of tangerine, pineapple and ripe stone fruit over a soft, biscuity malt base, with a light resinous edge and restrained bitterness.
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Firestone IPA#116 worldwide
ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Colour
golden 7
Firestone IPA is the brewery's modern take on the California IPA, launched in 2023 and rooted in West Coast tradition. A light base of two-row and white wheat leaves room for Citra, Mosaic and Strata. The hops bring waves of pineapple,…Firestone IPA is the brewery's modern take on the California IPA, launched in 2023 and rooted in West Coast tradition. A light base of two-row and white wheat leaves room for Citra, Mosaic and Strata. The hops bring waves of pineapple, orange and lemon, along with mango, blueberry and clementine, while the malt stays in the background. The body is crisp and bright, and the bitterness is moderate enough to keep the fruit in front.
5
pFriem Hazy IPA#155 worldwide
ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
pFriem Hazy IPA is inspired by the hazy IPAs of New England and Vermont, aiming for big tropical hop flavor, a full body and only a moderate haze. Pale malt and oat groats give the soft texture, while Mosaic, Citra, Eclipse and Chinook…pFriem Hazy IPA is inspired by the hazy IPAs of New England and Vermont, aiming for big tropical hop flavor, a full body and only a moderate haze. Pale malt and oat groats give the soft texture, while Mosaic, Citra, Eclipse and Chinook carry the aroma. It pours a cloudy mango-orange under a creamy head. Clementine, peach, strawberry, mango and papaya lead the nose, followed by juicy grapefruit, white grape and whipped citrus on the palate. A citrus-rind bitterness keeps it balanced into a soft, warming finish.
Ranks 6–10
6
Wookey Jack#158 worldwide
Wookey Jack is an unfiltered black IPA built on rye, first released in 2012, retired in 2016 and brought back in 2022 and again in 2026. Malted rye and a dash of crystal rye add a spicy, rustic grain note beneath dark malts that stay light…Wookey Jack is an unfiltered black IPA built on rye, first released in 2012, retired in 2016 and brought back in 2022 and again in 2026. Malted rye and a dash of crystal rye add a spicy, rustic grain note beneath dark malts that stay light on roast. The dry hopping is heavy and citrus-led: orange peel, grapefruit and ripe peach sit over dank resin. The body is full and slightly chewy, and the finish balances light cocoa against a firm, lingering bitterness.
7
Sculpin#167 worldwide
Hopped at five separate stages, a method found after years of experimenting, and first brewed in 2005 by merging two homebrew recipes. Sharp citrus, pine and tropical fruit lead, with hints of apricot, peach, mango and lemon. Named after…Hopped at five separate stages, a method found after years of experimenting, and first brewed in 2005 by merging two homebrew recipes. Sharp citrus, pine and tropical fruit lead, with hints of apricot, peach, mango and lemon. Named after the stinging sculpin fish, this 7% IPA took World Beer Cup gold in 2010 and again in 2014.
8
Beak Breaker#200 worldwide
A bright citrus-tropical aroma with notes of ruby red grapefruit and sweet pine comes from massive additions of Mosaic, Citra and Centennial hops. Bright gold in color, this double IPA is built on two-row and Munich malt with white cane…A bright citrus-tropical aroma with notes of ruby red grapefruit and sweet pine comes from massive additions of Mosaic, Citra and Centennial hops. Bright gold in color, this double IPA is built on two-row and Munich malt with white cane sugar and runs 9% ABV and 90 IBU. Pelican has been packing hop aroma into beer for over 20 years, and this is its newest homage.
9
pFriem West Coast IPA#202 worldwide
pFriem West Coast IPA takes a lean, modern route: a single pilsner malt keeps the base light, and the beer is brewed and dry-hopped with Citra, Krush, Krush Cryo, Mosaic and a little Nelson. It is pale gold with fluffy white foam. The nose…pFriem West Coast IPA takes a lean, modern route: a single pilsner malt keeps the base light, and the beer is brewed and dry-hopped with Citra, Krush, Krush Cryo, Mosaic and a little Nelson. It is pale gold with fluffy white foam. The nose brings strawberry, tangerine juice, grapefruit and a resinous, cannabis-like note alongside passion fruit and papaya. Flavors of ripe strawberry, peach tea, pine and red hard candy lead into a finish with gentle sweetness and resin. It has been part of the year-round lineup since 2023.
10
Elissa IPA#229 worldwide
A traditional IPA with a floral, hoppy nose from dry hopping, a bitterness that stays soft thanks to reverse osmosis brewing water, and a malty body from British Maris Otter that stands up to the hops. It is named after ELISSA, the tall…A traditional IPA with a floral, hoppy nose from dry hopping, a bitterness that stays soft thanks to reverse osmosis brewing water, and a malty body from British Maris Otter that stands up to the hops. It is named after ELISSA, the tall ship moored in Galveston, and part of the proceeds goes to the Galveston Historical Foundation for her preservation. Gold at GABF 2023 and silver at the 2008 World Beer Cup. 7.1% ABV, 52 IBU.
The taste landscape
Of the 43 top beers, 1 lean malt-forward and 41 lean hop-forward.