Mental Floss

6 IPA Beers to Try This Summer

By Rebecca OConnell

Dogfish Head / iStock
Dogfish Head / iStock / Dogfish Head / iStock
facebooktwitterreddit

Happy National IPA Day! Celebrate the holiday by cracking into one of these hoppy but refreshing beers.

1. FLESH & BLOOD // DOGFISH HEAD

Blood oranges are known for their intense citrus flavor, but also for their dark, almost gorey insides. Delaware brewery Dogfish Head plays off this macabre imagery with a new IPA called Flesh & Blood. The flesh in this case is lemon pulp and the blood is blood orange juice. The brewery also selected special hops to include: “Warrior, Centennial, and a rare experimental hop.” The citrusy beer is tart but very drinkable, especially on a hot day.

2. HOP ‘EM HIGH // LONERIDER

Premiering in late June, this double IPA packs a hoppy punch. The North Carolina brewery included Centennial, Columbus, and Simcoe hops in the brew. Drinkers will enjoy a light citrusy flavor with a hint of pine. The amber-colored beer is sold in 12-ounce cans.

3. HI-10 // TERRAPIN

Is there anything more summery than a surf-themed can of beer? In July, the Georgia brewery Terrapin released a new 12-ounce can of beer called Hi-10. The new beer, which is part of the brewery's Side Project Series, is a spin-off of an earlier brew called Hi-5. This imperial IPA is made with mangos and habanero peppers, making it a spicy but fruity choice. Looking ahead, the brewery is also releasing a beer called Luau Krunkles this fall, which will have tropical fruits like passion fruit, orange, and guava.

4. WATERMELON DURADO // BALLAST POINT

Watermelon is a divisive ingredient in beer, but lately the watermelon lovers seem to be winning as more beers are featuring the fruit. Ballast Point released their dangerously strong Watermelon Dorado in 12-ounce can form earlier this year. The brewery recommends you enjoy this beer with a summery meal like a shrimp po boy or pineapple custard. At 10 percent alcohol by volume, you probably won’t need to down too many of these before needing a nap on a pool float.

5. MASTER OF KARATE // ASLIN

Coming from the beloved Virginian brewery Aslin, this rare beer debuted earlier this year as a crowler. The IPA was created using Galaxy, Mosaic, and Amarillo hops and has over 8 percent alcohol by volume, making it fairly strong. Despite the name, it doesn’t look like this beer has anything to do with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

6. REBEL GRAPEFRUIT IPA // SAM ADAMS

Despite its large scale, Sam Adams is still technically a craft brewery. The company tries to embrace this title with their series of Rebel IPAs. Their latest addition to the collection is this summery IPA. The beer is made with Mosaic, Citra, Centennial, and Cascade hops, in addition to grapefruit peel and added grapefruit juice, ensuring the drinker won't want for flavor, and has an ABV of 6.3 percent.