Globally, the world’s largest consumers of beer tend to also be the world’s largest producers of the beverage. But these countries don’t necessarily make the best beers, at least when it comes to India Pale Ales, a hoppy style of beer.
To compile a list of the best IPA beers in the world, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the 2020 World Beer Awards, presented by TheDrinksReport.com, an online resource for drinks professionals.
IPAs tend to be characterized by their bitter taste and high alcohol levels. This, however, depends on the style of IPA, and while some contain less than 4% of alcohol, others indeed contain more than 10%.
Half of the beers on the list of best IPAs in the world are American style, which is often bitter and has a fruity and citrus-like hop flavor. Though the American style is among the most well-liked, it appears that Ireland, Canada, and the United Kingdom make the best American style IPAs in the world, not the U.S.
The country with the most entries on the list of best beers in the world, perhaps unsurprisingly to some, is Ireland with a total of eight different beers winning awards in various IPA categories. Brazil is second with six entries, followed by the United Kingdom, France, and Canada with five each. The U.S. has two.
According to a 2019 Gallup poll, some 63% of American adults drink alcohol — and the favored beverage among them is beer. Some 42% of American drinkers prefer beer, and these are the best beers in every state and D.C.
Click here to see the best IPAs in the world
To compile a list of the best IPA beers in the world, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the 2020 World Beer Awards, presented by TheDrinksReport.com, an online resource for drinks professionals. We looked at the results by country. We then selected the beers that were awarded a gold medal, were the country winner, or won the title of the world’s best IPA in each of the six types of beer included in the awards. Information on alcohol by volume and bitterness came from Untappd, a beer rating app.
Dan’s Double IPA
> Beer type: Imperial/Double
> Medal(s): World’s Best IPA Imperial/Double and Country Winner
> Brewery: McGargles
> Country of origin: Ireland
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 80
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2020 Vision
> Beer type: Specialty
> Medal(s): World’s Best IPA Specialty and Country Winner
> Brewery: Blacks Brewery
> Country of origin: Ireland
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 100
Ace of Haze
> Beer type: Session
> Medal(s): World’s Best IPA Session and Country Winner
> Brewery: Blacks Brewery
> Country of origin: Ireland
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.2%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 45
Drunken Sailor
> Beer type: English Style
> Medal(s): World’s Best IPA English
> Brewery: CREW Republic
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.4%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 58
Style, World’s Best IPA, and Country Winner
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Black Indica
> Beer type: Black
> Medal(s): World’s Best IPA Black and Country Winner
> Brewery: Colorado
> Country of origin: Brazil
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.8%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 50
Miami J
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): World’s Best IPA American and Country Winner
> Brewery: Rye River Seasonal
> Country of origin: Ireland
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 35
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Grasshopper
> Beer type: Specialty
> Medal(s): Gold
> Brewery: Belgian Craft Beer Company
> Country of origin: Belgium
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 45
Trail Hopper IPA
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Gold
> Brewery: Stanley Park Brewing
> Country of origin: Canada
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.8%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 65
Short Hills East Coast IPA
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Gold
> Brewery: Bench Brewing
> Country of origin: Canada
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 40
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TKO IPA
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Gold
> Brewery: Boxing Cat
> Country of origin: China
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.3%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 62
L.B.F. I.P.A.
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Gold
> Brewery: La Brasserie Fondamentale
> Country of origin: France
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 45
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Citra
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Gold
> Brewery: Eight Degrees
> Country of origin: Ireland
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.7%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 62
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Far Side Hazy IPA
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Gold
> Brewery: 12 Acres
> Country of origin: Ireland
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.1%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 0
Hopping Spree
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Gold
> Brewery: Round Corner Brewing
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.6%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 60
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Electric IPA
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Gold
> Brewery: Brixton Brewery
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 50
IPA 55
> Beer type: English Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Martin’s
> Country of origin: Belgium
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 55
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Heer van Dendermonde
> Beer type: Imperial/Double
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Graaf Aymon
> Country of origin: Belgium
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 0.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 0
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Argentum
> Beer type: Specialty
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Delirium
> Country of origin: Belgium
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 48
IPA
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Leopoldina
> Country of origin: Brazil
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 60
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PratIPA
> Beer type: English Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Cervejaria Pratinha
> Country of origin: Brazil
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 65
Niobium
> Beer type: Imperial/Double
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Wäls
> Country of origin: Brazil
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 93
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Session Citra
> Beer type: Session
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Wäls
> Country of origin: Brazil
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 3.9%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 30
Pequi do Norte
> Beer type: Specialty
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Wäls
> Country of origin: Brazil
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.4%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 25
La Racoleuse
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: La Voie Maltée
> Country of origin: Canada
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.2%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 55
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Perroquet
> Beer type: Session
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Le Trou du diable
> Country of origin: Canada
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 3.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 0
Rabbit of Caerbannog – white IPA
> Beer type: Specialty
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Indie Alehouse
> Country of origin: Canada
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 80
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AUV Double IPA
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: NBeer
> Country of origin: China
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.2%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 88
Hoppy Pony
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Brasserie D’Orville
> Country of origin: France
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.9%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 31
Dremmwel IPA
> Beer type: English Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Brasserie de Bretagne
> Country of origin: France
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 50
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Sant Erwann Double IPA
> Beer type: Imperial/Double
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Brasserie de Bretagne
> Country of origin: France
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 80
Barbe Rouge IPA Bio
> Beer type: Specialty
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Brasserie de Vézelay
> Country of origin: France
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.7%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 30
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IPA
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Maisel & Friends
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.3%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 50
7:45 Escalation
> Beer type: Imperial/Double
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: CREW Republic
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.3%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 83
Hop Junkie
> Beer type: Session
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: CREW Republic
> Country of origin: Germany
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 3.4%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 32
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Chieftain
> Beer type: English Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Franciscan Well
> Country of origin: Ireland
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 50
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Osaru
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Minoh Beer
> Country of origin: Japan
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.0%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 65
Yuzu Lemon Hazy Ipa
> Beer type: Specialty
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Aqula Brauhaus Akita
> Country of origin: Japan
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 0
Gamechanger
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Platinum
> Country of origin: South Korea
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 0
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Creature
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Dois Corvos
> Country of origin: Portugal
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.3%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 60
Imperial Black IPA
> Beer type: Black
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Cinco Chagas
> Country of origin: Portugal
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.6%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 86
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Yakima Valley
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: San Miguel
> Country of origin: Spain
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.1%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 0
IPA
> Beer type: English Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Brouwhoeve
> Country of origin: Spain
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.8%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 38
Double India Pale Ale
> Beer type: Imperial/Double
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Doppelleu Brauwerkstatt
> Country of origin: Switzerland
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.8%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 80
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Route 590
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Hawkshead Brewery
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.6%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 55
Hobgoblin IPA
> Beer type: English Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Wychwood Brewery
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.3%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 50
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Paradiso Citra IPA
> Beer type: Specialty/ Non-alcoholic
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Big Drop
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 0.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 42
Legacy IPA 2.0
> Beer type: American Style
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: Saranac
> Country of origin: United States
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 60
Cascade Fog
> Beer type: Specialty
> Medal(s): Country Winner
> Brewery: No-Li Brewhouse
> Country of origin: United States
> Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.5%
> International bittering units (IBUs): 35
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