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.
Source: Courtesy of Beer Project Dublin
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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Source: Courtesy of Blacks Brewery & Distillery
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
Source: Courtesy of Blacks Brewery & Distillery
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
Source: Courtesy of Amazon
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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Source: Photo by Danillo M. via Yelp
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
Source: Courtesy of Rye River Brewing Co.
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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Source: Courtesy of Belgian Craft Beer Company
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
Source: Courtesy of Stanley Park Brewing
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
Source: Courtesy of Bench Brewing Co
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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Source: JoeChristensen / iStock via Getty Images
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
Source: Courtesy of La Brasserie Fondamentale - LBF
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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Source: Courtesy of Eight Degrees Brewing
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
Source: Courtesy of 12 Acres Brewing
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
Source: Courtesy of Round Corner Brewing
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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Source: Courtesy of Brixton Brewery
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
Source: Courtesy of Brewery John Martin - The Finest Drinks Company
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
Source: Courtesy of Delirium Brewery
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
Source: Courtesy of Cervejaria Leopoldina
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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Source: ViktoriiaNovokhatska / iStock via Getty Images
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
Source: Courtesy of Wäls
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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Source: Courtesy of Wäls
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
Source: Courtesy of Wäls
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
Source: Courtesy of La Voie Maltée
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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Source: Courtesy of Microbrasserie Le Trou du diable
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
Source: Courtesy of Indie Ale House
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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Source: andresr / E+ via Getty Images
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
Source: Courtesy of Brasserie D'Orville
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
Source: Courtesy of Brasserie de Bretagne
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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Source: Courtesy of Brasserie de Bretagne
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
Source: Courtesy of Brasserie De Vezelay
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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Source: Courtesy of Maisel & Friends
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
Source: Courtesy of Crew Republic
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
Source: Courtesy of Crew Republic
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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Source: Courtesy of Franciscan Well Brewery
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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Source: Courtesy of Minoh Beer
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
Source: recep-bg / E+ via Getty Images
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
Source: Courtesy of Platinum
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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Source: Courtesy of Dois Corvos Cervejeira
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
Source: Courtesy Cinco Chagas: Cerveja Artesanal Portuguesa
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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Source: Courtesy of San Miguel
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
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Courtesy of Brouwhoeve
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
Source: Courtesy of Doppelleu Boxer
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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Source: Courtesy of Hawkshead Brewery
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
Source: Courtesy of Wychwood Brewery
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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Source: Courtesy of Big Drop Brewing Co.
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
Source: Courtesy of Saranac
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
Source: Courtesy of No Li Brewery
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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