ranking of IPAs currently availible in ontario

matt7215 · Post by **matt7215** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:58 pm

ive been on a huge IPA kick of lately and over the last 2 weekends ive had my wife serve me IPAs blind all products were purchased at LCBO locations and all were packaged in 2012, i scored them on scale out of 5 (ratebeer scale) here is how they stacked up:

1 - Red Racer (4.6/5)
2 - Mad Tom (4.5/5)
3 - Southern Tier (4.1/5)
4 - Smash Bomb (3.9/5)
5 - Curmudgeon (3.7/5)
6 - Tree Hop Head (3.5/5)
7 - Beaus IPEh (3.3/5)
8 - Dead Elephant (3/5)
9 - Duggan #9 (2.9/5)

wondering how everyone else thinks these compare to each other

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 7:39 pm

My personal ranking is as follows:

1 - Red Racer
2 - Smash Bomb )
3 - Mad Tom
4 - Tree Hop Head
-------------------------------------
5 - Southern Tier
6 - Curmudgeon
7 - Beaus IPEh
8 - Dead Elephant
9 - Duggan #9

Above the line are the ones I would buy again and/or keep in the fridge for guests. Below the line I don't see myself buying again unless in bar with less impressive alternatives.

Cale · Post by **Cale** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:08 pm

I believe Southern Tier deserves a revisit for many people. The recent six-pack I had was much hoppier, drier, and overall more enjoyable than any six-pack I have had previously. Much more pale in colour as well. Assuming that batch wasn't a fluke..

I have no idea what my top ten would be. Right now my #1 & #2 would be Red Racer and Curmudgeon - but I would take a fresh pint of draught Smashbomb over anything in the LCBO.

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:22 pm

Cale wrote:I believe Southern Tier deserves a revisit for many people. The recent six-pack I had was much hoppier, drier, and overall more enjoyable than any six-pack I have had previously. Much more pale in colour as well. Assuming that batch wasn't a fluke..

Interesting. My issue with it has always been that it wasn't hoppy enough. If I can find an LCBO that will sell me a single bottle I might give it another try.

JeffPorter · Post by **JeffPorter** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:13 am

Re: Beau's IPEh...

I just can't drink the stuff...and I like all of Beau's seasonals (but this one)...There's a real overwhelming yeastiness in that beer that I can't get past...

My top 5:

1. Red Racer
2. Mad Tom
3. Hop Head
4. Curmudgeon (I look an good English IPA!)
5. Smashbomb

kafercrazy · Post by **kafercrazy** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:28 am

shouldn't Crazy Canuck be mentioned in here....

matt7215 · Post by **matt7215** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:30 am

kafercrazy wrote:shouldn't Crazy Canuck be mentioned in here....

nope its an american pale ale, we can do that list next if you like

spinrsx · Post by **spinrsx** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:00 am

I know it's an APA, but for my hoppy beer fix I like crazy canuck more than any of the IPA's available in ontario.

matt7215 · Post by **matt7215** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:10 am

spinrsx wrote:I know it's an APA, but for my hoppy beer fix I like crazy canuck more than any of the IPA's available in ontario.

i dont disagree, i drink more crazy canuck then any of the IPA's i listed, though Mad Tom would be close

The Mick · Post by **The Mick** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:18 am

Top 5 would be:
Smashbomb
Red Racer
Southern Tier
Hop Head
Curmudgeon

if we were considering Canuck I'd put it third.

Ale's What Cures Ya · Wed Feb 22, 2012 12:28 pm

Red Racer
Mad Tom
Hop Head
Southern Tier
Draft Smashbomb.

andrewrg · Post by **andrewrg** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:04 pm

Boneshaker (does this count as "available in Ontario"?)
Mad Tom
Red Racer
Beau's Beaver River
Smash Bomb

Ale's What Cures Ya · Post by **Ale's What Cures Ya** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:06 pm

andrewrg wrote:Boneshaker (does this count as "available in Ontario"?)

If so, then it becomes my number 1 and knocks Smashbomb off the list.

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:16 pm

Ale's What Cures Ya wrote:
andrewrg wrote:Boneshaker (does this count as "available in Ontario"?)
If so, then it becomes my number 1 and knocks Smashbomb off the list.

Looks like I have another one to revisit. Has it changed significant in recent months? I had a bottle close to a year ago and was unimpressed.

matt7215 · Post by **matt7215** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:20 pm

andrewrg wrote:Boneshaker (does this count as "available in Ontario"?)

sure it does, my list included only LCBO product because thats all i could buy before i did the blind tasting

if you have access to boneshaker and its your #1 then its your #1