12 best IPAs to suit every palate, from hoppy to mellower ales

Best: Overall

Part of this Manchester brewery’s east coast series of IPAs, and with the hazy appearance and tropical fruit notes associated with the style, this pours like cloudy apple or pineapple juice and – though it isn’t in any way intensely sweet or cloying – has subtle hints of those fruits. Its colour is pale chartreuse and aromas of white peach and pineapple are balanced with malty, nutty, savoury flavours that border on herbaceous.

Throw in pretty floral notes, pink grapefruit, a drizzle of honey and a hint of brown butter and it’s a miracle it feels so mellow and well-balanced. But no flavour outdoes any other; they huddle and sway in unison rather than jostling for attention. The fine, mousse-y bubbles and dry finish make it dangerously easy to sip, too.

Best: For surprising flavours

This hazy, golden beauty dances between tropical fruits, bitter pine, smoky sweetness and an almost marine tang. It pours on the frothy side, with fine, smooth bubbles that never veer towards the gassy side, and manages to balance a complex and unusual array of flavours.

We found it a little savoury, with salty, nutty, woody notes, lifted by notes of pineapple and lightly charred orange peel (like the kind you get in hip cocktail bars). The finish is unusual, too, with the texture and flavour of brown butter cut through by the clean, crisp citrus qualities.

Best: For complexity

We knew this was going to be delicious as soon as we poured it, revealing a marshmallowy froth and a hazy, peachy-pink golden hue. That might suggest it’s sweet and simple, though it’s neither, really. There are classic west coast characteristics of bitter pine and citrus, though it also brings in charred pineapple, hay and a smokiness that’s reminiscent of a tangy brie.

The creamy texture and mousse-like bubbles mean it slips down easily, though its potent flavours – beautifully balanced as they are – might not appeal to those who prefer fruitier styles. Those who love peaty whiskies, though, are likely to adore it. This would stand up wonderfully to a range of foods, too, from peppery stews to strong cheeses.

Best: For sunshine in a glass

London-based Villages Brewery has somehow managed to bottle – or, rather, can – the taste of spring sunshine. Its rafiki session IPA is a pale, hazy, orange-tinged caramel in colour, which is reflected in flavours of apricot, mango and white blossom.

It’s like peaches soaked in honey, with the liquid drained off, topped with crisp, fine bubbles and toughened up with a robust, but still subtle, hint of hops. It’s not too heavy on the hop-front at all though and its balance of smooth maltiness and subtle flavours like hazelnut, caramel, burnt sugar and stone fruit should make it a real crowd-pleaser.

Best: For pairing with food

This is one of those beers that just keeps delivering. The first arrival is an intense hit of zingy, vibrant fizz, followed up by a creamy, almost buttery, mouthfeel. That all falls back to reveal bitter notes of green walnut, the smooth sweetness of pale, set honey and the sunniness of some fruits.

It’s subtly sweet and juicy but never cloying, has a savoury character without ever being unpleasant or hard to drink, and brings bitterness that isn’t overpowering or lip-puckering. Pairing with food brings the stone-fruit flavours to the fore, with peach and apricot filling the mouth like fruity sunshine.

Best: For old-school flavours

The beautifully designed label gives a heavy hint that this is an IPA based on the original style, with hops added to the brew in the 18th century so the beer could survive the long journey from Britain to India. So, while its caramel, nutty notes and amber hue might seem to belong to a bitter rather than an IPA, this is actually how they used to be. Or, more likely, far better and more sophisticated than they used to be.

Flavour-wise, it delivers a burst of orange peel, softened by a mild, almost malty sweetness and a touch of toffee. Hearty enough to serve with a stew or roasted meats, yet also beautifully refreshing, it manages to be both complex and very easy to drink. It finishes crisply, with a lingering slick of honey.

Best: For sipping in the sun

Some fruit-driven IPAs can be overpowered by an almost synthetic sweetness. Not this one, which bursts with tropical fruits and tangerine zing complemented by peach, white flowers, pistachio, honey and a touch of toast.

This is a joyously sunny sipper, perfect for a picnic or barbecue, with fine, soft bubbles that make it easy to drink, too – perhaps dangerously so, given its six per cent ABV. With a hazy, pale yellow colour, well-rounded texture and balanced flavours, this should appeal to people who might usually find IPAs too bitter or grassy, while also pleasing confirmed hop fans.

Best: Thirst quencher

This intensely refreshing beer from Amity, a brewery based in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, showcases just how dynamic the IPA category has become. This is a cold IPA, a kind of IPA and lager cross that’s become popular in the US, using pilsner malts, lager yeast and Nelson Sauvin hops – a variety from New Zealand often compared with that country’s grassy, gooseberry-like sauvignon blancs.

Like those wines, this should be served ice-cold and ideally in a chilled glass. Its clear, amber-gold hue belies its complexity. It’s surprisingly savoury, with aromas of herby olives, nuts and thyme, while fruity flavours of nectarine and peach – along with a little orange blossom honey – provide balance. Refreshing like a lager, yet robust like an IPA.

Best: Beer with purpose

The first taste is of peach, unfurling into pineapple with a hint of herbs before finishing with toasty, slightly nutty flavours. This is an easy-drinker that’s instantly refreshing, yet with a lingering, relatively complex range of aromas that dance about the palate.

There’s also a hint of honey here, bringing a delicate sweetness without being cloying. You can sip it with a clear conscience, too, knowing that it’s both vegan-friendly and that a percentage of profits goes to charities that work to combat ocean plastics.

Best: Easy-drinker

This gloriously refreshing IPA is the kind you might crave after a long and/or hot day. In the glass, it has a clear, golden hue that tells you it’s going to be a thirst-quencher, and it is. The first flavours we picked up were of rose petals or Turkish delight, with pistachio, hazelnut, apricot and a little butteriness coming through.

It’s crisp and cool with a kind of warming, comforting undertone that hugs the throat, thanks to notes of caramel and buttered toast. A perfect crowd pleaser that’s nevertheless well crafted and complex.

Best: For hearty flavours

Packaged in a striking, medicine-style bottle, St Peter’s India pale ale is instantly evocative of the early English IPAs and its taste matches the look. It pours an appealing orange-tinged toffee colour, with equally appetising aromas of peach, apricot and caramel on the nose.

The hops are forward – pushy, even – but mellowed by the malty sweetness and fruitiness, with hints of hazelnut, lemon and petals lifting it further. A rounded yet refreshingly crisp finish makes this one that transcends seasons – equally at home with a bowl of stew in front of a cosy fire as accompanying burnt sausages at a summer barbecue.

Best: For mellow maltiness

The UK’s oldest brewery is another that’s bringing back the traditional style of IPA, and this is a fine example. Its colour evokes caramel and burnt butter and that’s indicative of at least some of the flavours on the palate. In many ways more like a malt-driven brown ale than what people might consider a “typical” IPA, it’s a beautifully balanced beer that’s classic, subtle and easy to drink.

With a round, almost buttery mouthfeel, a touch of baking spice and bitterness from the Kent-grown Fuggles hops, it packs a punch – but with its fist sheathed in a silky glove. Perfect with cheeses, hearty stews and spicy food, with its mellow bitterness a perfect counterbalance to strong flavours.