Report highlights the highest-rated IPA-style craft beer in Colorado
Everyone knows Colorado loves its IPAs – almost to the point where it’s a bit cliche now, to be honest. But hey, I’m a fan of a good IPA. Short for India Pale Ale, this craft beer variety is crisp and hoppy, originating in the United Kingdom with the higher hop content serving as a natural preservative for lengthy travel by sea.
While the popularity of the IPA seemed to drop off along with the dip in its necessity, it’s come roaring back in recent years amid the latest craft beer revolution. I’d venture to say nearly all of Colorado’s 400-plus craft breweries have at least one IPA on tap, with many spots going to far as to specialize in the style.
With all the hype around IPAs in mind, a company called VinePair recently released a report that showcased the top-rated IPAs on a state-by-state basis, utilizing data from the popular beer-rating website BeerAdvocate.
Before looking into Colorado’s ‘top pick,’ it’s important to note that only beers that had at least 100 reviews were included in the report. This means that the seasonal IPA served up at the mom-and-pop craft beer spot down the street from your house probably wasn’t up for consideration.
Without further ado, the highest-rated IPA in Colorado was determined to be ‘Juicy Bits,’ a 6.7% ABV New England-style IPA produced by Greeley’s WeldWerks Brewing. It’s got an impressive 95 of 100 rating on BeerAdvocate.com, which scores in the category of ‘World Class.’
Juicy Bits is said to feature a “huge citrus and tropical fruit hop character from the Moasaic, Citra, and El Dorado hops,” also with a smoother mouthfeel thanks to adjusted water chemistry, higher protein malts, and lower attenuation. The ‘Juicy Bits’ name comes from how the beer has been described to be “reminiscent of citrus juice with extra pulp.”
Thanks to the popularity of Juicy Bits, it’s not hard to find at grocery stores and liquor stores in Colorado and beyond. If a Centennial State tap room offers a dozen beer options or more, it’s usually one of them.
Do you think Juicy Bits deserves its ‘top-rated’ status? What’s another IPA that might not have 100 reviews yet, but could also compete with the best? Let us know in the comments.
Find the full state-by-state breakdown from VinePair here. And remember, because many of these beers are quite popular, you might be able to track down the out-of-state beers in Colorado, too.
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