8 Best IPAs For Beginners

For beer lovers, there's nothing quite as satisfying as tucking into a cold, crisp, and refreshing pint can of their favorite brew. But for some, certain beers are off the table. Thanks to their expected  bitterness and heaviness, IPAs often end up on even avid beer-drinkers' "always avoid" lists.  

But not all IPAs are created equal. Depending on the hops, malt, and other ingredients used in the brewing process, IPAs can have totally different flavor profiles, alcohol content, and bitterness levels. While some are intense, there are others that are a little more approachable — and perfect for those just dipping their toes into the world of IPAs. 

We spoke with two experts — Atlas Brew Works founder & CEO, Justin Cox, and Mixologist and Beverage Program Leader at Sanjh Restaurant & Bar, Sanwar Mal Khokhar — to get their take on which brews are best to start with. Discover our top IPAs for beginners to try them for yourselves.

For those new to IPAs, "​​a session IPA is a great place to start," said Justin Cox. Sanwar Mal Khokhar agrees, recommending the Founders All Day IPA. "If they mostly drink lagers or pilsners [this beer] still feels refreshing and fairly crisp, but now you're introducing them to citrus, floral, and tropical hop flavors without hitting them with too much intensity at once," he explained.

Brewed with Crystal, Cascade, Amarillo, and Simcoe hops, this 4.7% ABV brew is only moderately bitter (coming in at 42 IBUs, or International Bitterness Units, a measurement used to indicate a beer's bitterness). By almost all accounts, it's easy to drink, refreshing, and well-balanced. This balance is key for those skeptical of IPAs. Rather than hitting you over the head with the aggressive bitterness that some IPAs are known for, the All Day IPA is hoppy-but-approachable, making it an easy transition for beer fans accustomed to lighter beer styles.

Unlike many of the other beers on this list, Lagunitas isn't a fruit-forward IPA. Brewed with Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, and Simcoe hops, it has more of a pine and citrus flavor, especially compared to the tropical notes of other hop varieties like Citra and Mosaic. But that's one of the best things about IPAs, according to Justin Cox. "There are so many different IPA styles now that showcase very different flavor components from hops," he said. "That's the beauty of it. You can figure out what kind of hop character you like and run with it."

At 6.2% ABV and 51 IBUs, the Lagunitas IPA is a bit more bitter than some of the softer, fruitier, hazy IPAs out there. But the balance of hoppy and malty flavors helps keep that bitterness from taking over completely, so it's still approachable for beginners. And for someone ready to venture beyond the basics and into "classic West Coast combination of bitterness and hop aroma," as Cox put it, it's the ideal stepping stone.

If you're looking to dip your toe into IPAs, "Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing is [a] good place to start," said Sanwar Mal Khokhar. "You get that citrus and tropical character with a softer mouthfeel."

Hazy IPAs are generally known for fruity flavors and smoothness; they also tend to be less bitter than other IPA styles, making them a good starting point for those still warming up to IPAs. Hazy Little Thing is brewed with Citra, El Dorado, Magnum, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops, helping infuse the beer with tropical and citrus aromas and a fruit-forward flavor.

Its mild bitterness (35 IBUs) is balanced out by tasting notes of malt and pine — and for beer drinkers who associate IPAs with a strong, bitter flavor, this softer style can make all the difference. One drinker on BeerAdvocate describes it as "right up the middle for an IPA," thanks to its smooth mouthfeel and refreshing, fruity flavor that make it a good choice for IPA lovers and newbies alike. You can also check out the brand's other offerings, like a line of hard kombchuas. 

If you like citrus, look no further than this IPA. With aromas of tangerine and candied orange peel and flavors of clementine and orange, it's a fruity brew perfect for beer drinkers who have already tested the waters with a few softer, fruitier IPAs. Jai Alai amps up the bitterness at 70 IBUs — and serves up a taste of what more traditional IPAs have to offer — but still has the same familiar flavors as more approachable IPAs (with the addition of others, like caramel, to add depth).

While it's more bitter than some of the other intro IPAs the experts recommend, it's still balanced thanks to a malty quality that rounds it out. For newer IPA drinkers, this balance makes it easy to enjoy without feeling overpowered by intense hoppiness. The best part? It's widely available (unlike some smaller craft brews), so it's easy to get your hands on across the U.S..

When it comes to IPAs, the hops can make or break the experience. Those newer to IPAs should keep an eye out for which hops are used in the brew to help guide the progression, said Sanwar Mal Khokhar. After dabbling with a hazy IPA and beers with the citrus flavor from Cascade hops, "Centennial is a great next step," he explains. "Bell's Two Hearted is a nice example because it lets you see what Centennial can do very clearly."

This beer is dry hopped with 100% Centennial hops — or hops known for the citrus and floral notes. Often found in various American beers, they are clean, bright, and balanced. In Bell's Two Hearted IPA, that comes to life with aromas of pine and grapefruit and a light, bitter flavor.

At 7% ABV and 55 IBUs, the Two Hearted IPA is a bit more bitter and intense than more intro-level IPAs. But because of its single-hop make-up, it can help those newer to IPAs learn to recognize the traits of specific hop varieties — and give them a better idea of what to look for in the next IPA.

With an IBU of 60, this continually hopped IPA may seem a bit intense for beginners on paper. But the citrusy, grassy flavor isn't overwhelmingly bitter, so it's ideal for those looking to expand their palate — and also a crowd favorite among beer lovers. As one BeerAdvocate review put it, "Kind of everything great about a mid-strength IPA without most of the negative characteristics."

And Dogfish Head — founded by Sam Caligone — has you covered with bottles and different-sized cans of the best-selling brew. But if you can, try to find this beer at a local bar and get a pint. "If someone is just getting into IPAs, I'd much rather give them a fresh beer off a tap handle that's moving than an old six-pack that's been sitting around," explained Justin Cox. Beers on tap are also usually fresher (thanks to faster turnover), so you get the beer's most vibrant, truest flavors — since hoppy flavors fade over time — making it the best introduction.

Beers lower in ABV tend to be a little more palatable for those not used to drinking IPAs — and Dad Strength Brewing (seen on the hit show Shark Tank) has just the thing: its Hazy IPA. "The lower ABV makes it really approachable, and it has low bitterness, a soft mouthfeel, and a lot of fruit character," said Justin Cox. "The trap with hazy IPAs is that a lot of them are 7% to 8% and can be aggressively sweet. Dad Strength's is 2.9% ABV and still has that soft, fruit-forward character while staying balanced."

This "subtly hopped banger of a brew" (per the company's website) has notes of citrus and pineapple, and a smooth finish. Another bonus? It's only 94 calories per can, making it noticeably lighter than many other hazy IPAs. But it's not the calorie count that will attract non-IPA drinkers to this brew. "For me, the best first IPA isn't necessarily the least bitter IPA," said Sanwar Mal Khokhar. "It's the one that has some connection to flavors that person already enjoys" — and familiar fruit flavors make this perfect for newcomers.

For beer drinkers still learning the IPA ropes, Deschutes Fresh Squeezed (also the maker of Costco's signature lager) is a good introduction thanks to the fruity hops. Despite the name, the beer doesn't include any actual fruit; all of that aroma and flavor comes from the Citra and Mosaic hops. 

Both of these hop varieties bring fruity character to a beer. Citra is more bitter, while Mosaic has melon-y notes and a lighter overall feel. Combined, these two impart a ton of flavor that helps make this brew ultra-drinkable, And with an IBU of 50, this beer falls in the middle when it comes to IPA bitterness. It's crisp, refreshing, and only has a slight bitter aftertaste that fades quickly.

It's even available in a highly regarded and refreshing non-alcoholic beer for those who want to experiment with IPAs (but not with alcohol). The NA version is another easy way to explore this IPA and decide whether the flavor profile is for you.