The IPA, short for India Pale Ale, is a beer style characterized by big flavour and intense hop profile. During the craft beer boom of past few decades, breweries across the province released a ton of beers but it was the IPAs that attracted the craft beer enthusiasts, acting as a symbol of pride and prowess.
BC boasts a dizzying number of IPAs from breweries all over, packed into liquor stores and pubs across the province. In this article, we’re highlighting some of the best. But first, what is an IPA and where’s the name from?
What is an IPA?
IPAs are well-known for their heavier levels of hoppiness, aromas, bitterness and alcohol content. Everything is stronger. And as a result, IPAs are able to provide some of the most potent and delicious flavour. Over the years, brewers have evolved the standard IPA into variations, such as the Hazy IPA, Double IPA, Cold IPA, White IPA, and even Milkshake IPA. There are also region-based variations like Belgian, New England, West Coast and English, each with its own defining characteristic.
The original IPA got its name from the British Colonial era in the 18th century, when the Brits were making long journeys to and from the colonies in India. Tragically, their beer was not surviving the long trips. The solution was adding hops to the beer, which acted as a natural preservative and prevented the beer from spoiling during long excursions of up to 6 months.
In the 1970s, North American brewers started experimenting with the hops to create unique flavours and aromas, rather than just using them for preservation.
The Best IPAs in BC
BC could be considered the craft beer capital of Canada. The craft culture is vibrant, plus BC has the highest number of craft breweries per capita – which is more than any province, led by towns like Penticton and Victoria. Here are some of the standout IPAs made right here in BC:
Fat Tug IPA
Fat Tug is the flagship beer of Driftwood Brewery in Victoria. Quite possibly the most popular IPA in the province, Fat Tug has taken home several awards including “Most Consumed BC Craft Beer”, “Beer of the Year” and “Best BC Craft Beer”. This Northwest-style IPA has an intense hop profile with flavours of grapefruit, mango, melon and passionfruit, made with Cascade, Columbus, Centennial, Amarillo and Citra hops.
ABV: 7%
Colour & Shape IPA
Colour & Shape IPA is the crown jewel IPA of Superflux Beer Company, a brewer out of Vancouver that specializes in hoppy IPAs. It’s their image of the everyday IPA, with strong drinkability, less bitterness and great flavour. Citra hops are the key player here, which create flavour notes of tropical and citrus fruit.
ABV: 6.5%
Chromograph Cold IPA
The Chromograph Cold IPA from Twin City Brewing in Port Alberni won “Best Specialty IPA” in 2024. The specialty is in the ‘Cold’ – a brewing technique that borrows the crisp, clean profile of lager yeast to improve drinkability. The beer is also categorized as a West Coast IPA, being made with Simcoe, El Dorado and Mosaic hops.
ABV: 7.6%
Widowmaker IPA
The Widowmaker IPA from Backcountry Brewing in Squamish is an East Coast-style IPA with a juicy hop flavour and lighter malt profile. It’s Backcountry’s signature IPA with a big, pulpy body and a less harsh bitterness rating.
ABV: 6.7%
Red Racer IPA
The Red Racer IPA from Central City Brewers in Surrey is a very well distributed beer that has taken home numerous awards over the past 15 years. This iconic beer is the brew master’s choice, with an intense Magnum and Citra hop profile that lingers on the finish. This one’s all about the hops.
ABV: 6.5%
Play Dead IPA
The Play Dead IPA from Yellow Dog Beer in the craft beer hub of Port Moody is a classic American-style IPA with a full-bodied backbone and a dry finish. The hop profile provides notes of tropical fruits, while allowing the beer to remain quite drinkable.
ABV: 6.8%
Vexillum Imperial IPA
The Vexillum Imperial IPA from Four Winds Brewing in Delta gets its name from the ancient Roman symbol for strength and nobility. Also known as a double IPA, the imperial IPA is stronger and hoppier than traditional IPAs. Vexillum brings tasty notes of grapefruit, citrus and melon.
ABV: 8%
Juice Plus IPA
The Juice Plus IPA from Twin Sails Brewing in Port Moody is a notched-up version of their very popular Dat Juice Pale Ale. Headlined by double dry hopped Citra hops, this Hazy/New England style IPA remains light and fruity while packing a powerful punch.
ABV: 7.5%
Out of the Park Pineapple Milkshake IPA
The Out of the Park Pineapple Milkshake IPA from Parkside Brewery in Port Moody incorporates the innovative Milkshake style, which involves adding lactose to create a creamier mouthfeel. This IPA is made with Denali and Azacca hops, plus real pineapple juice for a tropical-fruit sweetness.
ABV: 6.7%
Hippity Hop Hazy IPA
The Hippity Hop Hazy IPA is a mainstay at Dead Frog Brewery in Langley. This hoppy beer is built on Amarillo, Azacca and Mosaic hops, and is bursting with flavours of real mango, melon and tropical citrus juice.
ABV: 5.5%
Snake Island Black IPA
The Snake Island Cascadian Dark Ale (AKA Black IPA) from White Sails Brewing in Nanaimo won World’s Best Black IPA back in 2017, a prestigious award for a small-time brewery on Vancouver Island. The Black IPA is an American-style IPA that’s dark in colour but less hoppy and bitter. Instead, this Snake Island Black IPA has notes of coffee, chocolate and pine.
ABV: 6.5%
Shop your favourite IPAs at Springs Group’s 14 liquor stores around the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. We’ve got craft beers in stock from across the province, plus friendly staff to help you find anything.
