Celebrate National IPA Day with these beers from Columbia and around Missouri
Consider the IPA.
Actually, considering the IPA is a popular pastime for drinkers who love debating the relative merits of the hoppy brew that has come to dominate the craft beer world.
"IPAs are the most popular craft beer segment and continue to expand, with Hazy IPAs gaining popularity as consumers move toward juicier and fruitier beers," IBISWorld senior analyst Grace Wood told Beverage Industry magazine in its 2023 report.
In an article last fall, the magazine also noted IPAs make up around 46 percent of the craft market, citing research from Chicago firm Information Resources Inc.
The India pale ale, in all its varied styles, gets a lot of love — but also its share of hate. No doubt, some beer drinkers simply don't enjoy the style; others might balk at the culture that has grown up around it.
In a 2017 article for Craft Beer and Brewing, Jordanne Bryant listed 10 reasons consumers might not like IPA. They ranged from "The residual sugar or high ABV left you with a terrible hangover" to "You think they’re a bad showcase of brewing ability simply because everyone is making them," from "You have an allergy to plants and show sensitivity to hops oils" to "You haven’t tried enough IPAs to know you hate them."
National IPA Day is marked on the first Thursday of August and, no matter where you fall on the love-hate spectrum, Columbia craft breweries continue to innovate within the broader category. They reliably deliver choices to the interested consumer.
So whether taking a first sip or giving them one more try, here are just six of many local IPAs worth paying your attention.
Broadway Brewery 11 Point IPA
A staple of the downtown brewery's lineup, this IPA evokes "the pine trees and wildflowers you may find along the Eleven Point River," its namesake in southern Missouri. 6% ABV.
Broadway Brewery Perpetual Twilight Hazy IPA
Also from Broadway Brewery, part of its rotating IPA series, this hazy offering is "double dry-hopped," the brewery notes. 6.5% ABV. Visit https://www.broadwaybrewery.com/beer for more details.
Bur Oak Brewing Company Big Tree IPA
Named for the iconic mid-Missouri tree, Bur Oak's signature IPA promises "a mild caramel malt character" along with all those hops. 7.6% ABV. Visit https://buroakbeer.com/beers/ to learn more.
Flat Branch Pub and Brewing Ed's IPA
Made with British hops and yeast culture, this Flat Branch staple boasts an "assertive" bitterness yet a "crisp, dry, and clean" taste. 6% ABV. Visit https://www.flatbranch.com/beer/.
Logboat Brewing Co. Snapper
Four hop varieties — Centennial, El Dorado, Chinook and Columbus — congregate in this year-round offering from Logboat. For a little fun, try Snapper in its seasonal pineapple version. 7.2% ABV.
Logboat Leon White IPA
Festooned with snowman imagery on the can, this IPA is worth waiting for when you need a little Christmas feeling. 6.5% ABV. Visit https://www.logboatbrewing.com/beers for availability.
Other great Missouri IPAs
Here are but a few of the other quality IPAs available from Missouri breweries:
2nd Shift Art of Neurosis (St. Louis): 7.7% ABV
4 Hands Divided Sky Rye IPA (St. Louis): 6.5% ABV https://www.4handsbrewery.com/beers
Boulevard Brewing Company Space Camper Cosmic IPA (Kansas City): 5.9% ABV https://www.boulevard.com/beer/our-beers/
Crane Brewing Farmhouse IPA (Raytown): 6.8% ABV https://cranebrewing.com/beer/
Mother's Brewing Lil' Helper Midwest Coast IPA (Springfield): 7% ABV https://www.mothersbrewing.com/
Piney River Missouri Mule IPA (Bucyrus): 7% ABV https://pineyriverbrewing.com/beer/
Springfield Brewing Co. Greene Ghost IPA (Springfield): 6.5% ABV https://brewery.springfieldbrewingco.com/our-beers/
Urban Chestnut Fantasyland West Coast IPA (St. Louis): 7% ABV https://www.urbanchestnut.com/our-beers
Do non-alcoholic IPAs exist in Missouri?
Absolutely they do. Among them, Kansas City leader Boulevard makes the Flying Start, which promises "big hop presence on your nose and palate, and just enough bitterness to please the pickiest hop heads."
And WellBeing Brewing Co. in St. Louis makes only non-alcoholic craft beers, including its Intentional IPA.
Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter @aarikdanielsen.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: On National IPA Day, give the style another try with these Columbia beers
