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  • 10 Best IPAs UK | BrewDog, London Beer Factory and More 1
  • 10 Best IPAs UK | BrewDog, London Beer Factory and More 2
  • 10 Best IPAs UK | BrewDog, London Beer Factory and More 3
  • 10 Best IPAs UK | BrewDog, London Beer Factory and More 4
  • 10 Best IPAs UK | BrewDog, London Beer Factory and More 5

10 Best IPAs UK | BrewDog, London Beer Factory and More

IPA or India Pale Ale launched the global craft beer movement, so read along with us to discover the taste revolution for yourself! This light, sparkling ale is known for its intense citrus notes and refreshing bitterness. These flavours are thanks to the unusually high quantity of hops - traditionally added (so the story goes) to preserve the ale on the long export to the Indian Colonies in the 1800s. 


Today IPA is still one of the most popular types of craft beer. Our buying guide will help you narrow down your choice from light and refreshing, to robust and hoppy, to dark and chocolatey. There truly is an IPA style to suit every palate and drinking preference. We've found some great products from Amazon, Tesco, and Asda, including IPAs by brands such as Goose Island, BrewDog, and Sadler's. Want to pour yourself a glass? Cheers!

Last updated 31/01/2025

Quick List - Top IPAs

1

Vocation

Life and Death IPA330ml can
Life and Death IPA

Punchy Yorkshire IPA With Notes of Tropical Fruits

2

Toast Ale

Pale Ale330ml can
Pale Ale

Sustainable IPA - Brewed With Malted Barley From Leftover Bread

3

Thornbridge

Jaipur IPA330ml can
Jaipur IPA

An Award-Winning Aromatic IPA With Grapefruit

4

London Beer Factory

Jungle Trip New England IPA440ml can
Jungle Trip New England IPA

Vegan-Friendly Full-Flavoured New England IPA

5

Black Sheep

Pineapple Milkshake IPA330ml can
Pineapple Milkshake IPA

A Sweet Milkshake IPA Brewed With Fresh Pineapple

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Guide
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Table of Contents

What Is an IPA?

What Is an IPA?

With such a large variety of beers available nowadays, you may be wondering - what is an IPA, and how does it differ from other drinks such as lagers and ales? 


The India Pale Ale (IPA) style is a broad beer style within an even broader category of pale ales. There many different substyles and variations underneath, but IPAs are generally very hoppy, refreshing beers. Depending on the substyle, alcohol content can vary from around 4% to 7% and over.


The higher amount of hops than usual in IPAs, results in a bitter and fruity taste that is great for drinking chilled in the summer. However, the taste of each kind of IPA can vary greatly depending on the quantity and type of hops used, the alcohol content and even the country of origin.

How to Choose an IPA in the UK - Buying Guide

Key Points to Consider
  1. West Coast IPAs Are Citrussy and Punchy and Double IPAs Are Seriously Strong
  2. Compare Different Breweries to Find the Best Craft Beers and Quality IPAs For You
  3. The Higher the IBU the More Bitter the Taste: Look For IPAs With a 40 - 70 IBU Rating
  4. IPAs Typically Have an Alcohol Content Between 5.5% And 9% 
1

Look To the Substyle for Food Pairings and Tasting Notes: West Coast IPAs Are Citrussy and Punchy, Double IPAs Are Seriously Strong

Look To the Substyle for Food Pairings and Tasting Notes: West Coast IPAs Are Citrussy and Punchy, Double IPAs Are Seriously Strong

Choose a DIPA (Double IPA) Or a West Coast IPA for Pairing With Rich or Spicy Food

If you're eating a hot curry, a grilled steak or a lamb dish, look out for indicators of a stronger, more bitter IPA to match. These can include a higher alcohol content styles such as DIPA  or 'Double IPA' (although not literally 'double' the alcohol content!) and West Coast IPA (referring to the US coast) which can reach as high as 80 IBU, on the bitterness scale.


You could also try pairing these full-bodied IPAs, made with punchy, citrusy hop varieties including Mosaic, Simcoe and Cascade, with sharp blue cheese flavours and bold, very sweet desserts like crème brulée, sticky toffee pudding and butterscotch cheesecake. 

Session IPAs Are Lower in Alcohol, Making Them a Great Choice For Mild and Creamy Dishes

For a refreshing IPA, keep an eye out for the term 'session IPA' (or 'SIPA'). This indicates a beer with a lower alcohol content - usually no more than 5% ABV - and a less bitter flavour meaning you can drink more of it in one session! It is also useful to look out for the term 'fresh-hopped', which means the hops made it from vine to beer in less than 24 hours. 


English IPAs, the original form of this style of beer, are golden in colour, light and grassy in flavour. Alternatively, look to distant shores and complement a pudding course with the slight sweetness of East Coast IPA.

For Beer Enthusiasts - New England IPAs and Black IPAs Provide Unusual Flavours and Textures

IPA certainly doesn't have to be paired with food - many are delicious on their own. Slightly more obscure but becoming ever more popular, NEIPAs - New England IPAs, are unfiltered, resulting in a hazy texture, creamy mouthfeel and bold, juicy flavours. The term BIPA or Black IPA, describes a dark beer that is a hybrid between IPA and stout and has a combination of fresh hoppiness and roasted fruit flavours.


If you'd like to try crafting your own concoctions, take a look at these homebrewing kits. 

Go For a Fruit or Milkshake IPA if You Like Sweet Beers, or Want to Try New Flavour Combinations

IPAs brewed using unorthodox ingredients, such as real fruits, vanilla, lactose or oats, have changed the game. Some connoisseurs may look down on these as not true examples of IPA - or, indeed, beer - but for many people, they are a great way to experiment and explore the endless fun, new flavour combinations. 


Beers brewed with fruit have existed for centuries, but fruity IPAs are relative newcomers to the market. You might be surprised by how many IPAs you can find nowadays with grapefruit, rhubarb or even banana on the ingredients list. 


If you have a really sweet tooth, Milkshake or Smoothie IPAs will be right up your street. While there's no official definition of these substyles, they are often brewed with lactose, which doesn't ferment in the same way that other sugars do and therefore gives it a sweet, milky flavour. Fruits and spices are also added to create a bold, pudding-worthy IPA.

2

Compare Different Breweries to Find the Best Craft Beers and Quality IPAs

Compare Different Breweries to Find the Best Craft Beers and Quality IPAs

Post-craft beer boom, there are so many breweries out there that it can seem overwhelming. For a safe choice, look toward some of the larger, more established companies offering classic IPAs that have become popular in the mainstream. An excellent example of this is BrewDog, a Scottish brewery whose founders were early to the craft beer scene, having started in 2007. 


Many fantastic IPAs come from smaller, newer breweries, which may offer a more diverse, unusual range of flavours and brewing methods. Make sure that you become familiar with the names of a couple of favourite breweries (large or small), so that you can keep on discovering what they have to offer.

3

The Higher the IBU the More Bitter the Taste : Look For IPAs With a 40 - 70 IBU Rating

The Higher the IBU the More Bitter the Taste : Look For IPAs With a 40 - 70 IBU Rating

A popular beer acronym that is useful to comprehend is IBU, standing for International Bitterness Units. The higher the IBU rating, the more bitter the beer. IPAs usually stand somewhere between 40 and 70 on this scale - Goose Island IPA with its 'bold hop finish' scores 55 on the IBU, while to give you a comparison, a lager will typically be only 8 to 15 IBU.


If you do fancy an alternative low IBU beverage, then here are the 10 best lagers we suggest. Or explore this selection of craft beers.

4

IPAs Typically Have an Alcohol Content Between 5.5% And 9%: Check the ABV to Drink Responsibly

IPAs Typically Have an Alcohol Content Between 5.5% And 9%: Check the ABV to Drink Responsibly

You've probably seen the abbreviation ABV before - this stands for "Alcohol by Volume" and refers to the percentage of the total volume of alcohol within the drink. IPAs usually range from about 5.5% to 9%. As a rule, the higher the ABV percentage, the stronger the taste of the IPA. Sadler's smooth Peaky Blinder Black IPA is 4.4% ABV, whilst Vocation's punchy Life and Death IPA is 6.5% ABV.


Was the Buying Guide helpful?

10 Best IPAs in the UK

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used. 
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Key features
1

Vocation

Life and Death IPA330ml can

Vocation Life and Death IPA 1

Punchy Yorkshire IPA With Notes of Tropical Fruits

2

Toast Ale

Pale Ale330ml can

Toast Ale Pale Ale 1

Sustainable IPA - Brewed With Malted Barley From Leftover Bread

3

Thornbridge

Jaipur IPA330ml can

Thornbridge Jaipur IPA 1

An Award-Winning Aromatic IPA With Grapefruit

4

London Beer Factory

Jungle Trip New England IPA440ml can

London Beer Factory  Jungle Trip New England IPA 1

Vegan-Friendly Full-Flavoured New England IPA

5

Black Sheep

Pineapple Milkshake IPA330ml can

Black Sheep Pineapple Milkshake IPA 1

A Sweet Milkshake IPA Brewed With Fresh Pineapple

6

Sadler's

Peaky Blinder Black IPA8 x 500ml bottles

Sadler's Peaky Blinder Black IPA 1

Smooth and Malty Black IPA

7

Brewdog

Punk IPA4x330ml cans

Brewdog Punk IPA 1

Popular Pub IPA With a Fruity Aftertaste

8

St Austell

Proper Job Ale500ml bottle

St Austell Proper Job Ale 1

A Golden, Hoppy IPA Brewed in Cornwall

9

Fourpure

Juicebox Citrus IPA 330ml can

Fourpure Juicebox Citrus IPA  1

Mango, Papaya and Real Orange Zest - Perfect for Summer

10

Goose Island

IPA4 x 300ml cans

Goose Island IPA 1

An Easy-Drinking, Modern IPA to Suit Any Occasion

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

Vocation
Life and Death IPA330ml can

Life and Death IPA 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£1.80
Low Mid
Reference price
£1.80
Low Mid

Punchy Yorkshire IPA With Notes of Tropical Fruits

This is an IPA of contradictions. It lives up to its dramatic name by achieving the unexpected combination of a robust, malty background and vibrant grapefruit and pine overtones. Strong carbonation is combined with a smooth, sweet finish.


Brewed in Yorkshire, the taste sensation is accessible yet complex, modest yet unique. On the surface, there isn't that much to differentiate this IPA from others of its kind, but it's a great example of a British-brewed IPA with a lot of thought put into it.

Was this Ranking helpful?
No.2

Toast Ale
Pale Ale330ml can

Pale Ale 1
Source:waitrose.com
Reference price
£2.00
Mid
Reference price
£2.00
Mid

Sustainable IPA - Brewed With Malted Barley From Leftover Bread

In the UK, a shocking 44% of bread is wasted, and this is the fact that Toast Ale has set out to change. Their idea is simple: to use the malted barley from leftover bread to brew their beer, and in the year of the brewery's existence, they rescued an incredible 1 million slices from landfill.


In addition, 100% of their profits go to charity, and they do everything they can to be a sustainable, climate-friendly brewery - you can't argue with that! What's more: their beer is tasty, too! This Pale Ale is a smooth, full-bodied flavour, with a refreshing feel, a biscuity, oaty maltiness, and sweet, citrus overtones. 

No.3

Thornbridge
Jaipur IPA330ml can

Jaipur IPA 1
Source:tesco.com
Reference price
£1.80
Low Mid
Reference price
£1.80
Low Mid

An Award-Winning Aromatic IPA With Grapefruit

Thornbridge's Jaipur is a perfectly balanced IPA bursting with powerful citrus flavours such as grapefruit and apricot. The extensive range of hops crammed into this beer give it a floral, almost spiced flavour, which makes a great contrast with the solid, malty backbone. Jaipur is a deliciously flavoursome IPA that has won over 100 worldwide awards.

No.4

London Beer Factory
Jungle Trip New England IPA440ml can

Jungle Trip New England IPA 1
Source:tesco.com
Reference price
£2.40
Mid
Reference price
£2.40
Mid

Vegan-Friendly Full-Flavoured New England IPA

This beer - like most NEIPAs - is unfiltered, which makes it vegan-friendly. It includes fresh pine and fleshy grape aromas, intermingling with grapefruit-citrus flavours with hops rumbling along below. A tropical flavour voyage of refreshment!

No.5

Black Sheep
Pineapple Milkshake IPA330ml can

Pineapple Milkshake IPA 1
Source:waitrose.com
Reference price
£1.50
Low Mid
Reference price
£1.50
Low Mid

A Sweet Milkshake IPA Brewed With Fresh Pineapple

Creamy and juicy with notes of vanilla, this beer is a great choice if you want to try a Milkshake IPA. The fresh pineapple balances with the lactose and the very light bitterness to create a sweet beer that's not too sickly. At the same time, the fragrant Denali hops add another dimension to the dominant pineapple flavour.


This IPA is best served very cold with ice cream, or it could even replace dessert altogether! When it comes to Milkshake IPAs, you'll either love them, or you'll hate them, but this serves as a nice introduction to this intriguing substyle.

No.6

Sadler's
Peaky Blinder Black IPA8 x 500ml bottles

Peaky Blinder Black IPA 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£14.40
High
Reference price
£14.40
High

Smooth and Malty Black IPA

Whether or not you're a fan of the TV show Peaky Blinders, this beer is an excellent example of the hard-to-find Black IPA substyle. This beer is a lovely combination of the refreshing, hoppy IPA style and the rich cocoa flavour synonymous with darker beers. Smooth, malty flavours of chocolate and roasted nuts give way to a grassy, floral aftertaste. 

No.7

Brewdog
Punk IPA4x330ml cans

Reference price
£5.00
High Mid

Popular Pub IPA With a Fruity Aftertaste

The most famous of Brewdog's wide range of top-rated beers, Punk IPA, has changed how many people drink beer and has made IPA a common sight in British supermarkets and pubs.


The clean, fresh flavour, moderate hoppiness and fruity aftertaste have made it the go-to beer for many. The low bitterness and gentle notes of pineapple and lychee make it highly drinkable and a solid - if generic - choice. 

No.8

St Austell
Proper Job Ale500ml bottle

Proper Job Ale 1
Source:tesco.com
Reference price
£1.49
Low Mid

A Golden, Hoppy IPA Brewed in Cornwall

Proper Job is an excellent representation of a typical golden ale. St. Austell Brewery has gone all-out on this beer, combining a blend of American hops creating a refreshing drink packed with citrus, pineapple and grapefruit notes. This bitter, golden IPA would pair perfectly with full-flavoured dishes.


The bitterness and crispness of this IPA mean that it is certainly not for everyone. That said, it's not that heavy, so you can easily have a couple without feeling too sloshed! If you're after bold flavours, this could be just what you're looking for.

No.9

Fourpure
Juicebox Citrus IPA 330ml can

Juicebox Citrus IPA  1
Source:tesco.com
Reference price
£2.50
Mid
Reference price
£2.50
Mid

Mango, Papaya and Real Orange Zest - Perfect for Summer

With fresh flavours of mango and papaya and brewed with real orange zest, this IPA captures the essence of a warm Summer's day. The dominant citrus flavours mean that this beer suits people who aren't fond of the taste of standard IPAs, or those who want to try something a bit different.


Fourpure's characteristic stylishly designed can pops with vibrant colour. The overall impression with this beer - with its relatively low ABV and plenty of fruity fizziness - is that it is almost more like orangeade than something recognisable as IPA.

No.10

Goose Island
IPA4 x 300ml cans

IPA 1
Source:waitrose.com
Reference price
£4.80
High Mid
Reference price
£4.80
High Mid

An Easy-Drinking, Modern IPA to Suit Any Occasion

Goose Island's approach to IPA is simple and stylish. They've fused the traditional English IPA with American hops to create a beer that is both gently bitter and lightly sweet.


This beer makes an excellent introduction to the IPA style. It's not too intense, yet it can also be a reliable session beer for seasoned IPA drinkers. However, this is not the most exciting of beers, and its mild flavour means that it doesn't deliver much beyond a solid foundation.

Top 5 IPAs

No. 1: VocationLife and Death IPA330ml can

No. 2: Toast AlePale Ale330ml can

No. 3: ThornbridgeJaipur IPA330ml can

No. 4: London Beer Factory Jungle Trip New England IPA440ml can

No. 5: Black SheepPineapple Milkshake IPA330ml can

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