Highest rated IPAs in Maryland

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November 4, 2022
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Highest rated IPAs in Maryland

The craft beer revolution has taken a major bite out of macrobrew's traditional dominance of the national palette, and India pale ale is perhaps the most popular category to find traction in its wake. A wide range of flavor profiles and varieties—not to mention a generally higher alcohol content—make what constitutes an IPA a much more diverse profile than the average lager, which tend to run thinner, less hoppy, and in some cases wheatier.

A full breakdown of precisely what makes an IPA an IPA is as complex as the process of its creation. Some brands position themselves by the "type" of IPA they are—session, double IPA, dry hopped, double dry hopped, and so forth; others focus on the region or state in which they are created, which explains East and West Coast varietals as well as Belgian and British IPAs. India pale ale actually takes its origins from the British Isles. During the British colonial era, the intense heat and humidity of then-colony India made the brewing of a sustainable beer impractical, particularly one that could withstand the months-long sea voyage from India to Britain, but that didn't mean British sailors didn't still need a drink. Thus—as hops are a preservative—a heavily hopped beer was devised, and now centuries later there exists a mass spectrum of hoppy, deeply profiled, occasionally fruity ales that have a loyal following.

In 2020, the overall IPA category accounted for 19% of all beer sales, according to Drizly, putting it ahead of all other beer types and second only to hard seltzer. Paige Guzman, chief marketing officer for California-based brewer Lagunitas, told Craft Brewing Business, "What started as a fixture of the craft brew category has now grown into its own subset on the shelf." Pandemic-related shutdowns have only further fueled the success of the IPA market, and every state in the nation has both its favorites and its keystone brewers and producers.

Stacker compiled a list of the best IPAs from Maryland using data from BeerAdvocate. A maximum of 5 IPAs per brewery were included. So if you want to know if your favorite made the list, or you're looking for a new local brew to add to your go-to IPA arsenal, this list has got you covered.

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BeerAdvocate

#30. BMORE HAZY

- Rating: 4.15 (12 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Oliver Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
2 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#29. Smoking Buddies

- Rating: 4.11 (21 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Stillwater Artisanal Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
3 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#28. This Floor is Snakes

- Rating: 4.18 (11 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 10.00%
- Brewery: Oliver Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
4 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#27. Face Chop

- Rating: 4.12 (21 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.20%
- Brewery: Cushwa Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
5 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#26. Nordic Brume

- Rating: 4.23 (10 ratings)
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 7.00%
- Brewery: Elder Pine Brewing & Blending Co
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

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6 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#25. Lot #3 IPA

- Rating: 4.06 (1,093 ratings)
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 6.80%
- Brewery: Evolution Craft Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
7 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#24. Remember Me

- Rating: 4.12 (30 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Stillwater Artisanal Ales
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
8 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#23. The Truth

- Rating: 4.08 (902 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.70%
- Brewery: Flying Dog Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
9 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#22. NOBO

- Rating: 4.15 (34 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 6.50%
- Brewery: Monument City Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
10 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#21. Peace Among Worlds

- Rating: 4.25 (13 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Cushwa Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

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11 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#20. SOBO

- Rating: 4.18 (24 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Monument City Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
12 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#19. Hazy Not Lazy

- Rating: 4.31 (10 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 7.50%
- Brewery: Mully's Brewery
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
13 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#18. Lot #6 Double IPA

- Rating: 4.11 (779 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.50%
- Brewery: Evolution Craft Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
14 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#17. 100 - Mosaic

- Rating: 4.31 (12 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.50%
- Brewery: Burley Oak Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
15 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#16. Biggest Cush

- Rating: 4.31 (13 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 10.00%
- Brewery: Cushwa Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

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16 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#15. Lumber Sexual

- Rating: 4.17 (61 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.80%
- Brewery: RAR Brewing (Realerevival)
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
17 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#14. Greener Machine

- Rating: 4.28 (17 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 9.40%
- Brewery: Diamondback Beer
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
18 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#13. Hop Broth

- Rating: 4.21 (38 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: Diamondback Beer
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
19 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#12. ChopDank

- Rating: 4.17 (96 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 9.50%
- Brewery: RAR Brewing (Realerevival)
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
20 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#11. Search and Destroy

- Rating: 4.23 (36 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 10.00%
- Brewery: Burley Oak Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

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21 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#10. Snip Snap

- Rating: 4.39 (14 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.50%
- Brewery: Sapwood Cellars
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
22 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#9. Natural Progression

- Rating: 4.38 (15 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 8.20%
- Brewery: Cushwa Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
23 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#8. Grapefruit Nectar

- Rating: 4.22 (88 ratings)
- Type: American IPA
- ABV: 7.40%
- Brewery: RAR Brewing (Realerevival)
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
24 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#7. NeePaa

- Rating: 4.45 (12 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 7.60%
- Brewery: Cushwa Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
25 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#6. Reaper

- Rating: 4.23 (87 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.00%
- Brewery: RAR Brewing (Realerevival)
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

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26 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#5. Citralaxy

- Rating: 4.25 (79 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 7.50%
- Brewery: Burley Oak Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
27 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#4. Double Duckpin

- Rating: 4.25 (618 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.50%
- Brewery: Union Craft Brewing Company
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
28 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#3. Head Stash

- Rating: 4.38 (28 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.50%
- Brewery: Burley Oak Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
29 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#2. 100 - Vic Secret

- Rating: 4.42 (22 ratings)
- Type: Imperial IPA
- ABV: 8.50%
- Brewery: Burley Oak Brewing Co.
- Read more on BeerAdvocate
30 / 30
BeerAdvocate

#1. Hyde

- Rating: 4.3 (105 ratings)
- Type: New England IPA
- ABV: 6.40%
- Brewery: RAR Brewing (Realerevival)
- Read more on BeerAdvocate

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