A few weekends ago, my friends Adam, Stephanie and I headed to Saravez’s (featured in the documentary “The Love of Beer”) for the 4th Annual IIPA Fest.

For those of you who don’t know IIPA stands for “Imperial Indian Pale Ale.”  They are also called Double IPAs.  This is an Indian Pale Ale that is a stronger, very hoppy variant of IPAs (Indian Pale Ales).  They typically have an alcohol content above 7.5% by volume.  That being said.  When you go to an IIPA Fest:

• Don’t drive or ride your bike – just walk or take a cab.
• Drink plenty of water – like a glass for every 4 oz. taster
• Eat food – breakfast, lunch and dinner.

That being said, here is what we tried:

• DUB by 10 Barrel – 9.5% and 100+ IBUs
• Dire Wolf by Alameda – 9.5% and 100+ IBUs – Made specifically for the IIPA Fest.  One of my favorites 🙂
• Dopeacetic by Amnesia – 8.5% and 88 IBUs – Made specifically for the IIPA Fest and the Official IIPA of the IIPA Fest
• Forklift by Barley Brown – 9% and ? IBUs
• Simcoe Rocketed Sticky Hands by Block 15 – 8.25% and ? IBUs – Made specifically for the IIPA Fest and smelled amazing!
• Old School Hop Bomb by Breakside – 8.4% and 75 IBUs
• Houblon Red by de Garde – 10.4% and 90 IBUs – This was a barrel-aged Imperial India Wild Ale and tangy!
• Posuer by Double Mountain – 10% and ? IBUs – This was a Tripple Pale Ale
• Xtra Hopped Omegatex by Fort George – 9.9% and ? IBUs – Made specifically for the IIPA Fest
• Xtra Hopped Whole in the Head Firkin by Gigantic – 8.5% and ? IBUs – Made specifically for the IIPA Fest
• Dirty Deeds by Lompoc – 8.5% and ? IBUs
• Mojo Rye’sn by Old Town Pizza – 7.5% and 100+ IBUs – Which we also had at the Rye Beer Fest!
• XS12PA by Rogue – 9.5% and 95 IBUs
• Devil’s Food by Solera – 9.4% and 75 IBUs – Made specicially for the IIPA Fest
• IIPA by Worthy – 8.5% and 85 IBUs
• Dorado by Ballast Point – 9.6% and ? IBUs
• Cafe Racer by Bear Republic – 9.75% and 100+ IBUs
• Dick’s Picks Konishiki by Elysian – 8% and 80 IBUs
• Aftermath by Hale’s – 9.9& and 100 IBUs
• Mosaic Dry-Hopped Jet Star Imperial IPA by No-Li – 8.1% and 90+ IBUs – Made specifically for the IIPA Fest
• Pliny the Elder by Russian River – 8% and ? IBUs
• Ruination by Stone – 7.7% and ? IBUs – Seeped with Centennial Hops, Pineapple and Tangerines!
• Rampant by New Belgium – 8.5% and 85 IBUs – Before going through a randall of Cascade hops.
• 120 Minute by Dogfish Head – 15-20% and 120 IBUs
• Oaked Uneathly by Southern Tier – 9.6% and ? IBUs
• Detour by Uinta – 9.5% and 74 IBUs
• Molotov Cocktail by Evil Twin – 14% and ? IBUs

What is your favorite Imperial Indian Pale Ale (IIPA)?