Immediate grapefruit-peeled orange rind bittering reinforced by juniper berry, black tea, and peppery sage to white rye base of abstruse golden-hazed medium-bodied India Pale Ale. Though designated rye influence is minimal, earthen grassy-hopped peat malting firms up dry-spiced yellow-fruited finish. Finds convenient middle ground betwixt West Coast IPA and newfangled Black IPA styling.

Interesting bottle-conditioned copper-hazed India Pale Ale does about-face as caramel malt profile unexpectedly surpasses stylistic hop bitterness. Toasted lager attributes such as creamy butterscotch-marzipan sweetness and cereal-grained toasting anchor crisp tamped-down clay-hopped fruiting. Cantaloupe, melon, honey dew, pineapple, and red grapefruit tropicalia brighten corners. A very approachable IPA perfectly suited for lighter thirsts.

Brusque Old World English-styled IPA recommended to traditionalist British pub hounds who’ll take umbrage with negative designations. Expect tinny copper ale or musty Dortmunder likeness instead of more fashionable fruit-juiced pine-hopped bittering. Earthen fungi waft and black tea entry heighten weirdly vegetal broccoli rabe snippet, skunked herbal funk, and minor juniper astringency. Gnarly rye-hopped leaf-dried nut-smoked acridity relegates organic grain richness. Unlike American IPA’s, there’s no fruited sweetness countering rugged bitterness. Serve to savvy Brits and experimental pubcrawlers.

Marvelously ‘aggressive’ golden-hazed IPA conceived as veritable spruce-tipped fruit punch alternative. Chewy vanilla-creamed caramel-crystal malting contrasts piney-hopped fruiting (and floral hibiscus-daisy-dandelion nuance). Moderate grapefruit peel bittering informs juicy orange tang, lusty maraschino cherry ascension, and tropical pineapple-mango-papaya-cantaloupe sweetness to cereal-grained cookie dough spine. Totally approachable for pale ale and strong lager aficionados.

On tap, herbal-fruited earthen grain entry is certainly ‘disorienting’ compared to typical pine-fruited IPA styling, but exploratory drinkers may be appeased. Intervening rosemary-sage-thyme seasoning propels lemon-dried lime-lined orange-soured finish, upping its nifty peculiarity.

At New York Craft Beer Freaktoberfest ’10, easy-to-drink gold-hazed double IPA retained smooth medium-bodied moderation only fierce hop-heads could deride. Soft cereal-grained chestnut-almond nuttiness centers floral-hopped grapefruit bittering and spicy apple cobbler sweetness. Pineapple, peach, and cherry illusions fill backend. Serve as crossover to lighter ale guzzlers.

Smoother, less fruity, and less wood-embittered than most American-styled IPA’s, but quite rewarding as a simpler moderate-bodied changeup. Resinous earthen hop bittering comes to the fore, then fades abruptly as tangy orange-candied apricot-apple-pineapple mildness upends lemony grapefruit zest to toasted bread spine. Chewy honeyed malts underscore thin fruiting. Serve as crossover to lighter ale thirsts who’ll appreciate its understated nature.

Bringing back memories of riding pure blue-watered Mission Street waves in San Diego, fresh-fruited caramel-malted medium-to-full body renders fine West Coast IPA styling. Pine-spruced forest waft reinforces hop-charred grapefruit rind bittering above brisk apricot-tangerine-orange tang and tropical pineapple-mango-papaya sweetness. Granny Smith apple souring provides extra dimension.

Soft-toned cask conditioned version (tried at Manhattan watering hole, David Copperfields) cushions delicate vanilla-spiced orange entry with cotton-candied marshmallow sweetness and dainty pineapple-peach-papaya tropicalia. Slightest fungi yeast mustiness penetrates fruity frolic.

Exemplary amber-hazed medium-bodied pine-spruced Floridian brings indigenous tropical fruiting to creamy candi-sugared caramel malting. Floral-spiced peach, pear, pineapple, strawberry, mango, and quince illusions scatter across lingered grapefruit rind bittering. Never too hop-headed to deny accessibility to lighter ale disciples.

Crisply fruited amber-hazed medium body brings creamy caramel malting to floral-spiced apple-sliced peach-pineapple-tangerine tang. Wood-hopped alcohol-soaked usurpation counters sweet cereal-grained spine. Perfect as a crossover for pale ale and adjunct lager softies.

Spiffy ‘I Beat yoU’ hop measurement moniker aside, convincing hop-rooted ale counters sharp grapefruit-peeled pine resin bittering with vibrant peach-pear-apple-pineapple tang and syrupy maple-spruce sapping. Floral-spiced mango-papaya tingle increases engaging fruited sweetness to creamy caramel malt center. At a staggering $7 for 12-ounces, it’s still worth the price for taste and buzz.