Although I actually created foodiEcology on July 28, 2012, I didn’t post my first entry until August 1st, so today is my unofficial 1-year blogiversary!

I can’t believe I’ve been blogging this long. I feel like foodiEcology is still struggling to find its identity in the vast food/healthy living/lifestyle/fitness web-world, but I’m pretty proud of what it’s become.

Since today is also National IPA Day, what better way to celebrate my blogiversary than by sharing my favorite IPAs?

I personally love the bitter, piney, “hoppy” flavor of IPAs; sometimes I find them a bit heavy, so I often limit myself to just one. Below are my 5 (well, 6) favorites.

Note: ABV is “alcohol by volume.” IPAs typically have a higher AVB than lagers, golden ales, etc.

Two-Hearted Ale (7.0% ABV)

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This might have been the first IPA I tried and really enjoyed. It’s an American style IPA brewed by Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, MI. According to their website, the beer is “hopped exclusively with the Centennial hop varietal from the Pacific Northwest” which creates the “characteristic grapefruit and pine resin aromas.”

Freckle Belly IPA (7.5% ABV)

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I have to pay tribute to my beautiful home state of Alabama, which, after years in the brewing dark ages, has seen the number of craft breweries sky rocket in the last couple of years. Gadsden, AL’s Back Forty Beer Co., which was the first ‘bama brewery to distribute along the coast, brews Freckle Belly with Amarillo, Apollo, Cascade, Citra & Columbus hops.

Jockamo IPA (6.5% ABV)

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Abita Brewing Company, located north of New Orleans in Abita Springs, LA, just might be my all-time favorite brewery. They’ve grown tremendously since opening in 1986, and each of their brews is more creative and delicious than the last. Jockamo is no exception; though it’s not my favorite of their offerings, it is worth mentioning here. Jockamo contains pale, red, and caramel malts in addition to a variety of hops, resulting in a flavor as colorful as the famous Mardi Gras Indian image on its label.

Sweetwater IPA (6.3% ABV)

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We’ve been drinking Sweetwater Brewing Company’s products for a while now, and I think their IPA is my favorite of their offerings (Sweetwater Blue, however, is awful!). The IPA has won several awards over the years, and they boast on their website how the brew is “unfiltered and as always, not pasteurized, leaving all the natural flavors intact.”

60 Minute IPA (6.0 % ABV)

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Though not available in Alabama (we stock up when visiting Florida), Dogfish Head Brewery’s beers are so creative! My favorite (of what we’ve been able to try) is their Raison d’Etre, but their 60 Minute IPA, which, much as the name suggests, is continuously hopped for 60 minutes and is downright tasty. I’ve never tried the 90 Minute IPA or 120 Minute IPA, and though I love hops, I’m not sure I could handle them!

Honorable Mention (available only in Lower Alabama, sadly…)

Painted Black IPA (7.5% ABV)

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It’s not a traditional IPA, but Fairhope Brewing Company’s Painted Black IPA is delicious. I was initially fooled by the dark color when I first sampled it, but it tastes much like your standard IPA.