ByJoseph V Micallef,
Contributor.
Across the U.S., a new generation of IPAs is redefining what “hoppy” can mean. In this lineup of top-ranked IPAs from the 2025 Beverage Testing Institute World Beer Championship judging, you’ll find rotating hazy series built around experimental hop products, single-hop showcases that wring every possible fruit note from Citra, New England IPAs pillowy enough to drink like milkshakes, and unapologetically bitter West Coast doubles that still lean into caramel malt and pine. Together, they trace a hop-soaked arc from soft and hazy to bright and bracing, highlighting the techniques and ingredients that are driving the modern IPA beer style today.
Fremont Brewing is a family-owned Seattle brewery founded in 2009, now one of Washington’s largest and a leader in barrel-aging and sustainability.
Head Full of Dynomite is their rotating hazy IPA series; each numbered version gets a different hop bill. Version 59 uses a grist packed with wheat and oats, rather than pale malt. It features modern hop products like Simcoe “Dynaboost” plus experimental HBC 586 and El Dorado Cryo, with big, late, and dry hopping rather than early bittering additions.
