it's almost like we are approaching a breakthrough on this board with what i've been saying all along... rating IPAs is stupid and whatever is the freshest is the best.
well, it's a virtuous circle: the higher rated an IPA, the more people seek it out, the quicker it sells out... so when you do find it, it's always fresh. it may not explain why the Pliney and the Headies of the world first got rated highly, but it explains why they stay there.
That said, it was unfortunately only the third or fourth best IPA I had all weekend, exceeded by two of the three IPA's I tried at Tired Hands, and perhaps even equalled by Victory Dirtwolf.
so you're saying that in PA, you had better IPAs made in-state vs. something that was trucked in from California?
I've never understood how it rates so, so high. For me, there are other IPA's out there that are better.
maybe because so many of the reviewers are in California?