Beautiful picture.
I love IPAs. I'm a big fan of hops, both the flavor and their wonderful aroma, and don't forget their impact on head retention. Beautiful. However I have to be in the mood for any beer, and my moods change. So I can't say I have a favorite all the time. It depends on when/where/what's available, etc.
That said, I've never had a "dark" IPA that I liked. It always tastes forced, like they're trying to do too much. But admitedly I have tried very many.
What's your favourite beer style?
I spent a lot of time when I was younger really enoying brown ales, and then discovered porters and stouts which were featured prominently throughout my late 20s and early 30s.
After a trip to Portland and down the Oregon coast in the fall of 2009, however, I discovered something that permanently changed my taste in beers: IPAs.
It seems that there's something in that bitter bite that's just irresistible. Where once I turned up my nose, now I can't get enough. I'm half-ways convinced that hops themselves have addictive qualities. It seems I can't go into a good beer store, or brew pub without going straight to their hoppiest offerings.
Recently, I've noticed a style that, when done well, I've really enjoyed -- dark IPAs (I've also seen them called India Brown Ales, or Black IPAs). I've had a few that have had poor balance, but I've also had a few that were incredible and featured the best of the dark brews I liked so much with the wonderful hoppiness of the IPAs all balanced with care to make an all around great tasting beer.
One of these that sticks out for me in particular is this one from the Deschuttes brewery. Too bad I can't get it where Iive:
How about everyone else?