The number of beers you’ll receive in each delivery ranges from a couple cans to mix-and-match 12-packs depending on the service and subscription. The brews that show up are typically hand-picked by experts in tune with the latest trends in the IPA category, giving these services the added bonus of being educational as well as being fun and convenient. Here, we break down our selections for the best IPA beer clubs you can join.
Best IPA Beer Clubs of 2022
Best Overall: Craft Beer Kings Best Variety: Half Time Beverage Best Value: The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club Best for Rare IPAs: Beer Drop Best for Local IPAs: Tavour Best for Hazy IPAs: CraftShack Hazy Beer Club
Key Specs Starting Price: $49.99/shipmentFree Shipping: Yes (with subscription)Product per Delivery: 6 or 12 ProsReceive limited-release beers Beers are hand-picked by expertsFree shippingConsBoxes may only contain one IPA styleCannot choose your own beers Craft Beer Kings’ monthly beer club specializes in delivering special-edition, limited-release beers from acclaimed craft breweries, all hand-picked by a team of experts. This gives members access to a slew of offerings that may otherwise be difficult to find; you may even discover a new favorite brewery in the process. It also allows members an easy way to explore unique expressions of IPA styles, such as hazy, West Coast, or double IPAs. You can choose to have six or 12 different beers delivered to your door every month. Different subscription packages also allow you to narrow your focus to hazy IPAs or combine your appreciation of IPAs with other styles such as stouts or sours. Regardless of the subscription, Craft Beer Kings offers free ground shipping on all monthly packages. If you fall in love with a particular beer, you can hop onto their online store and purchase additional cans or packs. Pricing and Plans6-Can Box: $49.9912-Can Box: $94.99 Key Specs Starting Price: $80/monthFree Shipping: YesProduct per Delivery: 12ProsFree shippingDigital tasting notesDomestic and international labels availableConsOnly available in 33 statesCannot choose your own breweriesNot all hops are alike, and the IPA box delivered by this monthly service celebrates their diversity. Each box features a global selection of IPAs brewed from a wide range of hop varieties and strains, carefully curated by a team of experts to highlight the exciting flavor nuances that exist in the category. Each shipment comes with digital tasting notes to help guide you through the brews, a touch that enhances the tasting experience. Each monthly subscription is shipped for free, and features two distinct IPA varieties from six different breweries. If you have a hophead in your life, you can sign them up for a three-month or six-month gift membership. Half Time also offers other beer clubs like the Variety Beer of the Month Club, a package that mixes IPAs with other beers from around the world. Pricing and Plans12-Can box: $80/monthOther club boxes: from $52.50/month Key SpecsStarting Price: $39.95/monthFree Shipping: NoProducts per Delivery: 12Pros Exclusive beers brewed for club membersSeasonal beers offered throughout the yearBrewery profiles and tasting notes includedConsNo free shipping The value offered by The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club doesn’t just stem from its low-cost price point. Its emphasis on “lightly distributed” beers gives you a prime opportunity to check out under-the-radar craft brews. These include seasonal beers available for a limited time and specially-made member-exclusive labels created through partnerships the club has with select brewers. The service’s IPA-centric Hop Heads Beer Club includes at least two “lightly distributed” domestic or international craft brews in each monthly 12-bottle shipment. Each bottle is approved by a tasting panel with more than 100 combined years of industry experience. The shipments include profiles on the participating breweries as well as tasting notes. You can also opt to have your beers shipped once a month, every other month, or once per quarter. Pricing and PlansHop-Heads Beer Club: $39.95/monthOther Club boxes: from $35.95/month Key SpecsStarting Price: $44/monthFree Shipping: NoProducts per Delivery: 10 ProsPick your own beersBig selection of rare and unique brewsRewards-style point system for extra beersConsBeer selection not available for all tiersCustomer support by email onlyBeer Drop builds its IPA boxes around data to send you rare gems and exceptional beers you haven’t had before. After you sign up for a membership and note your preferences, the service sends you shipments based on this information and tracks the beers you’ve already received. If you sign up for the Plus or Ultimate level membership, you’re given the option to swap out beers you’re not into with beers you’d prefer to check out. Beer Drop’s system notes these changes and steers you toward unique, rare, and new-to-you selections that land in your flavor wheelhouse. Members receive 10 beers per month and can expect the shipment to arrive in less than a week. Beer Drop also uses a rewards system that lets you earn points for completing a wide range of activities, from buying individual beers from its online shop to following the company on social media. As an added bonus, these points can be redeemed for free beers. Pricing and Plans10-Can Club: $44/monthOther Club boxes: from $33/month Key SpecsStarting Price: $55/monthFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 6 or 12 ProsSelect own beers via “crate” serviceFree shipping on subscription serviceMore than 650 craft breweries across 47 statesConsNo free shipping for “crate” service Tavour’s unique spin on beer clubs makes it easy to seek out beers you’ll never find at your local liquor store. While it does have a traditional club-like membership option, you can instead opt to use its smartphone app to fill your own virtual “crate” with IPAs that catch your eye. Tavour boasts an impressive roster of beers from across the country; the company has relationships with more than 650 craft and independent breweries across 47 states and its offerings rotate constantly. There is no limit to the number of brews that can be added to the virtual “crate” which ships out at the end of the month. Traditional club members receive a subscription box of six or 12 craft brews hand-picked by Travour team members based on pre-set style preferences. Boxes can be delivered monthly, every two months, or quarterly and shipping is free. Pricing and PlansTraditional club 6-pack: $55-$69, depending on style and shipping frequencyTraditional club 12-pack: $90-$123, depending on style and shipping frequency Key SpecsStarting Price: $105.99/monthFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 12 ProsExplore new breweries, limited releases, and collabs Shipping included in club membershipEarn reward points for future discountsConsOnly one gift club optionNo free shipping on non-club orders Marked by a cloudy body and more pronounced pops of juicy, fruity flavors, hazy IPAs are terrific alternatives to stronger, more bitter IPAs. CraftShack’s curated club exclusively sends you fresh, hazy beers based on what’s exciting in the category. You can expect to encounter products from new and emerging breweries, limited releases, and collaborations in your shipments. Its online store also carries an impressive roster of hazy IPAs and other beer styles if you want to pick up brews between shipments. Each monthly shipment—which is free for club members—features a dozen unique cans of hazy IPAs, ranging from 12 oz. to 16 oz. You’ll also earn 50 CraftShack reward points with each shipment which can be applied for discounts toward future purchases. Looking for a unique gift? The Hazy Beer Club can be gifted as a prepaid three-month subscription. Pricing and PlansClub price: $105.99/monthGift price: $317.99 for 3-month membership
The outside packaging: How sturdy was the box?The inside packaging: How were the contents secured inside the delivery box?Extras: What else besides the actual products were in the box? We wanted to know if the companies included any literature or freebies such as glasses, tasting notes, coasters, openers, etc.
What Is the Difference Between an IPA Beer and a Regular Beer?
An India Pale Ale (IPA) beer earns its distinction from typical beer styles like lagers or pilsners by emphasizing hoppy and herbal characteristics. IPAs also tend to have higher alcohol by volume (ABV) than more common styles. While IPAs carry a reputation for being strong and bitter, some can carry pronounced citrus or fruity notes.
What Are the Perks of an IPA Beer Club?
An IPA beer club offers the convenience of having beer delivered to your door. This eliminates the time and gas required to trek down to the local liquor store. It can also expose you to new and new-to-you IPAs, including some that may not be available in your state or region. In some cases, it grants you access to limited release beers and special collaborative brewing projects.
Is There an IPA of the Month Club?
IPA beer clubs are typically arranged to deliver shipments monthly. This is critical for IPAs, as they are best enjoyed fresh and have a brief window of freshness. Good IPA beer clubs will be aware of this, and will include the freshest brews possible with each shipment.
How Much Do IPA Beer Clubs Cost?
The median price of an IPA beer cub is around $60 a month. This breaks down to roughly $5 per can, which can be a cost-effective price point for the limited release cans or special collaborations you may receive. Some IPA beer clubs include free shipments as part of their membership, although others do not.
Methodology
We considered dozens of beer club services to build our list. Decisions were based on price, range of IPA styles, product quality, and access to special labels such as limited-release IPAs, with the goal of finding something for every enthusiast, from newbie IPA drinkers to experienced hop-heads.
