What To Sell in a Wine Shop in 2026: Top Bottles To Stock
India pale ales (IPAs) are highly popular, especially in the American West and Northeast. In fact, according to a recent survey, one in four beer drinkers chooses an IPA when they grab a beer.
If you’re a local liquor store owner, you need a robust IPA selection. But the popularity of IPAs is a double-edged sword because every brewery under the sun makes multiple IPA varieties — and not all are winners.
In this post, we’ll cover the top 10 bestselling IPAs to stock on your shelves, along with tips for your IPA stock selection.
Let’s dive in.
The 10 IPAs You Should Stock in Your Liquor Store
There are a lot of great IPAs out there, so it might be intimidating to know where to start. Here are 10 reliable, popular IPA choices to stock at your store.
| Name | Brewery | ABV % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two Hearted IPA | Bell's (MI) | 7% | This popular American IPA is brewed with 100% Centennial hops for a well-balanced taste and dry finish. |
| Lagunitas IPA | Lagunitas (CA) | 6.2% | A popular and highly-drinkable IPA, this beer is considered a "gateway IPA" by many craft beer enthusiasts. |
| Torpedo Extra IPA | Sierra Nevada (CA) | 7.2% | The Sierra Nevada IPA is a regular on many shelves for a reason — the Torpedo amps it up, creating a "leveled-up" IPA. |
| Union Jack West Coast IPA | Firestone Walker Brewing Company (CA) | 7% | This West Coast IPA has won back-to-back awards and is considered a standout in that style. |
| Stone IPA | Stone Brewing (CA/VA) | 6.9% | Stone IPA is a popular classic. They also sell a wide range of IPA variety packs for people who want to sample different IPA styles. |
| Sculpin | Ballast Point (CA) | 7% | This ale is hopped at several stages in the brewing process creating a rich flavor that inspired many juicy IPAs. |
| Fresh Squeezed IPA | Deschutes (OR) | 6.4% | This juicy (but not hazy) IPA has strong notes of citrus and grapefruit, making it more approachable than a standard IPA. |
| Breakside IPA | Breakside (OR) | 6.8% | First brewed in 2011, this IPA has consistently won awards, including taking the 2025 bronze medal in the Great American Beer Festival. |
| 60 Minute IPA | Dogfish Head (DE) | 6.0% | This bold, "surprisingly sessionable" IPA gets its name from the unique brewing process that has more than 60 hop additions over a 60 minute boil. |
| Voodoo Ranger | New Belgium (CO/NC) | 7% | This IPA has one of the bigger, bolder hop profiles of any other beer on this list, differentiating itself from New Belgium's milder offerings like Fat Tire. |
An important note: This list is limited to IPAs available for national distribution. Do some research into local craft breweries to stock cans that can’t be found anywhere else.
What Are The Different Styles of IPA? A Beginner’s Guide
Just because you know the importance of stocking IPA beers doesn’t mean you’re an expert in how they taste.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the most popular styles.
| IPA Type | Description |
|---|---|
| American IPA | The "classic" IPA and what most people think of first. An amber-colored beer that's notably hoppy and bitter. |
| New England IPA (Hazy) | The NEIPA or Hazy IPA has a hoppy aroma, but is decidedly less bitter than a traditional IPA. They also tend to have an opaque, yellow color. |
| Session IPA | These are IPAs that have the same bold, hoppy flavor but less ABV (typically around 3–5%). |
| West Coast IPA | If NEIPAs are on one end of the spectrum, West Coast is on the other. These beers are dry, highly bitter, and have a clearer color. |
| Imperial (Double) IPA | Think of an Imperial IPA as an IPA with the volume turned up. It's bolder, higher ABV, and has a strong finish. |
When it comes to IPA lovers, the loyalty is usually to a brewery, not a particular style. People like to try out new releases and styles from breweries they love. So, when it comes to stocking IPAs, pay attention to which brands and breweries are selling best.
Pro Tip
Can't remember all these styles off the top of your head? No problem.
Bottle POS is rolling out an AI assistant to help your cashiers study up on your stock. Just ask it questions about things like beer styles, food pairings, brewing style, or anything else to get a simple, personalized answer.
How To Select the Right IPA Mix for Your Bottle Shop
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when choosing which IPAs to stock, but there are a few tips to help you tailor your selection to your customer base and keep your shop competitive.
1. Use the Right Technology To Track Trends
Every neighborhood’s beer preferences are a little different. Some look for affordable, reliable classics, others want to experiment on something new. The important thing is to know your customers.
A reliable liquor store point of sale (POS) system is your best friend for keeping track of sales trends.
First things first, make sure to label different styles of IPA in your inventory management system so you can pull that data into reports (e.g., local craft brewery, West Coast IPA, Hazy IPA).
If you create more detailed product categories, you can use category reports to see exactly which styles of IPAs are popular with your customers. While it’s always good to have a mix of everything, it’s more profitable to experiment in categories your customers already like.
Not only does this save you time, but it also helps you manage inventory more efficiently, ensuring you always meet demand without overstocking.
2. Seek Balance and Variety in IPA Styles
When it comes to IPAs, variety is key. Offering a mix of West Coast IPAs, New England hazy IPAs, session IPAs, and double IPAs means you’re catering to a wide range of tastes.
Some customers might prefer the sharp bitterness of a West Coast IPA, while others might lean toward the juicy, fruity flavors of a New England IPA. A well-rounded selection keeps your customers happy and gives them options to explore.
3. Incorporate Seasonal and Limited Edition Bottles
Seasonal and limited-edition IPAs are a great way to keep your selection fresh and exciting. Many breweries release special versions of their IPAs for certain seasons, like summer IPAs with tropical notes or winter IPAs with more earthy flavors.
Rotating these beers through your selection keeps your regular customers coming back to see what’s new — and attracts new customers curious about the latest release.
4. Leverage Local Breweries
Stocking IPAs from local breweries is an excellent way to support your local craft beer scene while appealing to customers who value unique, regional products. Local beers often have a loyal following, and customers may visit your shop specifically to find their favorite hometown brew.
In fact, in The State of IPA Survey on the Washington Beer Blog, 46.8% of people said that when presented with a wide selection of IPAs they’re more willing to take a chance on a new beer from a brewery they already know and trust.
Plus, offering local options creates a connection between your shop and the community, which can build long-term customer loyalty.
See Exactly Which Beers Your Customers Love
When it comes to selling beer, the biggest brands aren’t always your bestsellers. In fact, if you look at category reports regularly, you might be surprised to see a local craft brew dominating sales.
That’s not a bad thing! The more niche your selection, the more people will remember your store when looking for a great IPA. But refining your product mix isn’t easy if you don’t have an easy way to look at sales data.
Bottle POS keeps detailed product records, including notes to specify product types, so you can dive into detailed category reports that help you avoid dead stock and craft a better product mix.
Schedule a demo with us today to see how we can help you keep more cash on hand and delight your customers with a POS system built for liquor retail.
With a degree in digital media and a minor in writing, Nate has been helping to explore the stories and unique characteristics of the liquor industry for the past three years. He highlights the synergy between the changing landscape of tech and liquor, and enjoys focusing on our customers’ experiences.