Founders Centennial IPA 15Pk Cans

Founders Centennial IPA 15Pk Cans is a 7.2% ABV American IPA from Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, featuring a single-hop Centennial profile across fifteen 12 oz cans. Awarded 94 points by Wine Enthusiast, this expression also serves as an official benchmark beer for the Beer Judge Certification Program — the standard used in American-based beer competitions.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.2%  |  IBU: 65  |  Origin: Grand Rapids, Michigan  |  Style: American IPA  |  Brewery: Founders Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Founders Brewing Company, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has built its reputation on bold, uncompromising ales. Centennial IPA is brewed with a malt bill of Crystal, Munich, and Golden Promise malts and hopped exclusively with Centennial hops — a single-varietal approach that lets the hop's full character take center stage. The distinctive dry-hopping process adds hops while the beer is still actively fermenting, which intensifies the aromatics and produces a hop character markedly different from traditional post-fermentation dry-hopping techniques.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dense, sweet citrus leads the nose with layers of orange peel and grapefruit rind. A pronounced floral bouquet follows, underpinned by resiny pine that signals the assertive hop load.

Taste: The entry is bright with citrus — orange and grapefruit dominate the front palate before sweet malty undertones emerge at mid-palate. Medium carbonation carries the flavors evenly, and the 65 IBU bitterness stays firmly in balance with the malt backbone rather than overwhelming it.

Finish: Moderate in length with a clean, slightly resinous close that never turns excessively bitter. Lingering floral and citrus notes fade gradually, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink Centennial IPA

Centennial IPA drinks best straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass at 45–50°F to let the hop aromatics fully express. For cocktail-adjacent serves, try it in a Hop Shandy with fresh lemonade, where the grapefruit and orange notes amplify the citrus base; a Michelada, where the resinous hop bitterness cuts through lime, hot sauce, and tomato; or a Beer-a-Rita, substituting Centennial for lighter lagers to add floral depth and backbone.

Best For

• Stocking a home fridge for IPA-focused tastings and blind comparisons
• Bringing to a backyard cookout or tailgate where bold flavor stands up to grilled food
• Gifting a hop enthusiast who appreciates single-varietal hop character
• Introducing someone to benchmark American IPA style

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Centennial IPA taste like? Centennial IPA is dominated by bright citrus — orange and grapefruit — balanced by sweet malt and a floral, piney hop presence that stays assertive without becoming overly bitter at 65 IBU.

How does Centennial IPA compare to Bell's Two Hearted Ale? Both are regarded as style-defining single-hop American IPAs from Michigan; Two Hearted uses Centennial hops as well but at a lower 7.0% ABV and tends toward a slightly more balanced, less resinous profile. Centennial IPA leans into denser citrus aromatics through its fermentation-stage dry-hopping technique, producing a more intensely aromatic pour.

Is Centennial IPA good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its 94-point Wine Enthusiast score and status as a Beer Judge Certification Program benchmark confirm it holds up to close scrutiny as a standalone drinking experience.

Where is Centennial IPA made? Centennial IPA is brewed at Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a city widely recognized as one of America's premier craft beer destinations.

What foods pair well with Centennial IPA? Spicy buffalo wings match the citrus bitterness and cleanse the palate between bites. Sharp cheddar cheese contrasts the malt sweetness with savory tang. Grilled burgers topped with caramelized onions complement the malty backbone. Fish tacos with lime crema echo the grapefruit and floral notes. Jalapeño poppers benefit from the carbonation cutting through rich cream cheese filling.

What sizes does Centennial IPA come in? Centennial IPA is available in this 15-pack of 12 oz cans, as well as 4-packs of 16 oz cans, 6-packs of 12 oz cans and bottles, and single 19.2 oz stovepipe cans.

Is Centennial IPA worth the price? Centennial IPA positions as a mid-range craft IPA that consistently outperforms its price tier in critical acclaim, making the 15-pack format particularly strong value for a 94-point, BJCP benchmark beer.

Why Centennial IPA?

Few American IPAs carry the distinction of serving as an official judging benchmark for the Beer Judge Certification Program, and Centennial IPA earned that role through its textbook balance of hop intensity and malt structure. The single-varietal Centennial hop approach, combined with the unconventional technique of dry-hopping during active fermentation, produces an aromatic intensity that many imitators have chased but few have matched. A 94-point Wine Enthusiast score and a 93/100 from Craft Beer & Brewing reinforce what nearly 290,000 Untappd reviewers already know. In a crowded IPA landscape, this remains one of the benchmarks against which the style is measured.