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What to drink and where to celebrate National IPA Day

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect details for National IPA Day 2017.

Seems like every day is another unofficial holiday, but here's one worth a toast:

Thursday, Aug. 3 is National IPA Day.

India pale ales, better known as IPAs, are characterized by a prominent hop profile that often manifests as piney or floral. For this reason people either love 'em or hate 'em. In recent years, however, American innovation has taken hold and the beer style has evolved to include several more palatable hybrids that cater to the middle ground.

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In some circles, every day is National IPA Day. We polled some of those beer nerds to find an IPA for every taste. Here are some beer and event recommendations to help you celebrate.

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Best "gateway" IPAs

Gateway IPAs are the ones you'd serve to that friend who typically doesn't like hoppy beers.

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Matt Dixon, executive director of North Texas Beer Week, said he's married to one of these types, but that she was taken by the easy-drinking All Day IPA, a session IPA from Founders Brewing Co.

"In her own words, 'This is delicious; it tastes like grapefruit juice!' Now, if I bring home a 15-pack (yes, All Day IPA cans come in a brewer's dozen), we pretty much fight over them," he said.

Certified cicerone and local bartender extraordinaire Stephanie Roethlisberger likes to ease IPA newbies in a different way. Instead of looking for a light-bodied, low intensity recipe, she suggests going straight for a double IPA "because the additional malt backbone lends a sweetness to the brew that balances the hop character making them a bit more approachable," she says.

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Bonus: They're also higher in alcohol content because of residual sugars, she adds.

Roethlisberger recommends Resin from Sixpoint Brewery, Hop Rising from Squatters Craft Beers or Green Flash Brewing Co.'s Imperial IPA.

Best IPA to impress a guest

Want to impress a beer nerd with your home bar collection? Corey Pond, owner of The Common Table beer bar in Dallas, says to stock it with Sculpin IPA from Ballast Point Brewing Co.

"My personal favorite IPA, period," Pond says. "It's got a citrusy/fruity taste and aroma (mango, apricot, peach) beautifully balanced with a touch of bitterness and a relatively clean finish."

Not only is it widely regarded as a stellar brew, but it has the price to match -- a six-pack often runs about $15. But most drinkers contend it's worth it.

"Drop a few extra bucks and treat yourself and your guests to one of the best beers on earth," Pond says.

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If you're looking for a rarity

Founders Brewing Co. out of Michigan brewed up something special for this year's National IPA Day. 10K Imperial IPA, as it's called, is a 9.2-percent ABV beer loaded with Simcoe hops and "just the right amount of malt sweetness," according to a statement. This limited release will be available on draft at four D-FW locations: Kool Keg in Arlington, Lone Star Taps and Caps in Lewisville, the Common Table in Dallas and Harvest House in Denton.

If 10K sounds good, get it while you can -- once it's gone, it's gone.

Where to celebrate National IPA Day

Several bars and breweries in Dallas-Fort Worth will be hosting events to celebrate all things hoppy. Check out a few below:

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  • The Meddlesome Moth in Dallas, a local beer staple, will have several IPA beers available beginning at 11 a.m. on Thursday. Expect rarities, such as Green Flash Brewing Co.'s Spanish Trampoline, Dogfish Head Brewery's 120 Minute and Real Ale Brewing Co.'s 20th Anniversary brew, in addition to classics like Ska Brewing Co.'s Modus Hoperandi and locals like Armadillo Ale Works' Land Yacht IPA.
  • Community Beer Co. in Dallas is offering discounted brews in its taproom from 5 to 9 p.m. Pay $2 for Mosiac IPA and $3 for its new Passiflora White IPA, 3rd Coast Style IPA and Oaked Mosaic IPA.
  • The Flying Saucer on the Lake (Garland) is pitting the East against the West in a battle of the IPAs. It will be serving four from each coast and tracking how many of each are sold to settle the age-old rivalry. The bar will also be tapping Dogfish Head 120 Minute.
  • Vetted Well at the Alamo Drafthouse in Dallas is hosting a Green Flash Brewing Co. tap takeover that focuses on the brewery's IPAs. The bar will have Spanish Trampoline in addition to two other varieties. Members of the Green Flash team will also be onsite.
  • Social House (Fort Worth) is loading up its taps with at least 10 IPA beers, including Fugli by Oskar Blues Brewery, The Calling DIPA by Boulevard Brewing Co., Raja IPA by Avery Brewing Co. and more.
  • Lone Star Taps and Caps in Lewisville is helping the locally-based Manhattan Project Beer Co. launch a new IPA tonight. It's called Atomic Alliance and is loaded with hops that offer a pineapple aroma and vanilla-coconut flavors, according to a statement.
  • Craft Beer Cellar in East Dallas is tapping Spanish Trampoline from Green Flash Brewing Co. at 4 p.m.
  • On Rotation brewpub in East Dallas will be featuring numerous IPAs until Aug. 5, which are available for purchase by the pint or as a flight.

  • East Side Denton's tap wall will be sporting 25 different IPAs to choose from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Have another fun event planned? Tweet me: @tineywristwatch.