I'm a fan of hoppy beers myself; things like stone IPA or Racer 5 are probably my favorite IPAs. If you get the chance I would recommend trying Lost Coast's indica IPA or the Green Flash green bullet (seasonal). Sierra Nevada's seasonal rye is also really good. I've recently gotten into brewing and have done a few IPAs, a stout, and we're working on a tripple now.
I'm not sure where you are, but Bell's in Michigan has an IPA called Two-Hearted Ale that is incredible IMO.
I agree, zebra2 you should check it out if you get a chance. It's really available throughout the south too. I live in Raleigh-Durham and I see it everywhere. Janabutts also mentioned that she was a fan. I hope Bell's can maintain an increased production without compromising the quality. mk, You make a great point that beer can be a "travel experience" if you let it be. In the not too distant past this didn't apply to the US as much as it did Europe and other parts of the world. But now you can experience vastly different regional brews throughout the US. b_b talked about his experience traveling to a small town outside of Munich and drinking beers at a cloister from the 14th century with his brother and his father, essentially getting drunk with his dad and getting to know him for the first time. Beer, it is a right of passage! As for my favorite, there is one beer that I will always order in a restaurant/bar or buy in a supermarket if I ever see it and that is a white ale from Japan called Hitachino Nest. If you see it out there, try it! Remember the white-owl:
"The owl's are not what they seem"