Update: Is Bell's Two Hearted Ale the best IPA in the world? (poll)

KALAMAZOO, MI --

Two Hearted Ale by

has been named

.

Bell's Two Hearted Ale

Two Hearted Ale topped the website's list of 15 best India Pale Ales and Black IPAs. While it's not the first time Two Hearted has appeared on the list, it's the first time -- at least in recent years -- it has been at the top.

RateBeer.com's list of best beers by style was released Tuesday, Feb. 4. The website annually ranks the best beer, breweries and retailers in the craft beer industry.

"We recognize the hard work and consistency that goes into making these styles traditionally, and in new brewing traditions, fine appreciation and precision.," reads a statement on the list page. "This is truly all about showcasing an array of the world's finest brewers."

The list names up to 15 best beers in 21 categories, including stouts, strong ales, porters, sour beers, specialty beers, Belgian session ales, ciders and wheat beers.

Other Southwest Michigan beers that appeared on the list include Bell's Hopslam, which was named fourth best Double IPA, Bell's Black Note Stout, which ranked fourth best stout and Dark Horse Brewing Co.'s Reserve Special Black Ale, which was named 10th best porter.

Two Hearted has been recognized as one of the top IPAs in past RateBeer.com lists of best beers by style -- it was listed third on the IPA list in 2013, and fourth in 2012. Hopslam was named third on the IPA/Double IPA list in 2011 and 2010.

In several other RateBeer.com lists released recently, Bell's was recognized as the top brewer in Michigan. Several Bell's beers and one beer from Dark Horse also were named in the website's top 100 beers in the world.

RateBeer.com also recognized Kalamazoo Beer Exchange as the best craft beer bar in Michigan.

RateBeer uses the Bayesian Formula to calculate ratings, the same formula used by the Internet Movie Database. Read more about how rankings are calculated.

On its website, Bell describes Two Hearted, with an alcohol-by-volume of 7 percent, as having an "intense hop aroma and malt balance. Hopped exclusively with the Centennial hop varietal from the Pacific Northwest, massive additions in the kettle and again in the fermenter lend their characteristic grapefruit and pine resin aromas. A significant malt body balances this hop presence; together with the signature fruity aromas of Bell's house yeast, this leads to a remarkably drinkable American-style India Pale Ale."

The beer is named after the Two Hearted River in the Upper Peninsula.

Emily Monacelli covers local government and beer for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Contact her at emonacel@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter.