What is an IPA? A Comprehensive Guide to India Pale Ales

The beloved IPA has taken the craft beer world by storm, captivating enthusiasts with its bold flavors and rich history. In this article, we'll explore the origins of IPAs, the unique characteristics that define them, and the various sub-styles that have emerged over the years. Whether you're a seasoned IPA aficionado or new to the world of craft beer, this guide will provide you with everything you need to know about this iconic style. 

What is an IPA?

IPA stands for India Pale Ale, a style of craft beer that has surged in popularity and become mainstream in recent years. This rise parallels the overall explosion in the craft beer movement. IPAs are known for their strong hop flavors and higher alcohol content compared to other beer styles.

IPA comes with a whole host of substyles which we'll dive into a little later in this article, but an IPA is generally a strong, hop-forward style of beer.

The Origins of IPA

The term "India Pale Ale" dates back to the late 18th century. Breweries in London, England, were exporting beer to British colonists in India. Back then, the beer that was typically exported was simply a pale ale, and to ensure the beer survived the long sea voyage (which could last up to eight months), brewers added a large amount of hops to the beer. These hops were added as all hops contain natural antibacterial properties, which helped to preserve the beer over the long journey.

The Impact of Hops

Adding large quantities of hops to beer results in increased bitterness or enhanced floral, fruity, piney, or spicy flavors and aromas, depending on the hop variety and the timing of their addition during brewing. Common hop varieties used in IPAs include Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, Amarillo, Galaxy, and Cascade, although the list of hop varieties is ever-growing with new varieties being found or developed by hop growers all the time. 

Each hop variety contributes unique characteristics, such as citrus, tropical fruit, earthy or even spicy notes.

A hop flavour spider graph

Spider graphs like the one above from Brulosophy are often used to demonstrate the different hop flavours that can be found within a beer.

The Birth of a Style

The highly hopped ales were a hit with consumers in India, and soon, they became popular back in England as well. This led to the birth of the India Pale Ale style, offering a refreshing alternative to the brown ales and porters that were common at the time. The first recorded use of the term "India Pale Ale" was in an advertisement by Hodgson's Bow Brewery in 1835.

Modern IPAs

Today, IPAs are recognized as their own style category by the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). They are characterized by their hoppy and bitter profile, dry finish, and hop-forward flavors. The alcohol content typically ranges from 5.5% to 7.5% ABV, balancing the intense flavors. The BJCP provides detailed guidelines for judging IPAs, ensuring consistency and quality in competitions, and clearly defining all the different attributes a beer should have to be considered an IPA.

In recent years, the flavor profile of IPAs has evolved significantly. Traditionally, IPAs were known for their intense bitterness, which was a defining characteristic of the style. However, modern IPAs have shifted towards more hop-forward flavors, emphasizing the aromatic and flavorful qualities of hops rather than just their bitterness.

This change has been driven by several factors:

• Hop Varieties: Brewers now have access to a wider range of hop varieties, particularly those from the Pacific Northwest and the Southern Hemisphere. These hops offer diverse flavors, including citrus, tropical fruit, stone fruit, and even floral and herbal notes. Popular hop varieties like Citra, Mosaic, and Galaxy are known for their vibrant and juicy profiles, and are commonly found in IPAs.

Galaxy is a very popular hop for IPAs

• Brewing Techniques: Modern brewing techniques, such as dry hopping and late hopping, allow brewers to extract more aroma and flavor from hops without adding excessive bitterness.
  Dry hopping involves adding hops during or after fermentation, which enhances the beer's aroma and flavor without increasing its bitterness.
  Late hopping involves adding hops late in the boil, or in some cases, after the wort has cooled slightly before adding more hops. The lower-than-boiling temperature extracts less bitterness and more of the softer and more desirable flavors from the hops.

• Consumer Preferences: As craft beer drinkers' palates have evolved, there has been a growing preference for IPAs that are flavorful and aromatic rather than overwhelmingly bitter. This has led to the rise of styles like New England IPAs (NEIPAs) or Hazy IPAs, which are known for their hazy appearance and juicy, fruity flavors with low bitterness, making them more accessible and appealing to a wider audience.

• Innovation and Experimentation: Craft brewers are constantly experimenting with new ingredients and techniques to create unique and exciting IPAs. This innovation has resulted in a wide variety of IPA sub-styles, each with its own distinct flavor profile. For example, West Coast IPAs are known for their clear, crisp, and piney characteristics, while Hazy IPAs tend to be more hazy and juicy.

Overall, the modern IPA landscape is incredibly diverse, offering something for every beer enthusiast. Whether you prefer a classic, bitter IPA or a juicy, hop-forward NEIPA, there's an IPA out there to suit your taste.

The Popularity of IPAs

IPAs are among the most popular craft beer styles today. A visit to any bottle shop will reveal a wide variety of IPAs to choose from. There are also numerous sub-varieties, including (but not limited to):

• American IPA: Known for its strong hop character and moderate to high bitterness, often with citrus and pine notes.

• New England IPA: Also known as Hazy IPA, characterized by its cloudy appearance and juicy, fruity flavors with low bitterness and soft, pillow mouthfeel.

An example of one of our Hazy IPA's

• English IPA: A more balanced version with a maltier profile and earthy, floral hop notes.

• Double or Triple IPA: Higher alcohol content and even more intense hop flavors.

• Black IPA: Combines the roasted malt flavors of a stout with the hoppy bitterness of an IPA.

• White IPA: A blend of IPA and Belgian-style wheat beer, featuring spicy and fruity yeast characteristics.

• Cold IPA: The anti-thesis to Hazy IPA. Firm bitterness, crystal clear and crisp, and often fermented with lager yeast (which technically means it's not an ale, but that's a debate for another day).

Conclusion

IPAs have come a long way from their origins in 18th century England to become one of the most beloved styles in the craft beer world today. With their diverse range of flavors and aromas, modern IPAs offer something for every beer enthusiast, from the traditional bitter profiles to the juicy, hop-forward varieties. As brewers continue to innovate and experiment, the world of IPAs will only grow richer and more exciting. 

What was the last IPA you tried? Let us know in the comments section below