For beer drinkers, there might not be a more common three-letter acronym than IPA. But what is IPA? Besides just India Pale Ale, how does this ever-popular craft beer style differ from the many other styles out there?
It pays to know about the IPA as it remains a massive player in not just domestic beer, but international beer. From it’s origins in the 1700s to its revival in the late 20th Century, the IPA has gone on to touch just about every corner of the brewing map. And because it’s so focused on hops and stylistic flair, the flavors can range quite a bit when comparing, say, a west coast
You’ve got questions, we’ve got clarity. Read on for a primer on one of the most important styles in all of beer.
Where does the IPA name come from?
As mentioned in the lead, IPA stands for India Pale Ale. The name comes from the subcontinent it was originally brewed for. Early on, the beer was also referred to as an October beer or pale ale for India. Now, it’s widely regarded across the globe as an
Asking what is IPA is essentially a three-fold query, one for each letter. The India makes sense, as you’ll see when we get into the history of the beer a bit later. The pale refers to the hue of the beer, generally quite light. And ales are a whole category of beer that’s been made for a very long time. These top-fermenting bees include popular styles like brown ales, sour ales and stouts too.
What’s the history of the IPA?
The IPA was born in the 18 Century. Like a lot of drinks, it has something of a troubled history, birthed out of less than ideal circumstances. This was during peak colonial times, when Britain occupied India. Thirsty Brits were not about to give up their beer so they opted to brew a new style that could withstand the lengthy journey by boat to India. Hence, the India Pale Ale.
What makes a beer stand up to time better? Higher alcohol, for one. More hops, secondly. This outfitted the beer with more natural preservatives, setting it up to withstand thousands of miles in the open ocean, not to mention a warmer climate. The beer proved very popular with the British East India Company, as well as other groups seeking a brew with some longevity. About a generation or two later came refrigeration, thus reducing the need for such beer style.
Modern IPAs began their revival in the states in the 1970s. Beer brewers and drinkers were tiring of the big brand lagers that ruled the market. That, and the industrialized Baby Boomers were handing over the generational baton to a more down-to-earth, ingredient-curious American populace. The IPA proved popular and really swelled in the 90s, as the craft beer movement really took off. The
How does an IPA differ from other beers?
It’s easy to put the IPA in a box, not unlike most people do with mezcal (“it’s just smoky tequila”) or vodka (“it’s just for mixing”). But that would be unfair. By definition, yes, an
The hops play a big role and are added quite generously. As new hop varieties continue to be harvested, the IPA will continue to evolve, as blending with them is a bit like a chef would use herbs or a winemaker would blend grape varieties. There are countless permutations and the flavors can run the spectrum of the board, especially since there are so many
Now, humans have been making beer with hops for ages. The thing that really differentiates the IPA from the rest of the beer styles is a fairly recent beer-making development. And, for context such as this, we like to hand the mic to experts like beer writer Jeff Alworth.
As he says in excellent Beer Bible, something changed with the IPA around Y2K. “Brewers wanted to extract the flavors and aromas from the beer without all the bitterness,” he writes. “The problem was, they were adding ever more ops for that lush, intense ‘juiciness.’ Fortunately, hops behave differently under varying circumstances. When added to the kettle to boil, their alpha acids are isomerized, producing bitterness. The delicate oils, which contain the fruity flavor compounds, boil off in this process.”
The fix? Adding the hops at different times, like at the end of the boil or during fermentation.
It’s important to note that there are many sub-genres of IPA, from brut and cold IPAs to double IPAs. Check out our guide on different IPA styles for a better idea of the vast beer realm.
