IPA Beer, Then & Now

What is IPA Beer & Why Do We Love It?

IPAs – or India Pale Ales – are a hoppy, fruity, and bitter style of beer that have become immensely popular in the last few decades. True beer aficionados can often be heard proclaiming their desire for even more hops, even more bitterness, in the same tone a weeping pepperhead might ask for their hot wings to be set on fire.

The rise in popularity has led to a similar rise in questions: Why is it called India Pale Ale? Do IPAs have more alcohol? Are Imperial and double IPAs the same thing? Lucky for you (and for me, really, because I'm getting paid to write about beer), KaTom is here to answer all these questions.

The History of IPA Beer

First off, why is it called an India Pale Ale? This type of beer1 didn't originate in India, but instead from the needs of the sprawling British Empire's colonists in the late 1700s. The porters and lagers enjoyed in the cool, drizzly climate of Great Britain weren't suited for the heat of India. The colony was too hot to even brew beer properly, which is why the Brits had to ship beer to the other side of the world – but the beers that were popular in Europe didn't keep very well over the course of the voyage.

There was one type of beer, though, that both withstood the voyage and tasted good when it arrived. Called an October beer, this highly hopped pale ale mellowed out over the course of the voyage and had a crisp, refreshing taste that better suited the climate in India than the porters that matched soggy Britain. The October beer was pale, very hoppy, and intended to be left in the cellar for two years to mature. The trip to India wasn't two years2, but it did force the beer to age significantly before it was consumed (a sailor sneaking a beer or two on the way notwithstanding), and the resulting drink was much more refreshing than the other options.

These beers came to be known as India Pale Ales – not because they originated in India, but because they were the best beers to send to India. The style was more heavily hopped and attenuated than other styles, but today the hoppiness and unique flavors are desirable in their own right.

So, What is an IPA?

Like other ales, India Pale Ales are brewed using a yeast that rises to the top of the beer during fermentation, as opposed to lagers which use a yeast that settles at the bottom and typically requires cooler temperatures and longer fermentation. Lagers usually have lower alcohol content than ales and are lighter in flavor as well, which make them great for beginner beer drinkers. India Pale Ales, though, have become a favorite of those who take their beers seriously.

IPAs encompass a wide range of flavors and textures. Typically, IPAs will be hoppier than lagers and most other styles of ale3 with the goal being a beer that showcases the flavors of the hops, whether that's fruity, floral, bitter, or somewhere in between. Hops were originally used as a preservative4 in beer, but over time became a partial source of beer's distinct flavor.

Hops are added in the boiling stage to enhance that preservative element, but brewers also add hops at the end for their flavor and aroma. Hop varieties have different flavors depending on the individual species of hops – Cascade, Mosaic, and Galena hops might sound familiar, as these are some of the most popular for crafting IPAs.

"What is an IPA?" doesn't have a simple answer. These days, an IPA is whatever the brewer says it is, though they'll almost always be pale in color and have a strong hoppy flavor. Although many people think IPAs have a higher alcohol content than other beers, they aren't necessarily right.

Many IPAs are quite strong, especially double or Imperial IPAs, but session IPAs usually have less than four percent alcohol by volume. Because this style is so popular, breweries are trying to branch out, discover new flavors, and create a product that appeals to specific niches in the market. This activity stretches the definition of what is IPA and what isn't, and in doing so creates a lot of delicious beer.

IPA Beer Glossary

You'll see a lot of terms listed before "India Pale Ale" on craft beers. Heck, I just did it in the last paragraph. But what do they all mean?5

  • Double or Imperial IPAs have significantly higher hop concentration than standard IPAs, and brewers use more malt to counteract the increasing bitterness, usually resulting in a higher-ABV beer.
  • Session IPAs are lower in alcohol content and usually lighter in flavor as well, making them ideal for sipping over long periods of time. These are your go-to for taking on a hike or to a picnic, where the crisp, light flavor can mingle with fresh air and sunlight (to put it poetically).
  • Fresh-hopped IPAs are only made during hop harvesting season, which, as we all know, is late August into September.
  • Dry-hopped IPAs have a strong hoppy aroma, which comes from hops being steeped (like tea) in the fermenting beer itself, rather than during the boiling stage. Double-hopped and triple-hopped IPAs tend to have an even stronger hoppy flavor, but these terms don't have any well-defined meaning.
  • Single-hopped IPAs are brewed with just one variety of hop. Great for beer enthusiasts who want a better understanding of what Cascade hops really taste like without having to eat the real thing.

How to Serve IPAs

Certain beer styles have particular glasses that go with them. Pilsner glasses are tall and slender, accentuating the clarity of the beer itself, while Belgian beer glasses are typically shorter and rounder. IPAs don't have one specific glass they should be served in: standard pint glasses are a popular choice, because most restaurants and bars already have plenty of them.

Many operators like to use stemmed glasses for higher-ABV beers with a bigger price tag, because customers might expect a better experience if they're going to pay more. Bartenders can make certain beers stand out by showcasing them in eye-catching glassware. Many operators choose to serve stronger beers in quantities of less than a pint, which means you'll need glasses smaller than a pint, too.

The variety and popularity of craft beer has helped make beer tasting flights a star of the beverage menu at bars and restaurants. This can be a great option for people who want to try out a range of craft beers without ordering a full pint of a Pumpkin Spice Mocha Sour, even if its name is a remarkably good pun.

The IPAs We Love Today

IPAs were developed during the height of the British Empire to survive the long trip from England to India and enjoyed there for many of the same reasons we still like to sip them on a hot, sunny day – this style of ale is crisp, citrusy, and cool. It's become a favorite of craft beer connoisseurs, with citrusy hops, biting bitterness, and varying strengths all finding their way to taps, bottles, and cans to be enjoyed around the world.

Resources

  1. How India Pale Ale Got Its Name. Smithsonian. Accessed March 2020.
  2. A Brief History of IPAs. The Guardian. Accessed March 2020.
  3. Types of Beer. Time. Accessed March 2020.
  4. Chemistry of Hops. Beer Connoisseur. Accessed March 2020.
  5. IPA Styles. Bon Appetit. Accessed March 2020.