Overview
The history of Indian Pale Ale is a very interesting one. Originating in England in the early 19th century pale ales started to be brewed with the intention of exporting them to India. Amongst the first credited with this was Bow Brewery, who's October Beer (a well hopped pale ale) was shipped to Indian. The long passage allowed the beer to age well and was very popular and highly regarding by beer enthusiasts in India. Around this time other breweries followed the trend of producing highly hopped pale ales for export including Burton Brewery, Allsopp Brewery, Bass and Salt. The addition of extra hops gave the beer a distinctive taste different from anything produced before. Once the export to India was establish IPAs started to gain popularity domestically in England also. A new style of beer was created which was in high demand which interestingly is still the most popular craft beer style sold to this day.
Not only were IPAs popular in England but the style took off in a big way in America. Contemporary breweries began to brew IPA's some of which spearheaded the recent craft beer revolution in American. Utilising the unique American hops such as Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial, Citra, Columbus, Chinook and Simcoe, American IPAs are packed with juicy tropical fruit flavours and dry bitterness. In fact a lot of modern British breweries are importing American hops to flavour there beers.
Typically IPAs are golden/amber in colour and range between 4% - 6% ABV. A straight forward modern IPA will have big hoppy flavours ranging from tropical fruits to pine which are balanced by a nice malt backbone and a dry bitter aftertaste. The IPA beer style also lends itself well for adding additional ingredients which can be seen in a number of IPAs with additional fruit flavours and also the birth of Double and Imperial IPAs which push the hoppy flavour and increase the ABV range up to 7% or 8%.
Examples
British IPAs
Beer - Punk IPA
Brewery - Brewdog
Web Link - HERE
One of the flag bearers of the modern craft beer scene Brewdog's Punk IPA is one of the most recognisable IPAs on the market. Golden in colour and packed with tropical fruit flavours Punk IPA is a classic modern IPA. Packing 5.6% ABV giving a nice warm hit of alcohol this is defiantly one to try if you are just getting into this style.
Beer - Jaipur
Brewery - Thornbridge
Web Link - HERE
A multi award winning IPA brewed by one of the great modern British breweries, Thornbridge. Another classic IPA packed with tropical and citrus fruit flavours which are rounded off by a smooth mouth feel and wonderful long lasting bitter aftertaste. Another IPA which provides a great warm hit of alcohol thanks to this 5.9% ABV. Thornbridge have mastered this style and used American hops to give that juicy fruit flavour we love in our modern IPAs.
Beer - Lupuloid
Brewery - Beavertown
Web Link - HERE
An absolute stonker of an IPA. Packed with wonderful fruit flavours, great malty backbone and a dry bitter aftertaste. All you could ever wish for in an IPA. Beavertown have put the hard work in to create this brew. 4 years in the making, collaborations with other breweries and multiple test running before they unveiled Lupuloid onto there core range. If you only try one IPA from this list we recommend this one.
Other notable mentions:
Hadouken by Tiny Rebel (Web Link HERE)
Bibble by Wild Beer Co (Web Link HERE)
Citra by Oakham Ales (Web Link HERE)
American IPA's
Beer - Torpedo
Brewery - Sierra Nevada
Web Link - HERE
To us Torpedo by Sierra Nevada is the bench mark of the classic American IPA. A hop bomb of a beer and packed full of super tasty tropical fruit, citrus and pine notes all washed away by a super dry bitter aftertaste that goes on and on. A very direct and aggressive flavour profile but surprisingly well balanced for an amplified IPA. Pushing the alcohol levels to a whopping 7.2% this is a serious and punchy brew.
Beer - Lagunitas IPA
Brewery - Lagunitas Brewing Co
Web Link - HERE
Another corker of and American IPA courtesy of Lagunitas. This is a wonderfully complex brew containing 43 different hops and 65 various malts. What you get is a well balanced brew with a nice malt warmth, notes of citrus and pine and a nice bitter aftertaste which leaves a slight sweet caramel flavour. Again the warmth from the 6.2% of alcohol is direct and punchy and the flavour profile is on the aggressive side but mellows with the malt backbone.
Beer - Go To IPA
Brewery - Stone Brewery
Web Link - HERE
Stone Brewing have been one of the most consistent breweries in America delivering an amazing array of IPAs. Most are amplified and aggressive with high ABV levels. Their standard IPA is direct and punchy, Ruination Double IPA is super aggressive and flavour packed and Delicious IPA is citrusy and extra bitter. However their Go To IPA is flavour packed at a relatively low 4.8% ABV. This brew lets the hops really shine through with wonderful tasty fruit notes and a direct bitter aftertaste. The great thing with Stones "Go To" is we can drink this all day and still get that big Stone Brewing punchy IPA flavour.
Other notable mentions:
Centennial IPA by Founders Brewing Co (Web Link HERE)
Snake Dog IPA by Flying Dog Brewing (Web Link HERE)
Brooklyn East IPA by Brooklyn Brewery (Web Link HERE)
Fruit IPAs
Beer - Clwb Tropicana
Brewery - Tiny Rebel
Web Link - HERE
Tiny Rebel are producing some amazing beers, winning countless awards and breaking records along the way. So the introduction of Tropicana IPA to the core range is something to get excited about. Our first taste was welcomed by a super juicy and flavoursome IPA packed with tropical fruits. Sweet fruits such as pineapple, passionfruit, mango and peach dominate and a slightly bitter aftertaste washes the palate clean ready for more. This is a real summer brew packing sweet moreish flavours and warming 5.5% ABV.
Beer - Elvis Juice
Brewery - Brewdog
Web Link - HERE
Another great and tasty beer from Brewdog. This time an IPA which is infused with grapefruit. Punchy with tart and citrusy flavours and packing a generous 6.5% ABV, Elvis Juice is a great twist on a traditional IPA. A great malt backbone let the hops sing and the additional fruit takes the bitterness whole new level. Notes of pine, resin and citrus fruits come through as does tart grapefruit and orange flavours that all combine to make Elvis Juice a cracking IPA with a difference.
Beer - Bloody Ell
Brewery - Beavertown
Web Link - HERE
One of Beavertowns seasons brew. Bloody Ell Blood Orange IPA is a absolute belter of an IPA. The release of Bloody Ell has now become one of the dates in the craft beer calendar we look forward to most. A great malt profile, big hop flavours, warming orange notes and bitter blood orange mingle in harmony in this cracker of a fruit heavy IPA. The addition of orange zest ramps up the bitterness and a punchy 7.2% ABV gives a warm smack or zesty and hoppy goodness.
Other notable mentions:
Mango Halycion by Thornbridge
Pogo by Wild Beer Co (Web Link HERE)
Mandarin IPA by Mad Hatter Brewery (Web Link HERE)
