IPA beer: history, difference between APA, types + how to drink
In England and America, India Pale Ale (abbreviated as IPA) is particularly popular, accounting for up to 30% of sales or about 150 million gallons of beer per year.
IPA is produced mainly at craft breweries. The drink is distinguished from ordinary pale ale by its high hop content and, as a result, greater strength and bitterness.
The history of IPA
The extra-strong drink owes its origin to the East India Company. The first mention of IPA dates back to 1829.
In the early nineteenth century, English brewers experimented with the composition of ale, which was supplied to India for the British military and service personnel.
In the process, it was noticed that the long journey to exotic shores is better withstood by drinks that are well flavored with hops. And if at first they shocked tasters with their strength and pronounced bitterness, over time the British got used to the strong taste and fell in love with it.
By the end of the XIX century, bitter pale ale became popular not only in the East Indies, but also in Australia, colonial Africa, Scotland and New Zealand. As for the British market, it even replaced other types of beer.
During the First World War, the strength of English ale decreased, and IPA went off the scene for a while.
American version
The drink experienced a new birth in the XX century, during the era of the craft revolution in the United States. Small breweries began to actively open in the American alcohol market, adopting the traditional British recipe.
This is how one of the varieties of Indian ale appeared - a brighter APA (American Pale Ale) beer with characteristic fruit, pine and citrus notes. It is noteworthy that this effect is achieved not by the inclusion of any artificial additives, but by using unusual varieties of hops.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, brewed in the 1980s in Chico, became the standard of American IPA.
Today, almost every mini-brewery in California boasts an original type of Indian ale brewed from light malts that has undergone an additional stage of hopping.
The difference between IPA and APA
Unlike the British, Americans emphasize aroma and flavor rather than strength and bitterness. Here you can find a strong ale with peach, pine, orange, pineapple, melon, grapefruit, mango notes.
The American version has a drier aftertaste, crisp and clean character, while the English version has a pronounced maltiness and strength.
The production technology also differs:
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In England, a pronounced bitterness is obtained by brewing ale with hops of herbal, floral and spicy varieties, such as Fuggle and Goldings;
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In the USA, fruity and resinous varieties of hops Columbus, Chinook, Citra are used to infuse the product after the wort has cooled.
Types of IPA beer
In addition to the 2 famous classic styles of Indian ale with an alcohol content of 5-7.5%, there are many other variations:
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Double IPA/Triple IPA
It has a complex flavor with pronounced hop bitterness, strong maltiness and residual sweetness.
It is also characterized by high density and increased strength (8-10%).
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Imperial IPA
More flavorful version of "double" ale with a high degree (over 11%).
Famous brands: Stone Enjoy By IPA, Hill Farmstead Abner, Toppling Goliath King Sue, Alpine Exponential Hoppiness, Other Half All Green Everything, Evil Twin Molotov Cocktail.
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West Coast IPA
The beer, created in Southern California but distributed on all continents, has a juicy citrus bouquet and strong bitterness.
The best brands: Pizza Port Solana Beach Swami Pizza Port Solana Beach’s IPA, Lagunitas IPA, Russian River Blind Pig IPA.
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Belgian IPA
This type is not necessarily produced in Belgium, but is always brewed with Belgian yeast. Differs in pear and banana aroma with tones of cloves and high strength (about 8%).
Popular brands: Green Flash Le Freak, Brasserie d’Achouffe Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel, Allagash Hugh Malone, Stone Cali-Belgian IPA, Flying Dog Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA, Duvel Triple Hop.
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New England IPA
Vermont-style ale, less bitter, more fruity and drinkable.
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Northeast-style IPA
Northeastern version, milder and juicier, perishable, with tones of pineapple, tangerine, melon, grapefruit, with a cloudy consistency and mild bitterness.
Brewed with an American-Australian hop blend.
Worthy samples: The Alchemist Heady Topper, River Roost Mas Verde, Lawson’s Double Sunshine IPA, Tree House Julius, Bissell Brothers The Substance, Trillium Congress Street IPA.
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Black IPA/Cascadian dark ale
The "White Crow" among its brethren is a dark version of pale ale.
It is characterized by a charcoal hue, which gives the drink burnt malt. The best brands: Firestone Walker Wookey Jack, Libertine Black Ale, To Øl Black Malts & Body Salts, 21st Amendment Back in Black.
There are other styles of IPA: Session IPA (with a tropical aroma, clean aftertaste and low strength - up to 5%), Citrus IPA (with the addition of fruit), Brett IPA (based on a special variety of "wild" yeast), Fresh hop IPA (based on freshly harvested green hops)...
Indian ale is also classified by the type of malt (rye, wheat, oat). A separate group includes the mono-hop variant: it is made on the basis of one type of hop, while several varieties are usually used.
How and what to drink IPA with
Indian ale is usually drunk from special tulip-shaped glasses with a narrow base (spiegelau), but ordinary wine or cognac glasses are also suitable.
Meat and vegetable dishes, fruits, seafood, aged cheeses, and Italian cuisine are considered universal appetizers.
When choosing an appetizer, you should start from the desired effect: spicy, spicy, sweet food emphasizes bitterness; sour, fatty, and salty dishes soften it.
Interesting facts
Along with the growing popularity of IPA, a new term "hophead" has come into use, denoting a beer drinker who is obsessed with hop varieties.
Hop bitterness "wears off" quite quickly, so it is recommended to drink strong craft beer as soon as possible.
For this reason, some manufacturers indicate on the bottle not the expiration date, but the bottling/fermentation date.
Update: 17.07.2019
Category: Beer, Cider, Ale