Beer Styles: IPA
This is the first in a series where I will be sharing some information with you about beer styles.
IPA or India Pale Ale has many different forms, but it started life in England and was famously perfected in Burton on Trent where the water chemistry was perfect to showcase the bitterness of hops balanced with sweet malt. The beer was exported to troops in India and was a big hit with them, hence the name India Pale Ale. The American craft beer scene picked up the style and made it their own, adding American hops and making it super punchy.
More styles have spawned since then including Black IPA, Red IPA, Hazy or New England IPA, Double and Triple IPAs (that have higher strengths and bitterness) and even sour or fruited IPAs When tasting an IPA it should be hop forward - citrusy, pine or resin aromas and bitterness in the taste. There may also be a good malt balance depending on the exact type of IPA. Some are fruiter, some have a biscuit finish, some blow your head off with the hop bomb bitterness burn. But they should be refreshing! Do you like IPAs? What's your favourite type? Drop me an email and let me know
Featured: Unite Tribute hazy IPA from Wild Card brewery. This was created for International Women's Collaboration Brew Day in honour of Ada Lovelace (and I was part of the team that brewed it!)
