Today’s blog is on the India Pale Ale.  I would call this style the Scotch of beers.  It is usually packed full of bitter hop flavors like pine, mint, citrus, pineapple, and grapefruit, and has an acquired taste.   I enjoy a well-hopped IPA and even go for double ones such as Dogfish Head “90 Minute IPA” and Great Divide “Hercules Double IPA”, two very good examples of the style.

In case you did not know, IPAs are basically beefed up pale ales brewed for the English troops stationed in India in the late 1700’s.  Hops are a natural preservative so mass amounts were used to withstand the voyage from England to India.   More malt was also used to increase the alcohol content, around 8%-9%.  The troops received watered down versions of the beer once it reached them while officers were able to enjoy it in its full strength.  Americans have adapted their own style of IPA, simply American IPA, which are usually hoppier and bolder in taste with a firm malt backcone. 

Sometimes you will see “wet hopped” or “dry hopped” on a packaging.   Wet hopping or fresh hopping is taking the hops straight from the vine without drying them (which is usually the case) and using them directly in the brew.  This keeps more of the oils and gives the beer a fuller hop essence giving a more “tongue coating” mouth feel.  Dry hopping is taking the hops, drying them, and then adding them to the final fermentation to increase aroma.  Many Americans IPA brewers do one or the other to really define the hops in the brew.

Some American IPAs you can find at ABC include Shipyard IPA, which is an interesting one because they use Fuggles hops, which are aroma hops that are blended in other brews to produce a nice bouquet to the beer.  This exclusive use of the Fuggle strain makes for a lighter tasting IPA perfect for a beginner who wants to try a bolder hop taste.  Victory “Hop Devil” is fantastic with a piney hop taste and toasted grains.  Sierra Nevada “Torpedo Extra IPA” is another terrific IPA with a nice price.  It boasts flavors of grapefruit, pepper, and silky smooth resin.  Cheers!

Beer blogger Adam Shugan is assistant manager at our Archer Road, Gainesville store