A Guide To Modern IPAs
- By Steven Hooch
- Published 11/17/2011
- Food and Drink
- Unrated
Pale ales are one of the most recognizable and most popular subtypes of ales among beer enthusiasts today - and for good reasons, too, if we do say so ourselves. These beers are brewed using bottom-fermenting yeast, fermented at higher temperatures and conditioned for a shorter period. The result is a clear, clean and flavourful wine with a wide variety of flavours including but not limited to chocolate, coffee and fruits. A subset of the pale ale category is the Indian pale ales (IPAs), which are briefly discussed in the following paragraphs.
India Pale Ale (IPA):
Of all the pale ales, it is the India pale ale that immediately comes to mind when talking about the first - and arguably, the best - in the category. It has an interesting history stretching back to the 1790s. British brewers were encountering the most difficult challenge in their careers, so to speak - how to keep the beer through long ocean voyages particularly when the beverage is transported to hot climates. The beer tended to become flat, sour and virtually inedible.
With higher levels of hops and alcohol, this problem was solved. It should be noted that the British and American IPAs are different - the American version tends to have bolder flavours, stronger alcohol content and greater amount of hops than its British counterpart.
Like all pale ales, India pale ale comes in many different colours, aromas and tastes. Its colours range from light golden to dark amber depending on the kinds and amounts of malts used as ingredients. Its head is medium-sized with colours varying from pure white to dark brown.
Indian p
ale ale has a strong aroma of hops, the level of which depends on the kind and amount of hops used. The aroma can either be a pine tree smell (Chinook hops) or a sweet citrusy blossom (Cascade hops).
As for taste, India pale ale has a bitter hoppy taste although the specific tastes can vary from one brew to the next. Keep in mind that the aroma will often be different from the actual tastes so it is inadvisable to judge pale ales based on their aromas alone.
Black IPA / Cascadian Dark Ale:
Cascadian dark ale, or black IPA, has a dark to black appearance because of the roasted malts in the brew. The most commonly used hops are Cascade, Centennial, Amarillo and Simcoe, the combinations of which give the black IPA its hoppy aroma and flavour. Be careful about drinking black IPA since it has high alcohol content starting at 6.5%. As for taste, the dark malt provides for a roasted flavour of coffee and chocolates similar to stouts while the generous helpings of hops provide the bright burst of bitter citrus in the beer.
Imperial/Double IPA
Known as regular India pale ale on crack, the imperial IPA has a slightly darker colour with amber to reddish copper tints. Its dominant flavour comes from the high level of hops, which also accounts for imperial IPA's high levels of bitterness. As a result, alcohol content is also high.
The best imperial IPA has complex alcohol tastes coupled with moderate to high fruity esters. The malty character should be medium to high. The diacetyl component should not be present in the aroma and flavour.
In conclusion, there is no greater or inferior type in these pale ales. It will ultimately be your taste buds that will determine your favourite. Better yet, try everything!
India Pale Ale (IPA):
Of all the pale ales, it is the India pale ale that immediately comes to mind when talking about the first - and arguably, the best - in the category. It has an interesting history stretching back to the 1790s. British brewers were encountering the most difficult challenge in their careers, so to speak - how to keep the beer through long ocean voyages particularly when the beverage is transported to hot climates. The beer tended to become flat, sour and virtually inedible.
With higher levels of hops and alcohol, this problem was solved. It should be noted that the British and American IPAs are different - the American version tends to have bolder flavours, stronger alcohol content and greater amount of hops than its British counterpart.
Like all pale ales, India pale ale comes in many different colours, aromas and tastes. Its colours range from light golden to dark amber depending on the kinds and amounts of malts used as ingredients. Its head is medium-sized with colours varying from pure white to dark brown.
Indian p
As for taste, India pale ale has a bitter hoppy taste although the specific tastes can vary from one brew to the next. Keep in mind that the aroma will often be different from the actual tastes so it is inadvisable to judge pale ales based on their aromas alone.
Black IPA / Cascadian Dark Ale:
Cascadian dark ale, or black IPA, has a dark to black appearance because of the roasted malts in the brew. The most commonly used hops are Cascade, Centennial, Amarillo and Simcoe, the combinations of which give the black IPA its hoppy aroma and flavour. Be careful about drinking black IPA since it has high alcohol content starting at 6.5%. As for taste, the dark malt provides for a roasted flavour of coffee and chocolates similar to stouts while the generous helpings of hops provide the bright burst of bitter citrus in the beer.
Imperial/Double IPA
Known as regular India pale ale on crack, the imperial IPA has a slightly darker colour with amber to reddish copper tints. Its dominant flavour comes from the high level of hops, which also accounts for imperial IPA's high levels of bitterness. As a result, alcohol content is also high.
The best imperial IPA has complex alcohol tastes coupled with moderate to high fruity esters. The malty character should be medium to high. The diacetyl component should not be present in the aroma and flavour.
In conclusion, there is no greater or inferior type in these pale ales. It will ultimately be your taste buds that will determine your favourite. Better yet, try everything!
Steven Hooch
Steven Hooch is a leading connoisseur for a variety of fine wines and ales. He has been sharing his insights and reviews for over 11 years striving to provide expert advice and information on a wide range of alcoholic beverages including IPA .
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