What is an IPA?
The world of ale is one with a plethora of exciting styles and flavours. But with so many varieties available to the modern drinker, it can be hard to discover your favourite tipple if you’re new to beer.
In the first of a new series looking into the styles of beer we offer at Woodforde’s, we answer the question: what is an IPA?
An introduction to IPA's
Put simply, IPA stands for India Pale Ale. And it has a fascinating history that transformed the market forever.
IPAs were the genius answer to the 18th century problem of getting beers in the hands of those living in the eastern stretches of the British Empire in India, with the popular porter beers of the day struggling to survive the six-month journey from London.
The solution was to brew strong, heavily hopped ale which aged like a barley wine and provided genuine refreshment from the intense Indian heat. The hops acted as a great natural preservative that stopped them from turning foul en route.
The popularity of the beer peaked and troughed, with the additional hop solution also inspiring the “India Porter” style popular among British troops.
The style came back with a bang and became a mainstay of pubs worldwide thanks to its renaissance more than 200 years later.
How do IPA's differ from lager and pale ales?
The thing that makes IPAs stand out from pale ales, lagers and pilsners is their characteristic strong flavour coming from the additional hops.
Hops are what add the floral, fruity and citrussy flavours to your beer. They’re present in every pint you buy, but how much they are used impacts the style greatly.
While the brewing process and final product of an IPA may look similar to a pale ale, their hoppier punch makes them a lot easier to spot.
Are there different types of IPA?
While the original IPAs – even going into the late 20th century – were very much the same, advancements and innovations in brewing have made their flavours even more exciting.
That includes the likes of Hazy IPAs which go through fewer filtering and utilise malts and hops in a way that creates a hazy ale that is less bitter and packs a powerful fruity punch.
You also have Dry Hopped IPAs, which utilise hops much later in the brewing process. This adds to the strong flavour and aroma profiles of a beer without being too bitter. This is often characteristic of a more herbal or grassy beer with flavours like pine.
Brewers can also choose to double or even triple dry hop a beer, essentially meaning they have added twice or thrice as many hops later in the fermentation phase.
Are IPA's stronger than other beers?
There is no denying that IPAs have a stronger flavour than a lot of other beers on the market. But that doesn’t mean they are stronger in ABV.
As mentioned, there are many different styles of IPA and their ABV can differ greatly.
Many IPAs will have a similar ABV to lagers at around 5%, while others can be considerably stronger at around 8% or more if they are double dry hopped.
On the other hand, there are also low alcohol and alcohol-free alternatives.
Do Woodforde’s sell IPA?
Our American IPA, Volt, has gained international recognition for its tropical and citrussy flavours thanks to its blend of the best American hops.
Part of our core range, it is offered year-round and has even won Gold at the International Brewing and Cider Awards.
But that isn’t all. At Woodforde’s, we too are embarking on a New World.
Spearheaded by our multi-award-winning Head Brewer Aaron Taubman, our New World Brewing range has brought bold, inventive flavours that provide ultimate refreshment.
Both our Hazy IPA and Tropical IPA offer a true taste of the US craft beer scene right here in Norfolk and are quickly becoming a staple behind the bar.
Click here to learn more about them or purchase yours today here.