Ohhh the many, MANY different flavours, colours and styles of IPAs. Once craft brewers got their hands on this beloved overly hopped pale ale they started pushing these hops as far as they could go - and we’re not mad about it! We’ve outlined 10 IPA variations below for you, each beautiful, unique and of course, gloriously hoppy...
ENGLISH IPA
The specs:
ABV: 5.5 - 7.5%
IBU: 40 - 60
Colour: gold – deep amber colour
The OG IPA! The one that kicked off the IPA craze and craft beer fanatics unquenchable thirst for hoppy goodness. The English IPA was said to be invented when hops were used as preservatives to keep beer fresh on the journey from England to India. Since the hops were left in the beer so long, their bitterness took over, leaving almost any floral or fruity notes behind. The result is less hoppy than an American IPA with a more prominent malt character and an assertive, hop-forward bitterness with floral, spicy, grassy and citrus notes.
THE AMERICAN IPA (WEST COAST)
The specs:
ABV: 5.5 - 7.5%
IBU: 40 - 70
Colour: gold - light amber
The West Coast IPA gained popularity among brewers in the Pacific Northwest and California in the late ’90s who experimented using an even larger amount and variety of hops in their brews. Basically, this is the style that brought to light the ability of hops to punch you in the face with citrusy, fruity and piney flavours and aromas while still maintaining an assertive bitterness. Our West Coast IPA boasts huge hop flavour, but also balanced drinkability.
THE AMERICAN IPA (EAST COAST)
The specs:
ABV: 6 - 9%
IBU: 25 - 60
Colour: hazy and opaque
The main difference between East Coast and West Coast IPA’s? Yeast. While West Coast brewers use almost flavourless yeasts to focus on hop aromas and flavour, East Coast brewers use complicated East Coast yeast strains. These yeasts biotransform huge amounts of hops to produce and boost stone fruit, melon and citrus notes with a lower bitterness than the West Coast IPA. This process makes the East Coast IPA’s deliciously juicy and hazy - yum!
BELGIAN IPA
The specs:
ABV: 5.5 - 9%
IBU: 50 - 100
Colour: slight haze
The use of Belgian yeast is what separates this style from the others. This yeast brings out spicey clove, and bubblegum sweet, bready, warm notes. Many consider this to taste closer to an English IPA crossed with a Belgian Tripel.
BLACK IPA (AKA CASCADIAN DARK ALE)
The specs:
ABV: 5.5 - 9%
IBU: 50 - 90
Colour: dark brown/black
The name of this brew has been subject to quite the debate among craft beer fanatics but let’s remember the most important thing; it tastes damn good. If you sip on this with your eyes closed you might just think you’re sipping on a West Coast IPA but alas, open your eyes and you’ll see something reminiscent of a stout sitting in front of you. It’s neither, it’s the Black IPA, similar to a West Coast IPA but darker in colour with mild coffee and chocolate flavours.
WHITE IPA
The specs:
ABV: 5.5 - 7.5%
IBU: 40 - 70
Colour: light straw to gold
You can think of the White IPA as a marriage of an American IPA and a Witbier. Hoppy, refreshing and spicy with hints of grapefruit, orange, banana and coriander.
RED IPA
The specs:
ABV: 5.5 - 7.5 %
IBU: 40 - 70
Colour: Light amber. Deep Copper
Similar to an American IPA but with more caramelyness (that’s definitely not a word but it IS the best descriptor). It’s a little more flavorful and malty than an American IPA without being so sweet and heavy.
BRUT IPA
The specs:
ABV: 5% - 9%
IBU: 10 - 20
Colour: straw to gold in colour
A special enzyme is added to break down sugars and lessen sweetness to create a beer representative of a bone-dry champagne and an IPA mixed together. Hop forward and low bitterness with citrus, tropical fruit and stone fruit flavours. Yum, we’ll toast to that.
DOUBLE/IMPERIAL IPA
The specs:
ABV: 7.5% - 10%
IBU: 50 - 100
Colour: gold – Light Amber
As some dedicated IPA drinkers got used to the high bitterness of modern IPAs they called for even more hops. The answer: the Double/ Imperial IPA. Basically a traditional IPA on steroids; more amplified aromas, flavours and alcohol.
So basically, there’s a ton of different styles of IPAs and they’re all a blast to experiment with (and drink)! Want to check out our IPA’s? Head to our tasting room, order online or check out one of our local stockists here.