IPA

What is IPA?

Indian pale ale, or IPA for short, is a light-coloured, strong and hoppy ale. IPAs typically have a strong hop aroma and a bitter aftertaste. 

Depending on the hops used, the beer may have notes of fruits (including citrus), flowers, resin, or spicy undertones in its taste. Nowadays, IPA is one of the most popular beer styles in the world.

Origin Story

The most famous legend about the origin of IPA is that beers transported from England to India for the British troops did not withstand the long sea voyage and arrived spoiled. To solve this problem, a brewer named George Hodgson brewed a new beer, which he called October ale. This beer was extra strong and hoppy to survive the long sea journey, thus becoming the prototype for IPA. Over time, it became lighter and more refreshing to suit the Indian climate.

As with most legends, it contains a grain of truth but also takes some liberties with facts. 

It is true that by the mid-18th century, brewers had discovered that adding hops to beer extended its shelf life. Therefore, beers shipped to India and other distant lands (such as the Caribbean region) had more hops than usual. However, extra hops were added to all types of beer: porters, pale ales, and regular (brown) ales.

It is also likely that Hodgson didn’t specifically make his October ale for shipping to India: initially, this long-aged beer was intended for local British consumers. Since Hodgson’s brewery happened to be the closest to the East Indian Trade Company’s ships, the company decided to do business with him. It turned out that his October ale was perfect for long sea voyages, which led to his success in India. Certainly, the fact that he offered sailors an 18-month credit helped as well; they could make the entire trip to India and back before paying for the beer.

By the early 19th century, hoppy pale ale had become a popular export commodity produced by several breweries. By the 1830s, locals had also acquired a taste for it, and by the 1840s, it had become one of the best-selling beers in England.

In the latter half of the 19th century, the production of pale ales decreased, and lager-type beers became more popular. In the early 20th century, pale ales (including IPAs) nearly disappeared until the US craft beer boom in the 1970s and 1980s brought them back to life. Aromatic and hoppy IPAs offered craft brewers ample room for experimentation and became the epitome of the craft beer movement.