India Pale Ale (IPA)
IPA History, Taste – Aroma Characteristics and Food Pairing
IPA is a style of beer that generally has a higher hop content than normal ales. IPA is brewed in the traditional method of an ale by top fermentation as opposed to a lager style beer which is bottom fermented. India Pale Ale has taken the microbrew industry by storm in the United States in recent years. IPA enthusiasts, more commonly known as Hopheads, are growing in popularity and the microbrew industry in the U.S. is giving them exactly want they crave.
Brief History of India Pale Ale
India Pale Ale got its name in the 1700’s because of the high hop and alcohol content in ale’s transported to India from England. Traditional beers wouldn’t stand up to the long voyage and high temperatures of a trip to India. The beer would spoil and become flat.
In order to supply the Royal Navy and British Army as well as other dignitaries in India with unspoiled beer, extra hop was added to the brew. The extra added hop’s and higher alcohol content acted as a preservative that could withstand higher temperatures. The extra bitter ale that was exported to India grew in popularity. Many troops returning to England enjoyed the ale in India and breweries soon started offering domestic versions of the brew.
India Pale Ale Characteristics
- Coloring. IPA can vary widely in coloring depending on the types and amounts of malts used. The color can range from a light golden to a dark amber coloring. IPA usually has a good-sized head of foam and can vary in color from pure white to a darker brown.
- Aroma. IPA usually has a strong aroma of hops. The strength of the aroma depends on the type and amount of hops used. Most IPA aromas have a sweet citrus blossom aroma or a pine tree aroma. Although there are many types of hops used in an IPA by American Breweries, Cascade and Chinook Hops are very popular. Cascade has a strong citrus blossom aroma and Chinook has more of a piney aroma. The amounts and types of malts used can also have an effect on the aroma of an IPA.
- Taste. Many IPA’s have a bitter hoppy taste. Just like the aroma, the taste can vary widely from one IPA to another. Some IPA’s can have a very complex taste with lots of different flavors or it can be more simple with just a strong taste of pine or citrus. The taste of an IPA depends a lot on the types of hops and malts along with the amounts used. Often times a brewer will use a mixture of different types of hops and malts. Don’t judge an IPA by the aroma. Often times the aroma is totally independent of the taste.
IPA and Food Pairing
Since most IPA’s are bitter, spicy foods with a hoppy IPA are a great match. The hoppy bitterness will actually intensify the spiciness of the food. Spicy Chinese and Mexican food goes great with an IPA. Buffalo wings, pizza and hamburger’s with spicy jack cheese are also a great pairing.
A good IPA is basically in the eyes of the beholder, or the pallet of the beholder. Hopheads generally prefer a hop intensive IPA. Others may prefer a good hop flavor balanced by a more intense malt flavoring. One things for sure, in order to enjoy an IPA one must first be a lover of the hops.
Inida Pale Ale
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