The Ultimate Guide To Describing Ipa Beers

India Pale Ales (IPAs) are one of the most popular styles of craft beer in the United States. IPAs are characterised by their use of hops, which lend a bitter, floral, earthy, citrusy, piney, and fruity flavour to the beer. While IPAs are known for their bitterness, not all IPAs are bitter, and they can range from high to low alcohol content. The appearance of IPAs can vary from light to dark, clear to cloudy, and they may have a full or thin mouthfeel. IPAs have a dynamic range of aromas and flavours, and can be an acquired taste for those new to craft beer.

IPA colour: from pale gold to black

The colour of an IPA can vary from pale gold to black, with many shades in between. The original English IPAs were less hoppy than their American counterparts, with a more prominent malt character and a more assertive bitterness. They are usually medium amber to light copper in colour.

American IPAs are often divided into two categories: East Coast and West Coast. West Coast IPAs are known for their aggressive hoppiness and powerful bitterness, with colours ranging from gold to light amber. East Coast IPAs, on the other hand, are slightly more balanced, with stronger malt components that match the stronger hops. They are usually hazy and opaque in appearance.

Belgian IPAs are another hybrid style that is inspired by the popularity of American IPAs. These IPAs are often cloudy and range in colour from pale gold to light amber.

Black IPAs, also known as Cascadian Dark Ales, are a newer style of IPA. They have a similar flavour profile to West Coast IPAs but with a darker colour, ranging from dark brown to black. These IPAs have mild coffee and chocolate flavours, with a hint of roastiness and depth.

White IPAs, a cross between an American IPA and a Witbier, typically have a lighter colour, ranging from light straw to gold. They are hoppy, refreshing, and spicy, with hints of grapefruit, orange, banana, and coriander.

IPA bitterness: from low to high

The bitterness of an IPA is influenced by a variety of factors, including the type of hops used, the brewing process, and the individual's taste perception. Here is an overview of the different levels of bitterness in IPAs, from low to high:

Low Bitterness IPAs

New England-style IPAs are known for their extremely low bitterness. They achieve this by using blends of hops that emphasise intense, fruity flavours. These beers often undergo dry-hopping, a process where hops are steeped in fermenting beer instead of being added during boiling. Dry-hopping enhances the fruity, piney, and candy-sweet notes of the hops without adding bitterness. New England IPAs are unfiltered, giving them a hazy appearance, and they tend to have lower carbonation.

Moderate Bitterness IPAs

Belgian IPAs fall into this category, with a dry, assertive bitterness that pierces through the malt and yeast-derived flavours. They are often heavily hopped, sometimes with American hop varieties, and may be more or less cloudy due to the use of different malts and bottle conditioning.

High Bitterness IPAs

West Coast IPAs are known for their aggressively hoppy and powerfully bitter flavour profile. They showcase classic Northwest hop flavours like citrus, pine, and florals, with a strong, unapologetic bitterness. While there is still some malt presence, the hops are undoubtedly the star of the show in this style.

It's important to note that the perception of bitterness can vary from person to person, and some individuals may seek out bitter flavours more than others. Additionally, the bitterness of an IPA can be enhanced by certain processes, such as dry-hopping, or by the presence of compounds like humulinones, which are found on hops and are highly soluble in beer.

IPA alcohol content: from low to high

India Pale Ales (IPAs) are known for their high alcohol content. However, the alcohol content of IPAs can vary from low to high.

Session IPAs

Session IPAs are modern IPAs with a lower alcohol content, usually below 5% ABV. Historically, the style is 4% and below. Session IPAs have a thinner body, making them perfect for drinking in repeat.

Standard IPAs

Standard IPAs usually have an ABV of 5-7%. This means you will feel the alcohol more quickly compared to a standard beer, which typically has an ABV of around 5%.

Double/Imperial IPAs

Double and Imperial IPAs have a higher hop concentration and a higher ABV, typically over 7%. They are stronger and more bitter than standard IPAs, with a bold, in-your-face bitterness.

Black IPAs

Black IPAs, also known as Cascadian Dark Ales, have a lower alcohol content than standard IPAs. They have a more balanced flavour profile, with notes of chocolate, coffee, and other dark flavours.

Rye IPAs

Rye IPAs are a variation of American (West Coast) IPAs with added rye. They have a strong, spicy flavour and a high alcohol content similar to that of standard IPAs.

IPA aroma: from fruity to earthy

India Pale Ales (IPAs) are characterised by their use of hops, which lend a range of flavour notes to the beer. IPAs can be bitter, floral, earthy, citrusy, piney, fruity, and bitter again!

The different styles of IPAs showcase the versatility of the beer. The New England IPA, for example, is unfiltered, hazy, and has very low bitterness. This style is often dry-hopped, which amplifies its fruity and candy-sweet notes. It smells fruity and herbal, and tastes like a fresh fruit cobbler.

The West Coast IPA is bitter, but balances this with crisp, clean, tropical fruit notes. This style is known for its strong, unapologetic bitterness, with classic Northwest hop flavours like citrus and pine.

The English IPA is less intensely hoppy, with a better balance between malt and hop flavour. It may also showcase some toasty and bready malt notes, and the English yeast may give a more estery fruitiness.

The Belgian IPA is heavily hopped, often with American hop varieties, and differentiated by the use of Belgian yeast strains. It has a dry, assertive bitterness that cleanly pierces the malt and yeast-derived flavours.

The Black IPA is a newer style, with the hops and roastiness turned down. It still has the aggressive presence of hops, but with a proportion of roasted malt that lends chocolate, coffee, and other dark notes to the overall flavour.

The different styles of IPAs showcase how versatile the beer can be, with a range of aromas and flavours that can be fruity, earthy, bitter, and more.

IPA flavour: from citrusy to malty

India Pale Ales (IPAs) are known for their bold, bitter, and fruity flavours, which largely come from the hops used in brewing. While IPAs are often associated with bitterness, not all IPAs are bitter, and the level of bitterness can vary depending on the type of hops used and the brewing process.

The flavour of an IPA can range from citrusy to malty, and this is largely determined by the variety of hops selected and the brewing techniques employed. Citrusy IPAs, for instance, often feature American hops such as Cascade, which impart strong citrus notes. These beers can be extremely bitter, with a sharp, resiny character, or they may have a more balanced profile where the bitterness is rounded out by malt flavours.

Malt plays a crucial role in IPAs by providing a counterbalance to the bitterness of the hops. The malt character can range from biscuity and nutty, commonly found in English IPAs, to sweeter, caramelised notes in some American IPAs. The type of malt and its kilning process will influence the flavour profile, with lightly kilned malts contributing delicate caramel or toffee notes, while darker malts can add deeper flavours like raisin and plum.

The interplay between hops and malt is essential in shaping the flavour of an IPA. While hops are typically the star of the show, a well-crafted IPA will have a harmonious balance between the bitterness of the hops and the sweetness or nuttiness of the malt. This balance can be achieved through the selection of specific hop and malt varieties, as well as the brewing process, including the timing and amount of hop additions, and the fermentation and ageing techniques employed.

In addition to citrusy and malty flavours, IPAs can also exhibit earthy, piney, and floral notes from certain hops. The use of different yeast strains can further modify the flavour profile, with English yeasts imparting a more estery character, while American ale yeasts tend to produce cleaner, less fruity aromas.

The vast array of hops, malts, and yeasts available to brewers allows for endless variations in IPA flavour profiles, ensuring that there is an IPA to suit every taste preference. Whether you favour a crisp and bitter West Coast IPA or a smoother, maltier English-style IPA, the world of IPAs has something for everyone.

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