Red Ipa Beer: A Unique Blend Of Malty And Hoppy

Red India Pale Ale (IPA), or India Red Ale, is a hybrid of American IPA and Amber Ale. It is reddish-amber to dark reddish-copper in colour, hoppy, bitter, and moderately strong like an American IPA, but with some caramel, toffee, and/or dark fruit malt character. Retaining the dryish finish and lean body that makes IPAs so drinkable, a Red IPA is a little more flavourful and malty than an American IPA without being sweet or heavy.

Red IPA's history

The history of Red IPAs is closely intertwined with the evolution of India Pale Ales (IPAs) as a whole. IPAs were originally developed in Britain to cater to the demand for beer in the British Empire, particularly in India. The hot climate in India made it challenging to brew beer locally, and the long journey from Britain posed challenges for beer preservation.

In the late 18th century, George Hodgson, a brewer at the Bow Brewery in East London, began exporting his pale ale to India. Hodgson's beer, known as October ale, was packed with extra hops and had an increased alcohol content. The hops and higher alcohol content helped preserve the beer during its long sea journey to India. This innovation resulted in a bitter and stronger pale ale that was more refreshing in the hot Indian climate compared to the dark ales and porters commonly consumed in London.

Hodgson's success caught the attention of larger brewers, such as Bass, who imitated and improved upon his recipe. The beer evolved into something weaker, eventually becoming plain old pale ale for the domestic market. As refrigeration became available, the need for heavily hopped beers for preservation decreased, and the original style of IPA began to fade out.

However, the story of IPA didn't end there. In the 1970s and 1980s, a craft beer revolution emerged in the United States, and American brewers rediscovered their love for brewing. They revived the original IPA recipes created in Britain while incorporating new styles of hops developed in the US. This led to the creation of American IPAs, which were packed with alcohol and hops, taking the style to a new level.

The American IPAs can be broadly categorized into two styles: West Coast IPAs and East Coast IPAs. The first American IPAs were crafted on the West Coast using new hop varieties like Cascade and Chinook, resulting in beers with strong piney, floral, and citrus notes and a prominent bitterness. In contrast, East Coast IPAs, originating from New England breweries, balanced the robust hoppiness with an equally robust malt component.

The revival of IPAs in the United States sparked a renewed interest in the style back in Britain. Brewers in Britain began experimenting with different variations of IPAs, including Red IPAs. Red IPAs, also known as Specialty IPAs, maintain the hoppiness and bitterness associated with American IPAs while incorporating caramel, toffee, and dark fruit malt characters. They strike a balance between being more flavorful and malty than American IPAs without becoming sweet or heavy.

The colour of Red IPAs ranges from light reddish-amber to dark reddish-copper, and they typically have a dryish finish and lean body, making them highly drinkable. While the specific history of Red IPAs is not extensively documented, it is clear that they emerged as a modern American craft beer style, building upon the foundation laid by the American IPA and incorporating the malt flavours of an American Amber Ale.

Red IPA's characteristics

Red India Pale Ale (IPA), or India Red Ale, is a hybrid of American IPA and American Amber. It is reddish-amber to dark reddish-copper in colour, hoppy, bitter, and moderately strong like an American IPA, but with some caramel, toffee, and/or dark fruit malt character.

Red IPA has a dryish finish and a lean body, making it highly drinkable. It is a little more flavourful and malty than an American IPA without being sweet or heavy. The difference between a Red IPA and an American IPA is the addition of some darker malts, giving it a slightly sweeter, more caramelly, and dark fruit-based balance.

Red IPA differs from an American Strong Ale in that the malt profile is less intense, and there is less body. It still has an IPA balance and doesn't trend towards a barley wine-like malt character. It is like a stronger, hoppier American Amber Ale, with a characteristic dry finish, medium-light body, and strong late hop character.

The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) classifies the Red IPA beer style under category number 21, "IPA", and it can be found in the guidelines as sub-category (21B), "Specialty IPA". The BJCP guidelines state that the hop aromas of a Red IPA should be moderate to strong, with characteristics of American or New World hops such as citrus, floral, stone, and/or tropical fruit, berry, melon, spice, pine, and resin. Fermentation can also contribute a fruity element depending on the type of yeast used, but a cleaner fermentation profile is also acceptable. Malt aromas can range from moderately low to medium and should complement the hop aromas. Malt character often presents as a mix of sweet caramel, toast, toffee, and/or dark fruit.

The texture of a Red IPA is smooth, with medium to moderately high carbonation, and a medium-light to medium body. Light alcohol warming and spiciness is acceptable as long as it doesn't unbalance the beer. Hop astringency should never be harsh. Malt flavours usually range from moderately low to medium. They are clean, yet slightly sweet at the front of the palate, with characteristics of toast, medium-dark caramel, toffee, and/or dark fruit.

Hop flavour is medium to very high, and bitterness can be medium-high to very high. Hop flavours should be recognisable as having characteristics of American or New World varieties, which can include floral, citrus, pine, resin, stone, and/or tropical fruit, melon, and berry. The flavour combinations of malt and hops should be pleasant and complementary. They should not clash, and the malt flavour should not hamper the hop profile.

Some fruitiness can come from the yeast, though a cleaner profile is also acceptable. Residual sweetness should be moderate to none, and the finish should be dry to moderately dry. A light, clean alcohol presence is acceptable in stronger versions. Hop flavours and residual bitterness may linger into the aftertaste but should never be harsh or biting.

Red IPA vs. American IPA

Red IPA is a hybrid of American IPA and American Amber. It is a modern American craft beer style, based on American IPA but with the malt flavours of an American Amber Ale. It is hoppy, bitter, and moderately strong like an American IPA, but with some caramel, toffee, and/or dark fruit malt character.

Red IPA is a little more flavourful and malty than an American IPA without being sweet or heavy. It has a dryish finish and a lean body, which makes it very drinkable. The colour ranges from light reddish-amber to dark reddish-copper.

American IPAs are quite diverse and can be further divided into several sub-styles, such as East Coast and West Coast IPAs. They are more aggressively hopped than English IPAs and are very fragrant and flavourful. They have a higher alcohol content than English IPAs.

East Coast American IPAs are somewhat similar to English IPAs in that they tend to display a malty backbone with hints of caramel, an accompanying full body, and fruity/citrusy aroma. They have a moderately aggressive bitterness and use American ale yeasts and hops.

West Coast American IPAs are known for their bitter assault on the taste buds. The bitterness is inseparable from vibrant and refreshing fruity aromas and does come with notes of biscuit or toast. The IPAs of the Pacific Northwest are better known for potent aromas such as pine trees, cut flowers, or grass, and have a more subdued bitterness.

Red IPA vs. American Amber Ale

Red IPAs are a relatively new sub-style of the American IPA. They are characterised by a reddish-amber to ruby or reddish-copper colour, with a crisp drinkability and a strong hop aroma. The malt profile is slightly stronger than in a typical American IPA, and the alcohol range may be slightly higher.

American Amber Ales, on the other hand, are an emerging style with many varied definitions. They range in colour from light copper to light brown and are characterised by American varietal hops, which some believe should be used to produce high hop bitterness, flavour, and aroma. Others define Amber Ales more by their malt character than by their hops, and they typically have a medium to high maltiness with a medium to low caramel character.

While Red IPAs are a sub-style of IPAs, American Amber Ales are a distinct style of their own. The main difference between the two lies in the emphasis on hops versus malt. Red IPAs, as a sub-style of IPAs, will naturally have a stronger hop presence, while American Amber Ales, even when produced with a high hop character, typically feature a more prominent malt profile.

In terms of colour, Red IPAs and American Amber Ales can appear quite similar, with both displaying reddish hues. However, Red IPAs tend to be on the lighter end of the spectrum, ranging from reddish-amber to ruby, while American Amber Ales can be slightly darker, ranging from light copper to light brown.

Both styles are fermented at warmer temperatures and are typically consumed within a year of purchase to fully appreciate the hop profile. When it comes to food pairings, both styles are quite versatile and can complement a variety of dishes, from lighter fare like salads to heartier options like grilled meats.

Popular Red IPA beers

Red IPAs are a relatively new sub-style of American IPAs, with the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) adding it to its style guidelines in 2015. Red IPAs are characterised by their reddish-amber to dark ruby or reddish-copper colour.

• St. James from Coldfire Brewing (Eugene, OR)
• Midwest Red IPA from Masthead Brewing Company (Cleveland, OH)
• RIPA from Carson’s Brewing Company (Evansville, IN)
• Red IPA from Good Company Brewing (USA)
• Flipside from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (USA)
• Runoff Red IPA from Odell Brewing Company (USA)
• Sockeye Red from Midnight Sun Brewing Company (USA)
• Fixed Gear American Red from Lakefront Brewery (USA)
• Voodoo Ranger Red IPA from New Belgium Brewing Company (USA)
• Dinner Jacket O’Red from Arch Brewing Company (Canada)
• Foxy from Union Craft Brewing (USA)
• Conundrum Red Ale from Aspen Brewing Company (USA)
• Bombay Rouge from Third Street Ale Works (USA)
• Dawn Of The Red from Ninkasi Brewing Company (USA)

Frequently asked questions