If you’ve got yourself acquainted with craft beer, you would’ve come across the term India Pale Ale, or IPA for sure. Because this pale ale isn’t quite the favorite among beer lovers in India, there are a few IPA facts that may still be unknown to the larger beer drinking population in the country. Here are 5 things about the famous India Pale Ale that we bet you didn’t know!
Debatable Origins, But Thank Our British Rulers For Having Pale Ale Cravings
The term IPA was first believed to have been noticed in an advertisement by an Australian newspaper. Another story goes that in the 17th century, India’s sweltering heat made thirsty British rulers crave a pale ale, a popular brew in their home country. They realized that transporting pale ales from the UK to India via ships was a bad idea, and neither was it possible to brew it in India itself because of the lack of infrastructure. That’s when a brewer decided to send extra hoppy pale ale all the way from his London brewery that would last the 6-month long journey to India. Yep, the India Pale Ale was never originally brewed in India.
Global Craft Beer King, But Unpopular In India
The craft beer universe is huge, with ales, lagers, stouts, porters, and pilsners forming its varied types. Each of these types have sub-categories of their own. But the IPA has gotten so popular, that it forms a majority share of the craft beer market around the world. It’s probably because of the extra hop component making it a really strong and bitter brew, also allowing brewers to experiment with varied flavors at the same time. Strangely though, the IPA hasn’t quite caught on among Indians, because we’re naturally used to lighter beers.
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The Most Difficult Beer To Brew In The World
Making a true blue IPA is not everybody’s cup of tea (or beer) because it takes some serious skill. In fact, the IPA is considered the most difficult beer to brew in the world, if you want to get it right. You don’t want to get carried away with the hops, and you want to strike just the right malty balance. It’s this ideal balance that brewers find the most difficult to hit.
So Many Different Styles, One Universal Favorite In American IPA
The birth of the IPA soon saw it branching out into different styles – English IPA, Belgian IPA, Double IPA and more. Not surprising though that the most popular IPA in the world comes from the biggest craft brewing nation – the USA. The American IPA is all about the hops, and its distinct aroma and flavour, as opposed to say the English IPA that is more of a balance between the hops and the malts.
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The Double IPA Or The Imperial IPA
The extra hoppy IPA became popular, but beer fanatics didn’t seem to be satisfied. When a point came that the IPA became monotonous for beer palates, a Russian brewmaster by the name of Vinnie Ciluzro took it upon himself to give the world what it wanted – a more hoppy beer than the already existing IPA. He also coined the term Double IPA, which is also known as Imperial IPA in some countries.
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Summing Up
Making a true blue India Pale Ale might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but well, you could at least try it out once. Or twice. Or multiple times, why not? After all, there’s hardly anyone who could resist a delicious, chilled glass of pale ale. We are already drooling about it, when are you trying it out?
FAQs
Why Is India Pale Ale Called India?
The India Pale Ale dates back to the late 1700s when beer exporters from the British Isles to India would add hops to their brews to help preserve the beer in hotter, more tropical climates. That is how it got its unique name.
What Does India Pale Ale Taste Like?
The hops added to the Pale Ale lend it a slightly bitter taste. The aromas can range from piney resin to citrusy tropical, to grassy earthiness.
What Is The Difference Between Lager And Ale?
Lagers are bottom-fermented beers made with bottom-fermenting yeast at cooler temperatures. Ales, on the other hand, are top-fermented beers made with top-fermenting yeasts at a warmer temperature.
What Is The Alcohol Content Of India Pale Ale?
A well-rounded beer typically has a range of 40 to 60 IBUs and an alcohol content between 5% – 7% ABV.
Why Are IPAs So Strong?
IPAs are stronger because they have more hops and a stronger taste. In terms of alcohol, they weren’t the strongest drinks but Americans adapted to add more ABV percent to the volume, making it stronger.
