It seems that there are as many beer styles and subcategories as there are with wine. One type of beer that stands head and shoulders above other styles is India Pale Ale, or IPA. How it got its name and how it spread across the globe would take up too much space here. Instead, let’s tap right into the flavor that is IPA.
American IPA
The American IPA is the most common and typical example of an IPA style. Brewers use modern American or “New World” hops to create a beer that’s dry and clean with a little malt to counter the hop bitterness. Two sub-styles in this category are West Coast, with a hoppy profile, and New England IPA, featuring a heavier malt backbone. Local brewer Flyway has a good example with its Early Bird IPA.
Double IPA
Also known as an imperial IPA, double IPAs feature fuller body, higher alcohol content and more intense hop/malt flavors than their IPA cousins. Check out Lost Forty’s Snake Party Double IPA to try this style.
Triple IPA
Even more intense on the palate than double IPA, triple IPAs take longer to make and generally have a limited release. Flavors range from citrus to caramel, and some have attained cult status among beer enthusiasts. Sierra Nevada’s Hoptimum is a triple IPA that shows up at retail periodically.
Hazy IPA
Hazy IPAs are juicy, hoppy and popular — nearly every craft brewer produces them. An offshoot of the New England style, hazy has been the top beer at the Great American Beer Festival for two years running. Sample Bell’s Official IPA for a taste of hazy.
This list isn’t anywhere near complete. Visit a liquor store with a large beer selection or a restaurant or bar with a large beer list, ask for a sample and begin your IPA adventure.
Dustin Leigh is the beer manager at Colonial Wines & Spirits.