
India Pale Ale (IPA)
Ale
The History of IPAs is over 300 years old. IPAs, which stands for India Pale Ale, is actually an English brewed beer which was exported to British troops in India during the 1700’s. Initially it was a tweaked version of a Pale Ale invented to withstand the extreme temperatures and undulations of the ship during the voyage from England to India. Later on the IPA was modified to create the popular English Pale Ale (APA). The English IPA’s nowadays have a lower alcohol by volume (ABV) of 4.0 - 6.5% due to increasing taxes over time. However, some brewers have attempted to recreate the strength of the original IPA that had an ABV of 8 - 9%.
Early IPA’s were malty, less fruity and had a robust hoppy finish compared to those brewed today. Today IPA’s have a highly aromatic nose full of fruit, floral and earthy features with the possibility of added caramel or toasty malt aromas. American India Pale Ales tend to have a stronger hop but lower malt presence. English India Pale Ales have full flavor but with less hop bitterness than the original from the 1700’s. The palate should mimic the nose with floral and fruity elements and should possess an average malt flavor that balances nicely with the hops.
These beers typically show some English malt characters such as biscuit, toasty, toffee or caramel and has a fairly dry lingering finish without being harsh. The mouthfeel is smooth and almost velvety with a medium body and medium to high carbonation. The blend of carbonation and sweeter malt components have a tendency of leaving your mouth feeling dry. IPA’s range from light copper to golden amber in color and commonly have an orange hue to them. Although they are usually unfiltered, the beer is relatively clear and has a typical to long-lasting head.
Because of the diverse and rich history of IPAs, they are one of the most frequently requested styles by our monthly beer club members. For that reason we have had a number of IPA’s in our Craft Beer Club including a few breweries that have won awards for their brews. Central City Brewers & Distillers’ “Red Betty Northwest IPA” was awarded a Gold Medal from the BC Beer Awards and will continue to create award-winning craft beverages including specialty beers, ciders, and spirits.
See all of our recently featured India Pale Ale (IPA) Craft Beers and the Micro Breweries behind their creation below!

Brau Brothers Brewing Co.
Family owned in Marshall, Minnesota, Brau Brothers Brewing Co. is as hard-working as they come, crafting unique small-batch ales and lagers from the finest ingredients.
If your family name was Brau and you ever considered any business othe ...
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Southern Star Brewing
Working to bring people together in Conroe, Texas, Southern Star Brewing Co. is all about community, entertainment, and premium craft beer.
Founded in July of 2007 by David Fougeron and Brian Hutchins, Southern ...
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Texas Leaguer Brewing Company
An up-and-coming baseball-themed craft brewery in Fort Bend County, Texas, Texas Leaguer Brewing Company offers all-star beers for the community’s sports fans.
Nathan and his wife Elise are the founders and owners of Texas Leaguer ...
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Sawtooth Brewery
Craft beer from the mountains of Idaho, Sawtooth Brewery makes its mark on the resort region of Sun Valley with locally-made, award-winning brews.
Established by friends Kevin Jones and Paul Holle on 11/11/11 in Ketch ...
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