California, United States
The double IPA emerges
West Coast brewers pushed IPA to higher strength and far higher hop rates while keeping it dry, establishing a category defined by intensity without sweetness.
What was going on around it
An event on its own is a date. These are the periods it belongs to, where the argument about what changed is actually made.
Why it matters
Set the template for the hop escalation that dominated craft brewing for two decades.
How well this is established
| Certainty | Well attested. Broadly agreed across sources, though the precise dating or detail may vary between them. |
|---|---|
| When | 1994–2004. Recorded as a period rather than a date because it happened over time. |
| Where | California, United States |
Styles this shaped
Traditions
- American craft brewing — The post-1980 American movement built on intense hop character, reinterpretation of European styles, and rapid categorical change.
Either side of this
← 1993: Grodziskie dies out and is reconstructed · 1997: The Authentic Trappist Product mark is established →
See the whole sequence on the beer history timeline.
Last reviewed 2026-08-16.