Style family
IPA
Pale ales where hop character is the point rather than a component — now the most internally varied family in beer.
What unites this family
Hop-dominant pale ale. Beyond that the family has fragmented so far that its members share little else: a West Coast IPA and a hazy IPA differ in appearance, mouthfeel, bitterness and hop timing, and agree mainly on using a lot of hops.
Top-fermented (ale). Fermented warm with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which collects at the surface. Warmer fermentation produces more esters and phenols, so ales tend to carry more fruit and spice from the yeast itself.
The historical account most readers arrive with — that IPA was invented to survive the voyage to India — is substantially wrong, and BeerHQ addresses that on the style itself rather than repeating it.
Several members of this family are recent commercial categories rather than established styles. BeerHQ marks them as such instead of granting a marketing term the same standing as a two-hundred-year-old category.
12 styles in this family
- English IPA
The original IPA: a strong, firmly bitter English pale ale with earthy, floral hop character and a dry, mineral finish.
- American IPA
The defining modern craft beer: intense citrus, tropical and resinous hop aroma over a lean malt base, finishing firmly bitter.
- West Coast IPA
The dry, clear, aggressively bitter interpretation of American IPA, built on pine and grapefruit with the malt stripped right back.
- New England IPA
Hazy, soft and intensely aromatic: tropical and stone fruit hop character with deliberately low bitterness and a full, juicy body.
- Session IPA
IPA hop intensity at a strength you can drink several of — lean, dry and aromatic, with the malt kept minimal.
- Double IPA
IPA scaled up: more strength, more hops and more bitterness, while staying dry enough to remain drinkable.
- Black IPA
An IPA with dark malt for colour and a light roast edge, keeping full citrus and pine hop character.
- Red IPA
An IPA built on caramel and amber malt, where toffee depth sits underneath full American hop character.
- White IPA
A hybrid of witbier and IPA: wheat and Belgian yeast spice underneath American hop aroma.
- Belgian IPA
American hop intensity fermented with expressive Belgian yeast, producing pepper and fruit alongside citrus and pine.
- Cold IPA
A lean, dry IPA fermented with lager yeast at higher temperature, using maize or rice to strip body and expose hop aroma.
- Milkshake IPA
A hazy IPA with lactose and fruit added for sweetness and a fuller, creamier body.