IPA beers have become very trendy over recent years, and you may not be able to get enough of them!
They are packed full of flavor and have very distinctive tastes, but why are IPAs so popular, and what actually are they?
As IPA beers are often associated with trendy breweries, it can be daunting to ask questions about IPAs in case you are met with astounded faces that do not understand how you aren’t an IPA expert.
If this is what you are worried about, then you can find out everything that you need to know about IPA beer here.
This article will take you through what makes an IPA beer and how they are made to have distinctive tastes and aromas.
Find out everything that you need to know about IPA beers here, and have people coming to you to find out more about these beers!
What Does IPA Mean?
IPA is literally pronounced I-P-A, and it stands for Indian Pale Ale.
The beer originates from the British Colonial Era in India, where the heat made it impossible to brew beer, so hops came into use as they preserved the beer and provided sailors with a drink.
As the hops preserved the beer, this meant that the beer could survive long journeys without turning bad.
Can IPAs Turn Bad?
Hops are the main component in IPA beer as they were originally used to preserve the beer, but they also add to the aroma and taste of the beer.
IPA beer can become stale, but it takes a long time for the beer to become unsafe to drink as the hops do preserve it to an extent.
If you enjoy IPAs for their strong taste, you may find that you dislike the taste of the beer when it is not fresh.
When the beer goes stale, it loses a lot of its flavors and aromas as they begin to weaken over time.
This means that you may find that your favorite IPA becomes less enjoyable once it has gone past its best before date.
Are IPA Beers Popular?
IPAs are very popular for their strong flavors. If you are not a fan of traditional lager or beer, you may find that you enjoy IPAs as they can have undertones of citrus, herbs, spices, and fruits.
IPAs are often milder in bitterness compared to other beers and lagers as the hops that are used can contain fewer alpha acids, making them less bitter.
However, certain IPAs can be bitter due to the hops that are used.
What Are Hops?
Hops are small flower buds that are used to flavor beer.
There are lots of different types of hops and each type of hop has its unique characteristics, which can make each one suitable for a specific purpose.
IPAs rely heavily on hops for their flavors and aromas, and the flavor that you get is determined by the hops that are used during the brewing process.
There can be tastes and aromas of citrus, earth, tropical fruit, and even herbs.
That can come from hops, and you can start to understand the differences between the different hops that are used by discovering what variety is used in your IPAs.
You can usually find this information on the labels of beer bottles or the back of beer cans.
How IPA Beers Are Brewed
To brew a perfect IPA, you need to make sure that you select the right hops to use to flavor your beer.
Most of the time when brewing IPAs, multiple hops are used to make sure that you achieve the perfectly distinctive taste that the brewer was after.
This makes sure that the beer isn’t too sweet, sour, or bitter.
Usually, hops that have high levels of alpha acids are used at the beginning of the boil as this creates a bitter-tasting base for the IPA.
Next, hops that have low levels of alpha acid are then added to the boil to enhance the flavor of the beer and make sure that the IPA isn’t too bitter.
Next, dry hops are added to provide an aroma and stronger flavor to the beer.
IPAs are made with ale yeast, but you need to make sure that you choose the right type.
For IPA brewing, you need to use highly attenuating yeast, as this provides a perfect tasting end product.
The grain used for the IPAs needs to be mashed for around 90 minutes at 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
To make sure that the beer isn’t too sweet and the taste and aroma of the hops come through in the final product.
What Is A Double And Triple IPA?
You might have come across a double or triple IPA before and not understand what it means, as having a double IPA is surely different from having a double gin and tonic? Well, it is!
A double or triple IPA usually contains more hops than a normal IPA, so they can have a stronger flavor and may be more bitter than the IPAs that you usually drink.
They usually have a higher alcohol content than normal IPAs as well.
Are IPAs And Pale Ales Different?
IPAs are different from pale ales as IPA beer is usually stronger and has stronger aromas and flavors than a pale ale.
Usually, IPAs can be differentiated from their main ingredient, which is hops, but pale ales have developed their hop flavors and alcohol strength over the last few years.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, IPA beers are popular with people who are interested in having a beer that is full of flavor and aroma.
By using hops, IPA brewers have developed distinctive tastes that people enjoy drinking as they can experience new flavors every time they drink an IPA.
They can also be less bitter than traditional beers and lagers, which people enjoy experiencing.
If you are interested in IPA brewing, you can begin to become more familiar with hops as you try more varieties of IPAs.
You can begin to see what hops are used in certain IPAs as hops are one of the main components used when brewing these popular beers.
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