Brewing Instructions from Brookmeade Brewing Company's IPA Recipe
India Pale Ales (IPAs) are a popular and diverse category of beer, known for their bold, hoppy flavours. Originating in 19th-century England, IPAs were brewed with high alcohol and hop content to survive long sea voyages to India. Today, IPAs come in various styles, each with unique characteristics.
West Coast IPA Characterised by a pale, clear appearance, medium to high bitterness, and prominent piney, resinous, and citrus hop flavours, West Coast IPAs tend to have a drier finish and lighter malt presence.
Cold IPA Similar to West Coast IPA but paler, drier, and smoother, Cold IPAs feature a clean fermentation profile, often using lager yeast fermented warm, leading to a crisp and highly carbonated beer with bright citrus, tropical fruit, pine, and resin hop notes.
East Coast IPA / New England IPA (NEIPA) Known for a hazy, juicy appearance with lower perceived bitterness and a strong hop aroma dominated by tropical, citrus, and stone fruit notes, East Coast IPAs often use specific yeast and hop biotransformation to create a soft mouthfeel and juicy character.
Session IPA Lower in alcohol (generally under 5% ABV) but still hop-forward, Session IPAs are lighter in body, highly drinkable, and focus on balance and hop aroma without the higher strength of standard IPAs.
British IPA The original IPA style with more malt backbone and earthier, herbal, or floral British hop varieties, British IPAs have a more balanced malt-hop profile compared to American IPAs.
Lactose IPA An IPA brewed with lactose sugar, which is unfermentable and adds sweetness and a creamy mouthfeel, balancing the hop bitterness.
Oat IPA IPAs brewed with a portion of oats in the grain bill, contributing to a smoother, silkier mouthfeel and sometimes enhancing haze, Oat IPAs are common in New England style IPAs.
Belgian IPA A fusion style combining IPA hoppiness with Belgian yeast character, leading to fruity, spicy, and estery aromas alongside moderate to strong bitterness and a distinct Belgian yeast complexity.
Fruited IPA An IPA with added fruit to enhance aroma, flavour, and complexity, Fruited IPAs complement or contrast the hop profile, often used in hazy or sour variants.
Sour IPA Combines IPA hoppiness with sour or tart elements from wild or mixed fermentation, adding a tart counterpoint to the bitterness and hop aroma.
Brett IPA Incorporates Brettanomyces yeast, resulting in farmhouse or funky flavours layered on top of a hoppy IPA base. This can add complexity with barnyard, fruity, or earthy notes.
Double IPA (Imperial IPA) Stronger, hoppier, and higher in alcohol (often 7.5–10%+ ABV) than standard IPAs, Double IPAs have intense hop flavours and aromas balanced by a stronger malt backbone.
Black IPA (Cascadian Dark Ale) Combining the strong hop character of an IPA with dark roasted malts that add colour and subtle roasted or chocolate notes without overwhelming the hops, Black IPAs offer a unique twist to the traditional IPA flavour profile.
Andy Johnson, the brewer at Brookmeade Brewing Co., is an example of a modern IPA brewer. Moving to Colorado in 2017, Johnson began brewing beer and creating innovative IPA recipes, such as The Head in the Strouds, a 4.9% ABV Oat IPA brewed with Cascade, Citra, Imperial Yeast A38 Juice, and featuring a mash temp of 152°F.
IPAs continue to evolve and capture the imagination of brewers and consumers alike, offering a wide range of flavour profiles and styles to suit every palate. Whether you prefer the crispness of a Cold IPA, the juicy character of an East Coast IPA, or the boldness of a West Coast IPA, there's an IPA out there for everyone.
[1] https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/108/ [3] https://www.thebeerconnoisseur.com/styles/ipa/
- Craft beer enthusiasts are increasingly experimenting with home brewing IPAs, following a variety of recipes found online and in books, given the wide range of styles available such as West Coast IPAs, Cold IPAs, East Coast IPAs, Session IPAs, and Lactose IPAs.
- The evolution of technology has had a significant impact on the brewing process, with smartphones and gadgets becoming essential tools for modern IPA brewers like Andy Johnson, who uses various apps to track brewing temperatures and refine his unique recipes.
- As the food-and-drink industry continues to embrace technology, millions of smartphone users worldwide can now find cooking and brewing tips, as well as IPA recipes, through numerous mobile apps and websites.
- The diverse lifestyle choices of consumers have also contributed to the popularity of IPAs, as they offer a broad spectrum of flavours that cater to diverse preferences, from the more traditional British IPA to the experimental Brett IPA and bold Double IPA.
