American IPA
American craft brewers can take credit for the revival of the IPA beer style since introducing their interpretations of it to the American market in the 1990s. By brewing them to bold levels of hop aroma, flavor and bitterness, American IPAs are perhaps more akin to the original IPAs of 1800s England than any others today. The American hop varietals take fruity, citrusy, floral, piney, resinous aromas and flavors to much bigger levels than American Pale Ales. Ranging in color from pale golden to orange to deep copper, some IPA ales are clear and others may be hazy if dry hopped and/or left unfiltered. The rather intense hop bitterness predominates over medium, clean malt levels, making this a no-apologies American beer style with hop character that picks up where American Pale Ale left off.
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Taste/Smell | Hoppy, Citrusy, Piney, Spicy, Medium-bodied |
| Alcohol-by-Volume (ABV) Range | 6 – 7.5% |
| Bitterness (IBU) | 45-70 |
| Popular Examples | Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA, Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Beer Republic Racer 5, New Belgium Ranger IPA, Ipswich IPA, Fish Tale Organic IPA, Diamond Knot IPA, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, Stone IPA, Victory HopDevil Ale, Smuttynose IPA, Green Flash West Coast IPA, Lagunitas IPA, Scuttlebutt Gale Force IPA, Redhook Long Hammer IPA |
| Serving Temperature | Cool, 46-54° |
| Glassware | Pint or nonic, tumbler, beer mug |
| Cheese Pairing Ideas | Blue Cheeses (rich, sharp), Cheddar (sharp), Colby |
| Food Pairing Ideas | Blackened chicken, spicy dishes and shellfish |
