Ridgeway Bad Elf Dry Hop Ale

Pale ale presented a real change from England’s typically dark-colored brown beers and porters. “Pale” is a relative term in this context, as its golden-to-amber or copper hue is indeed pale compared to porter, though not as pale as pilsner.

By the early to mid-1700s pale ale had taken hold in London. The popularity of pale ale in England stood firm through the 1800s and beyond as pale lagers (pilsners and variants) were gaining acclaim and popularity over dark beers in continental Europe. English brewers held steadfast to top (warm) fermentation techniques over the newer lagering methods being used in Germany and elsewhere.

India Pale Ale originated in England as an evolution of pale ale. In a widely written account of IPA history, brewers needed to make a beer that would better ward off spoilage during long sea voyages to troops and civilians in colonial India.