Everything You Need To Know About Brewing IPAs
India Pale Ales, also known as IPAs, dominate the craft brewing world. While this popular brewing style is relatively straightforward, the limitless options and potential results make it important to perfect your process. Whether you’re aiming for a traditional pale ale or a flavorful experimental brew, it’s vital to know the ins and outs of hops, fermentation practices, and other crucial factors in the brewing process.
IPAs have become a staple among brewers and drinkers alike, so nailing down your process is essential. Read on to learn everything you need to know about brewing IPAs, including what makes this drink so special and how you can put your own unique twist on a beloved brew.
An Introduction to IPAs
An IPA is a hop-heavy beer with origins in the East India Company’s trade routes between England and India in the 1800s. As England shipped goods to its colonists in India, the country needed a way to keep beer fresh so it could survive the journey.
The solution was to add a greater number of hops and brew to a higher strength. The hops acted as a natural preservative while also raising the alcohol content, adding a unique bitterness and creating a pale ale with a dynamic flavor profile.
IPAs have evolved greatly since then. The pale ales became even paler to create a more refreshing drink in the hot Indian climate. Then, in the 1980s, IPAs regained traction in America’s craft brewing scene. Thanks to refrigeration and modern brewing techniques, craft brewers now have endless potential when leaving their own unique marks on this classic ale.
Different IPA Styles
IPAs started with a traditional brewing style that incorporated English malt, yeast, and hops. However, this type of brew has expanded over the years to include a wide variety of styles that feature different ingredients and brewing techniques. For example, American IPAs—like the West Coast and East Coast varieties—tend to use the American equivalent to traditional English hops; these include Willamette, Centennial, and El Dorado hops.
Hop selection is one of the key factors to keep in mind when brewing an IPA. Before you brew your own, it’s important to know how different hops affect the flavor profile, alcohol content, and other factors that make up the most popular IPA styles.
English IPA
Traditional English IPAs use English hops such as Target, Fuggle, and Northdown hops. Some brewers also use high alpha English hops to achieve a more bitter taste. The most important aspect, however, is the exclusive use of English hops.
English IPAs boast an attractive golden-brown color with a hoppy aroma. The flavor profile features grassy or earthy notes as well as a mild citrus flavor. This IPA is moderately strong and well-attenuated with an exceptionally dry finish.
West Coast IPA
West Coast IPAs have their roots in California. This golden IPA style plays with the fruity flavors of various hop varieties to create tropical or citrus flavor profiles that balance out the bitterness of the brew. Popular hops in West Coast IPAs include Cascade and Chinook, which give the brew a bold citrus aroma.
Bold fruity flavors are a necessity for West Coast IPAs because of the sheer amount of hops used. West Coast brewers dial back their malt levels and invest more in hops, creating a strong aroma and flavor in their brews. West Coast IPAs also boast a clean, crisp body and higher levels of carbonation.
New England IPA
New England IPAs, also known as East Coast IPAs, use a stronger malt presence to balance the heavy use of hops. Yeast choice is also a defining factor of New England IPAs. Where West Coast IPAs use clean, flavorless yeasts to maintain focus on the hops, East Coast IPAs use complicated British yeasts that produce stronger aromas and flavors.
Notes such as stone and tropical fruits complement the intense hop aromas. This allows brewers to use fewer hops and achieve a less bitter taste. The result is a fruity, malty profile with a cloudy appearance.
Session, Double, and Triple IPAs
Session, Double, and Triple IPA styles revolve around alcohol content. Session IPAs have the lowest alcohol content, usually under 5 percent ABV. This brew serves as a gentle alternative to the strong bitterness and bold flavor profiles of West Coasts and other varieties.
Double IPAs, or Imperial IPAs, are a strong and hoppy brew style. Featuring a greater alcohol content of 7.5 to 10 percent, Double IPAs intensify the traits of a standard IPA with a bigger malt and hop profile. The result is a strong, clean, dry brew.
Triple IPAs take things a step further than the Double IPA style. With an alcohol content of up to 13 percent, Triple IPAs achieve bolder flavors and stronger aromas from an even greater amount of hops. Triple IPAs make up some of the strongest and driest IPA styles in the brewing world.
Hops Varieties and Methods of Use
As previously mentioned, the most important thing to know about brewing IPAs is how hops affect your brew. Regional hops achieve regional styles. High alpha hops deliver a strong, bitter flavor that is characteristic of IPAs. Experimenting with flavor hops, aroma hops, and dry hops takes time, but this process allows you to find the perfect blend that brings out the flavors and traits you want in your brew.
How you administer your hops also affects the end result. Syringes deliver a high concentration of hops, allowing you to achieve greater levels of bitterness without getting an abundance of plant debris in your vessel. You can also use hop bursting, a method that involves adding a large amount of hops at the very end of boiling. This creates intense flavors and aromas while avoiding harsh bitterness.
Simple and Precise Processes
There’s a lot of room for experimentation when brewing IPAs, but remember not to overdo it. If you’re heavy-handed with malts and other elements, you’ll detract from the hop profile that defines the drink. Be subtle with your additions to create a distinct flavor consumers will appreciate.
Precision is also key during the brewing process. The more hops you add, the more room there is for error. Be strict about weighing, ordering, and labeling your hops to avoid mistakes. Remember that IPAs are best when you serve them fresh, meaning there isn’t a long aging time to smooth out mistakes during the brewing process.
Equipment Investments
High-quality equipment makes for a high-quality brewing process. Craftmaster Stainless offers stainless steel unitanks that enhance your process for fermentation, maturation, and sedimentation. High-performance equipment, carefully measured ingredients, and a taste for dynamic flavor will allow you to perfect your brewing process and create award-winning IPAs.
