National IPA Day

The story

IPA, short for India Pale Ale, is a hop-forward beer known for its bitterness and bright aromas of citrus, pine, and tropical fruit. The style grew out of the pale ales that English brewers shipped to British troops and officials in India in the late 1700s and 1800s. London brewer George Hodgson's October beer, rich in hops, became especially popular there, and brewers in Burton upon Trent later perfected the style. Hops act as a natural preservative, but the idea that IPA was invented purely to survive the voyage is largely a myth.

IPA faded in Britain in the 20th century, then came roaring back with the American craft beer movement of the 1980s and 1990s. Brewers in California and the Pacific Northwest used local hops such as Cascade, Centennial, and Citra to create bolder, more aromatic beers, and IPA became the best-selling craft style in the United States.

Today the family keeps expanding: West Coast IPAs are crisp and bitter, hazy or New England IPAs are soft and juicy, double and triple IPAs pack more alcohol, and session IPAs keep things light.

On National IPA Day, visit a local brewery, compare a few styles side by side, and raise a glass with friends.