The rains may have started but stout season has yet to arrive and I am sure not looking at cracking open any chocolate porters or rich Belgian ales anytime soon. I do love my sours which are always juicy fun but these tend get consumed more into the summer. However, an IPA (India Pale Ale) is something I can sink my teeth into no matter what the season is, there truly is an IPA out there for every reason and for every season. The fruity hazy IPA’s make for a great sunshine beer, whereas the big Imperial IPA’s have the structure to stand up to wintery foods and if you feel like some Fall time funk, try a Saison IPA.
Watch our very own Lynn Coulthard shed some light on this hoppy delight here.
The term India Pale Ale was coined in reference to the style of ales that were being shipped down to the British colonies in India in the late 1700’s. India was too warm to brew beer back then as this goes back years before air conditioning. Casks of pale ales were shipped down from London and it was found that the higher the hop content the better preserved the ales were on arrival.
Hops are to beer what is acidity is to wine, they help provide backbone to the beer. Without hops, that delicious beer of yours would be rather sweet and bland. These magical plants not only offer structure and a slight bitterness but also work as an antiseptic, preservative and a natural sedative. Check out the ingredients on your nighttime sleepy teas and you will often see hops on the list. Perhaps this contributes
to beer’s feel good factor?
There are several different species of hops. Each strain will contribute a slightly different aroma and flavour profile. The popular Cascade variety adds floral, citrus fruits and a spicy note whereas Citra lends a strong citrus aroma with distinct fruitiness and all popular Mosaic offers fresh pine packed with berry aromas. Like a painter with his palette, brewers will often use a blend of different varieties to craft their brand’s flavour profile.
The content of hops added to beer is measured in IBU’S (International Bitterness Units) which can give consumers a reference point on how hoppy that beer may be. It can however be deceiving, as when a beer is in balance, you may not notice the hop content as much on the palate with regards to the IBU content listed. On average an IPA will fluctuate between 40 – 70 IBU’s but some can reach into the 80’s!
Some terms to help navigate your next IPA selection:
Dry-Hopped – This term refers to the addition of hops added during or after fermentation for an extra burst of hop aroma. Dry hopping does not add more bitterness to the beer but accentuates the hoppy aromas and flavours.
Imperial – When Imperial is on a label, know this beer will be higher in alcohol. Imperial IPA’S are most often heavily hopped. The term came about when London beers were brewed for Catherine the Great and the Imperial Court of Russia who loved their stout beers to pack an alcoholic punch of 10% abv.
Hazy – These IPA’s are fruity and citrus forward and often described as “juicy”. Easy drinking and any bitterness from the hop content can be brilliantly disguised. The use of oats or wheat in the malt bill can also add a textural creaminess to the palate. The hops are added late in the boil and early into the fermentation which thus creates a haze.
For your next any day IPA check out some of our personal favourites below:
Driftwood “Fat Tug” IPA – $6.99 for 650ml bottle
Go big or go home with this beer. It should come with a warning “for the serious IPA drinker only”. This is a dry, crisp bitter style packing a wallop of 80 IBU’S! A well-made beer that brings in layers of complex flavours from citrus, pepper, savoury spice and fresh pine needles.
Boombox Juicy AF Hazy IPA – $4.29 single can
This hazy IPA is an all-time favourite of mine for summer and really is as juicy as #$%@! Addition of oat flakes to the malt bill lends a creamy texture and fresh acidity keeps it vibrant and abounding with flavours of orange peel, grapefruit finishing off with a clean hop crispness. A great beer for those getting into IPA’s and everyone loves a little juicy fun.
Backcountry Widowmaker IPA – $3.99 single - $17.29 4 pack
Backcountry Brewing from Squamish produces a classic, clean fresh style of IPA characterized by a light malt profile with a big pulpy body. Lots of intense juicy character coming from the hops to balance it off.