Did you know that in the last few years, sales of craft beers have grown by around 8%? With a desire for more flavor and choice, the brewing industry is alive, creating some fantastic beers. But do you know the difference among the many different types available?
Two of the most popular are IPAs and Imperial IPAs. Below, we discuss the main differences between these two popular ales.
What Is an IPA?
India Pale Ale (IPA) is a type of beer that originated in England during the days when it ruled India. Sailors on ships would travel between the two countries with bags of hops, a form of preservative. They would be used in the beer, which was cleaner than drinking water, and hang it inside for a long time, fermenting to give it a bitter taste.
However, evidence exists to disprove this. Records show that a brewery in England during the 1760s was brewing beer under the name of India Pale Ale, for export to countries with warm climates. It may have been that the beer was already on the ships and brewed when they set sail.
Since then, different types and styles of IPA have appeared. Characteristically, the beer is known for its high ABV and bitter taste. However, with so many different types and brewing techniques, this is no longer true, and you can get them to suit all palettes.
What Is an Imperial IPA?
Imperial IPAs are often known as Double IPAs. They have a much more robust profile of malts and hops. This results in higher alcohol content.
Some breweries have taken this even further, moving into Triple and Quad IPAs. As they do, you get farther from a Double IPA and into very strong beers best consumed in smaller quantities.
How Are IPAs and Imperial IPAs Brewed Differently?
Both these beers concentrate on the use and blend of hops, as opposed to malt, which you find in other beer types. The more hops you have, the more flavor and depth that come with it. Unfortunately, there is also more alcohol from the increased sugars. When an Imperial IPA is made, more hops are used in the brewing process than you would get in a standard IPA, amping this up considerably.
Surprisingly, you can also get standard pale ales. They use less of the hops and ingredients, with more of a focus on balance between the malt and hops. Thus, you get a lower percentage with a more rounded flavor.
What Are the Main Differences Between IPA and Imperial IPA?
While similar in taste profiles, there are some major differences between the two. The most important factors are listed below.
ABV Percentage
Imperial IPA will contain more alcohol, with any IPA going above 7.5% considered an Imperial. You may find standard IPA beers reaching as high as 7.3% but they won’t be double unless they cross the threshold.
IBU Level
IBU stands for International Bitterness Unit and is a measure of how bitter a beer is. It is used for other food and drink but is most widely recognized as a way to rate a beer and its flavor.
All IPAs and Imperials will come with a range of IBU ratings. You will find that Imperials tend to have higher ratings, ranging from 65 to 100. A standard IPA will fall below this, in the 50 – 70 categories.
Styles of IPA
Beer lovers know that the styles of IPA now available are vast. Some of the most popular are collected below, but this list is by no means exhaustive.
Session IPA
A Session IPA has all the flavor and tone of IPA, yet the focus is on lower alcohol levels, typically hovering around 5%.
This makes it easier to drink more beer in a social setting. To do this, brewers use fewer hops, making for clear flavors with fewer tasting notes.
English IPA
English-style IPAs have a crispness to them, but also come with a side helping of bitterness. They are brewed using English hops and ale yeast. This gives them very natural tones, a contrast to the citrus of their American cousins. With a strong backing of malt, you can expect them to have middle to higher ABV ratings.
American IPA
American IPAs use North American ingredients, such as hops and ale yeast. This gives these beers a hoppy taste, often with tones of citrus. With a total lack of malt, the zesty tones cut through even more.
Styles of Imperial IPA
Like all beers, there are lots of different styles and types. Below are the most common Imperial IPAs you may find on the market.
American Imperial
This is where the term Imperial IPA most commonly arrives from. It primarily uses hops from North America, giving it a citrus and pine-like tone. It also is usually brewed with ale yeast and American two-row malt. This gives it a strong flavor, that has a slight bitterness and yields high alcohol levels.
New England Imperial IPA
New England IPA beers are made with ale yeast, wheat, oats, and a lot of hops. This mix gives them a very cloudy appearance, so they are often known as hazy IPAs. They are full of taste, with a high ABV and bitterness.
Finding the Right One for You
Now you know what an IPA and Imperial IPA are, all that’s left is to try them out. Within each beer, different brewers and brands will have wildly different approaches and styles. All you need to do is find your preference.
There is no better place to start than the Upstream Brewing Company. Along with a wide range of beers, we also have food for takeout or delivery. Visit us here to see our excellent range of beers and IPAs.
What are you waiting for? Make a reservation today online or call 402-344-0200!