IPAs cover a spectrum of flavours with a number of sub-styles, but they mostly have three things in common: they contain more hops than pale ales; they’re more bitter than pale ales; they’re higher in alcohol than pale ales.
What makes it an IPA?
If you’ve ever been confused by the name IPA, you’re in the majority. It stands for India Pale Ale, but the style doesn’t come from India, and since there are red, brown and black varieties, they’re clearly not all pale.
IPA meant a pale ale with more hops and higher alcohol, and with more hops comes stronger flavours and more bitterness. And since they generally sit around 5.5% to 7.5% ABV, they’re not designed to drink by the 6-pack.
What should you expect?
Expect the hops to do most of the talking in an IPA. Yeast aromas and flavours are usually non-existent. And while the malts in IPAs are important for alcohol content, body (the thickness of the beer) and balance (sweetness to offset the bitterness of hops), they’re not the main star. Their job is to show off the hops.
Your first sip will most likely bring a punch of flavour. Sometimes all of those aromas you’ve been enjoying will translate into flavours you’re tasting; sometimes the taste differs from the smell, with the malts and bitterness affecting the way you perceive the hop flavours. Either way, it’s an intense experience, made all the more so by the bitterness that hits you, either right up front or sneakily at the end.
West Coast IPA
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Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Dry
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Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Smooth / Velvety
Tasting notesHoppy with smooth/crisp bitterness![Hop to It]()
Hop to ItView BeerWest Coast IPA
Sold By The Boys Brewing
Pay as little as $37.008 pack$42.0016 pack$70.004 pack$21.00 -
Flavour ProfileHopsMaltTasting notesFull of body and grunt, our Magic Sam DDH WCIPA could take on the world's best and we think, also come out on top! Using lots of US hops and bringing a bit of West Coast down south, this is a beer that, much like that magic board in 66, is not for the faint-hearted and is guaranteed to take anyone on the ride of their life!
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Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Smooth / Velvety
Tasting notesIt's big, bold and unshackled -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Dry
Tasting notesPunchy aroma of grapefruit, pineapple and apricot. Dank pine notes from dry hopping. -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Chewy
Tasting notesA true to style West Coast IPA with aromas of citrus, grapefruit and dank pine.![West Coast IPA]()
West Coast IPAView BeerWest Coast IPA
Sold By Rocks Brewing Co
Pay as little as $37.008 pack$44.0016 pack$74.004 pack$22.00 -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Creamy
Tasting notesStrong bodied with moderate clarity. Heavy resinous aromas lead into strong flavours of citrus and pine. Rich, marshmallow-like mouthfeel which follows through to the finish. Moderate bitterness.![West Coast IPA]()
West Coast IPAView BeerWest Coast IPA
Sold By Aether Brewing
Pay as little as $74.0016 pack$87.004 pack$26.00
