Special Issue: IPA Style Guide
Article
Specialty IPA
When I started brewing, there was only one style category for India pale ale. Just a single category, no subcategories. Several years later, people had begun talking about the differences between English
Article
Double IPA
Like many people, when I was new to craft beer I favored beers that had a maltier balance, ones that were not so bitter. At that time, a homebrew shop owner told
Article
American IPA
The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) has distinguished four different IPA styles: English, American, double, and specialty (which has numerous sub-categories). Some people further specify American IPAs as being a “West Coast”
Article
English IPA
India pale ale was first created when an enterprising brewer crafted a beer to better survive the long sea voyage from England to India in the late 18th century. It is said
Recipe
Hop Hammer
Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, California brews what is arguably the world’s best example of this style, Pliny the Elder. Despite the huge hop levels and higher alcohol strength, it is superbly drinkable. Vinnie very generously shared his recipe with the brewing community and just about everyone interested in this style has seen his recipe. The recipe inside, while a little bigger in starting gravity than Vinnie’s, is a descendant of his original.
Recipe
Very Small Modern IPA
Very Small Modern IPA (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain) OG = 1.037 FG = 1.009 IBU = 27 SRM = 7 ABV = 3.6% Ingredients 7 lbs. (3.2 kg) Maris Otter pale ale
Recipe
Modern British IPA
Modern British IPA (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain) OG = 1.056 FG = 1.012 IBU = 45 SRM = 8 ABV = 5.9% Ingredients 11 lbs. (5 kg) Golden Promise™ pale ale malt
Recipe
1868 East India Pale Ale
1868 East India Pale Ale (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain) OG = 1.067 FG = 1.015 IBU = 100+ SRM = 6 ABV = 7.1% Ingredients 14 lbs. (6.4 kg) Maris Otter pale
Recipe
Brunhilde India Red Ale
Recipe from professional chef and culinary consultant Mark Molinaro. Pairs with the Hop Rubbed Beef Brisket.
Recipe
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA clone
This innovative IPA employs Dogfish Head’s method of adding hops continuously over the entire boil. Showcasing a big US Northwest hop bill, 60-Minute is the session beer sister of 90-Minute IPA.
Recipe
Stone Ruination IPA (1.0) clone
This recipe is for the original formulation of Ruination, a West Coast IPA that defined the style with resinous pine, a big malt backbone, and a lovely orange amber color.
Recipe
Stone Brewing Co.’s IPA clone
According to Stone Brewing Co.’s website, “. . .this golden beauty explodes with tropical, citrusy, piney hop flavors and aromas, all perfectly balanced by a subtle malt character. This crisp, extra hoppy brew is hugely refreshing on a hot day, but will always deliver no matter when you choose to drink it.”
Recipe
Wheat IPA
This recipe for Wheat IPA is a web-only recipe from Jamil Zainasheff’s “Style Profile” on specialty IPAs.
Recipe
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA clone
Sierra Nevada designed this beer to showcase their innovative “hop torpedo,” which is a dry hopping device that controls how much hop aroma is imparted into the beer without adding additional bitterness. This beer features a big citrus, pine, and tropical fruit hop profile.
Recipe
Smuttynose Brewing Company’s Noonan clone
Many consider Greg Noonan and his Vermont Pub and Brewery as the birthplace of the modern day black IPA. Here is their tribute recipe to the Vermont Pub and Brewery’s Black Watch, black IPA, a truly unique beer.
Recipe
Imperial Stormtrooper IPA
Foam Ranger Jimmy Paige took first place in the 2000 Dixie Cup with an Imperial IPA which he claims was more “like an American Barleywine at the time it was judged.” Aged approximately 7 months old at judging, Jimmy claims he named the beer Imperial Stormtrooper because “that was the only thing I could think of with the word ‘Imperial’ in it.”
Recipe
Surly Brewing Company Furious IPA clone
According to Surly Brewing Co., Furious is “An amber-colored ale with citrusy-hoppy aromas and flavors, balanced out by a chewy caramel malt backbone (sweetness), with a refreshing bitter finish.”
Recipe
Widmer Brewing’s W-10 Pitch Black IPA clone
A black IPA?! Originally released in 2010 as W-10, Widmer now simply calls this beer Pitch Black IPA.
Recipe
Mike McDole’s Double IPA
Based on the Russian River Brewing Company’s Pliny The Elder, this recipe has two hop additions (Northern Brewer and Cascade), a higher starting gravity and a 153 °F (67 °C) versus 151 °F (66 °C) mash temperature. One of the winners of Boston Brewing Company’s LongShot contest.
Recipe
Bend Brewing’s Hophead Imperial IPA clone
Bend Brewing Company’s 2007 GABF winning imperial IPA. The secret to a good Imperial IPA is dry-hopping. It can make or
break this style. It is very important to have a huge aroma that leads you into the beer, complementing the inherent bitterness.
— Tonya Cornett, Brewmaster
Recipe
Route 66 IPA
Route 66 IPA (5 gallons/19 L, all-grain) OG = 1.068 FG = 1.017 IBU = 66 SRM = 11 ABV = 6.6% Ingredients 10 lb. 12 oz. (4.9 kg) English 2-row
