While there are plenty of reasons to celebrate the IPA style every day of the year, using August 2nd to focus attention on this full-flavored treat provides an appropriate backdrop for a serious look at IPA in your restaurant.

Have you explored the new offerings in your market? Have you kept your beer list up to date with the nuances of the style? For an IPA Day feature consider adding more offerings from the subcategories of this style.

Here are the major IPA divisions with a few of the more highly-regarded commercial examples for each:

1. English-style IPA – Napa Smith Organic IPA, Napa Smith Brewery, CA; Goose Island IPA, Gooses Island Brewing, IL; Commodore Perry IPA, Great Lakes Brewing, OH; Shipyard IPA, Shipyard Brewing Co., ME.
   

2. American-style IPA – Two Hearted Ale, Bell’s Brewing Co., MI; IPA, Stone Brewing Co., CA; 60 Minute IPA, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, DE; Odell IPA, Odell Brewing Co., CO; Elevated IPA, La Cumbre Brewing Co. NM; Deviant Dale’s, Oskar Blues Brewery, CO; Head Hunter IPA, Fat-Head’s Brewery, OH; Pako’s IPA, Snake River Brewing Co., WY; Racer 5, Bear Republic Brewing Co., CA; AleSmith IPA, AleSmith Brewing Co. CA.
   

3. Imperial or Double IPA –  Palate Wrecker, Green Flash Brewing Company, CA; Hopslam, Bell’s Brewing, MI; Citra Double IPA, Kern River Brewing, CA; Double Jack, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., CA; Imperial IPA, Epic Brewing Co., UT; Pliny the Elder, Russian River Brewing Co., CA; Racer X, Bear Republic Brewing Co., CA, Ruination, Stone Brewing, CA.
   

While it’s true that brewers in the Western states seem to dominate the buzz in the IPA category, today great IPAs are being brewed all across the country.  Explore your local and regional brewery offerings to find their latest IPAs. More small brewers have mastered this hop-forward style. You never know what might be lurking just around the corner.

Food Affinities

The hopper, maltier IPAs have an affinity for more richly-flavored foods. They love spice, thought not necessarily fiery hot spice. Most people find that highly bitter beers accentuate the heat in hot spices, so the combination is not for everyone. Think more curry, which may be hot but also has a lot of other complex spice flavors in there too. That is a classic combination with IPA. Char-grilled burgers and steaks are a good bet, as are blackened meats or fried foods served with spicy sauces, such as calamari.

Be aware that some of the really big, Imperial IPAs tend to overpower most foods. You may find these are best suited to pair with smoked meats and sharp aged cheddar or artisan blue cheeses. They can also hang with a variety of sweet spicy desserts such as carrot cake with cream cheese sauce/frosting.

Follow the preparations and activities for IPA Day on Twitter at #IPADay.

Style Notes

(Taken from Brewers Association 2012 Beer Style Guidelines, January 10, 2012)

English-style India pale ales are traditionally characterized by medium-high hop bitterness with a medium to medium-high alcohol content. Hops from a variety of origins may be used to contribute to a high hopping rate. Earthy and herbal English-variety hop character is the perceived end, but may be a result of the skillful use of hops of other national origins. The use of water with high mineral content results in a crisp, dry beer, sometimes with subtle and balanced character of sulfur compounds. This pale gold to deep copper-colored ale has a medium to high, flowery hop aroma and may have a medium to strong hop flavor (in addition to the hop bitterness). English-style India pale ales possess medium maltiness and body. Fruity-ester flavors and aromas are moderate to very strong. Diacetyl can be absent or may be perceived at very low levels. Chill haze is allowable at cold temperatures.

American-style India pale ales are perceived to have medium-high to intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma with medium-high alcohol content. The style is further characterized by floral, fruity, citrus-like, piney, resinous, or sulfur-like American-variety hop character. Note that one or more of these American-variety hop characters is the perceived end, but the hop characters may be a result of the skillful use of hops of other national origins. The use of water with high mineral content results in a crisp, dry beer. This pale gold to deep copper-colored ale has a full, flowery hop aroma and may have a strong hop flavor (in addition to the perception of hop bitterness). India pale ales possess medium maltiness which contributes to a medium body. Fruity-ester flavors and aromas are moderate to very strong. Diacetyl can be absent or may be perceived at very low levels. Chill and/or hop haze is allowable at cold temperatures. (English and citrus-like American hops are considered enough of a distinction justifying separate American-style IPA and English-style IPA categories or subcategories. Hops of other origins may be used for bitterness or approximating traditional American or English character.

Imperial or Double India pale ales have intense hop bitterness, flavor and aroma. Alcohol content is medium-high to high and notably evident. They range from deep golden to medium copper in color. The style may use any variety of hops. Though the hop character is intense it’s balanced with complex alcohol flavors, moderate to high fruity esters and medium to high malt character. Hop character should be fresh and lively and should not be harsh in quality. The use of large amounts of hops may cause a degree of appropriate hop haze. Imperial or Double India Pale Ales have medium-high to full body. The intention of this style of beer is to exhibit the fresh and bright character of hops. Oxidative character and aged character should not be present.