From New England all the way across the Pacific to the shores of Australia, IPA lovers have a smorgasbord of options to fit just about any palate. However, one style rarely mentioned in the hype-driven IPA market of today is the one that started it all – the humble English IPA.
With a history steeped in myth, the English IPA, contrary to popular opinion, was not brewed to survive the long voyage from England to India. There are many examples of this style under the name ‘Strong Pale’ being brewed long before any evidence of export. Likely the name originated when one well-loved brewery started to market their Strong Pale as ‘prepared for India’, before that mouthful morphed into the abbreviation ‘IPA’ we know today.
Whilst still a highly hopped bitter brew, the hop flavour in an English IPA is much more subdued and balanced against the other ingredients than their New World counterparts. Brewed using English hops such as East Kent Golding and Target, you'll find much more delicate earthy, floral and spicy notes are imparted in the brew.
The malt in this style also tends to differ from the IPAs most Aussies are used to. More complex malt profiles tend to be used, giving a caramelly, biscuity, bready body for the hops to play on. This is opposed to most IPAs on the market today that keep the malt profile fairly simple in order to let the hops take centre stage.
English yeasts used in this style also tend to produce more esters and other interesting flavours not typically seen in most modern IPAs (or if they are there, covered by the intense hop flavours). These esters tend to come across on the palate as slightly banana or bubblegum-like, or even some warming spices like cloves.
So, whether you’re team hazy or think West Coast is best coast, we can all appreciate the origin story of our beloved IPAs!
