IPA Day

IPA Day History

IPA Day celebrates India Pale Ale, a popular style of beer known for its strong hop flavors and higher alcohol content compared to regular pale ale. The day aims to unite beer enthusiasts, home brewers, and professional brewers by appreciating the craft beer industry and recognizing the creativity and passion that goes into brewing a great IPA. Participants engage in beer tastings, brewery visits, and social media discussions to share their experiences and learn about the different varieties of this well-loved beer style.

The observance has its roots in America, where the modern craft beer movement has been pivotal in reviving the centuries-old style of IPA, originally developed in England. Craft brewers in the United States have experimented with a wide range of hop varietals which has led to numerous sub-styles such as American IPA, Double IPA, and New England-style IPA. These developments have largely influenced global brewing trends, with American IPAs playing an essential role in today's global craft beer scene.

As the originator of the contemporary IPA, America has a special connection to IPA Day. American beer enthusiasts participate in various events and activities organized by breweries, pubs, and beer clubs to celebrate this iconic beer style. These events can include beer tastings, food pairings, exclusive IPA releases, workshops, and more. IPA Day is held on the first Thursday of every August, providing the perfect occasion for beer lovers in the United States to come together and pay homage to their favorite hop-forward brews.

IPA Day facts

• IPAs, or Indian Pale Ales, were invented by the British during their colonization of Indian. According to hopeandwine, it is believed that George Hodgson of East London's Bow Brewery created the first IPA. By adding hops to beer, the British were able to better preserve their beer over the long sea voyage around the cape of Africa.
• There are four distinct styles of IPA.
  1) English-Style IPA: Medium to strong hop bitterness and flavor. ABVs range from 4.5% to 7.1% ABV. They also tend to be crisp and dry.
  2) American-Style IPA: Hop flavors are strong with high bitterness. ABVs range from 6.3% to 7.6%.
  3) Imperial (Double) IPA: Hop bitterness and flavor are very high. ABVs range from 7.6% to 10.6%.
  4) Session IPA: Medium to high hop bitterness and strong hop flavor. ABVs range from 3.7% to 5%.
• The most popular IPAs in the US in 2020 according to beer advocate were:
  1) 90 Minute IPA (9.00% ABV)
  2) Two Hearted Ale (7.00% ABV)
  3) Pliny the Elder (8.00% ABV)
  4) Heady Topper (8.00 ABV)
  5) Sculpin (7.00% ABV)

In the News and Trending in the US for IPA Day

Top things to do in the US for IPA Day

• Visit your local micro brew and order an IPA. They may be offering special deals to celebrate the day.
• Choose the perfect IPA to go along with your meal. There are 3 flavors when pairing IPAs with food: bitterness, hop flavor (herbal, citrus, earthy), and caramel. Hop flavors go well with spices and fruits while bitterness can help cool down spicy foods. Bitterness can also improve salty flavors. Caramel helps with sweeter dishes.
• Learn how to brew your own IPA. You can experiment with different ingredients depending on your tastes and you can choose how much of an alcohol content you want. The art of brewing craft beers has become widely popular, there are even competitions to see who has the best beer.
• Purchase a variety of beers from your local liquor store or craft beer shop and host your own IPA tasting with friends.