Beer Style Guide: Get to Know English IPA with Em Sauter
The English invented the IPA and created a style that launched a thousand (well, in reality, almost 30 by my count) different styles.
English IPA History
You’ve probably heard the story of how the IPA was invented. The British (breweries first in London near the docks the boats left from, then in the Midlands after the canal system was built) did pack barrels of beer bound for India with hops as a preservative and then the beer arrived in “sparkling condition” after months at sea. In his book, The Beer Bible, author Jeff Alworth reminds us that this romanticized notion we have of these shipments were mostly “marketing” by English breweries in the 1840’s when IPA became sold in England for the first time and breweries touted the beer as “special” and “unique.” Shipments to India before that were, at its height, around only 10,000 barrels a year, a fraction of what England was sending to its North American colonies in terms of beer.
Modern English IPAs
Worth noting, the beer people drank back then was nothing like the beer we have now. Malting technology, hop advancement, the use of refrigeration plus customers' changing tastes, have all contributed to beer being what it is now. Case in point is the original IPA, which was a higher ABV, higher gravity, darker beer that was going to have some Brettanomyces in it for a unique funk.
The current, modern English IPA is a medium strength deep gold to amber beer. Some beers in the UK are labeled “IPA” but are lower ABV and really are more akin to bitters than IPAs. Just because it’s labeled as such, doesn’t mean it really is (something to remember for advice in everyday life in our age of misinformation).
How English IPAs are Made
English IPAs are brewed with mostly all English ingredients: British malt, British hops and British yeast. The hop flavor should be apparent and be classically British—floral, green tea, marmalade. The yeast will add fruitiness as well while the malt can be biscuity and toasty. While the stars of the IPA show are the hops, English IPAs should exhibit the malt and yeast character the way backup singers help the main act. It’s a complete show.
English IPA & Food Pairing
English IPAs work well across a wide swath of foods—if you want to kick up the spice level of your Indian takeaway (hop bitterness accentuates heat), then try an English IPA with some classic chicken curry. I always think of fish and chips when I think of anything with English hops as I love that nice slight sweetness from the malt and the herbality of the hops with salty, greasy white fish.
Beers to Try
Fuller’s Bengal Lancer
Fuller’s can’t be beat when it comes to classic British beers –- but if you are hoping to enjoy this stateside, I recommend waiting and enjoying this fresh in England at a bottle shop or pub as IPAs don’t travel well. That’s the irony now, isn’t it?
Hogshead Hog Wild
Looking for an Americanized but authentic English beer experience? Head to Hogshead in Denver for some great cask ales and English styles. Their Hog Wild IPA is a lovely golden color and tasty to boot.
Your local brewery
Yes, the cop out answer but this style is incredibly hard to find in America. Once you find it too, ask what hops are in it; many breweries label their beers as “English'' yet the hops are all American. Best of luck finding an authentic one and if you do, please email me!