Unless you’re a beer connoisseur, the acronym “IPA” may not mean anything to you. In the world of brews, IPA has a very distinct meaning, India Pale Ale. The roots of this hoppy style of beer can be traced back to the early 1800s when the beverage was first brewed in England. While there are countless brands and individual brews classified as IPAs, the beverage is generally broken down into the following three main categories.

3 Styles of IPAs to Try

1. American-Style IPA

American IPAs are quite bitter, falling anywhere from 50 to 70 on the scale of international bitterness units (IBUs), which ranges from zero to 100. In general, common flavor notes include floral and fruity tastes, as well as citrus and pine. The variety is one of the most popular styles of IPAs sold across the U.S. It’s further broken down into the West Coast, East Coast, and New England sub-categories, all of which have their own unique flavor profiles.

2. English-Style IPA

A bit lower on the IBU scale, with scores ranging from 35 to 63, is the English IPA. It’s believed that IPAs were first crafted in England with the intent of finding a beer that could make it to and from India without spoiling. For the sake of preserving the drink, brewers increased the alcohol and hop content, resulting in the IPAs known and loved throughout the world today. With English yeast and hops, this variety tends to be bolder and fruitier than others.

3. Imperial/Double IPA

The term “double” comes from the fact that this IPA has a greater concentration of hops than other varieties. With added hops can come added bitterness, up to 100 IBU, so additional malt is also added to round out the flavor. Extra malt also increases the alcohol by volume (ABV). Also known as “imperial IPAs,” these drinks tend to have 7% ABV or more, so they’re generally meant to be sipped slowly.

Whether you’re well-versed in IPAs or just beginning your journey into the world of unique beer varieties, Beverage World Package Store is your source for a large selection of brews. Located in Doraville, GA, this liquor store has a wide variety of domestic and local craft beers, along with wine and spirits from across the world. Visit their website to join their discount club or call (770) 441-0001 to find out more information.