Ales, Pale Ales, XPA & IPA
Hoppy and fruity! This beer family is characterised by an abundance of hops. The IPA was invented by the Poms. British sailors, while sailing to India, loaded up barrels of beer with hops, because hops were a preservative. These days several varieties of hops may be used at different times throughout the brewing process. Hops affect flavour, aroma, and bitterness. The West Coast IPA was the beginning of the fruity hop explosion, balancing bitterness with big tropical fruit flavours. IPAs often smell like citrus, pine, or flowers. IPAs tend to have ABVs (alcohol by volume) between 5.5 and 7.5 %. Modern session IPAs usually fall below 5% ABV. These beers all go well with strongly flavoured foods, including salty dishes, spicy curries, and grilled meats.
