American craft brewers are bold and their brewing techniques are something to look out for. During the last decade, we have witnessed several beer styles which have emerged from the American microbreweries. Eventually, these beer styles have managed to find a place on BJCP style guidelines but only under their specialty section. Let’s take a look at 6 specialty IPAs which you probably never heard of.
White IPA
White IPA is nearly identical to the Belgian Witbier except the fact that this is aggressively hopped to the level of an American IPA. This style uses a Belgian yeast and therefore it has fruity esters such as banana, citrus and even apricot in some cases.
ABV Range: 5.5% - 7%
Key Descriptors: Tropical fruit, Stone fruit, Coriander, Pepper, Banana, Citrus
Belgian IPA
Belgian IPAs range from light gold to amber in colour. This style is generously dosed with New World hops to draw tropical fruit, stone fruit, citrus fruit like flavours along with a touch of floral and spice. This is relatively a new style which has emerged when American homebrewers have started using Belgian yeast strains for an American IPA.
ABV Range: 6.2% - 9.5%
Key Descriptors: Tropical fruit, Citrus fruit, Stone fruit, Floral, Clove, Banana, Pear/Apple
Rye IPA
This style is somewhat similar to a traditional American IPA. A portion of the base malt is swapped for rye malt to add complexity and make it stand apart from the regular IPAs. Along with the usual New World hop character, this sub style has light grainy spiciness derived from rye malt.
ABV Range: 5.5% - 8%
Key Descriptors: Tropical fruit, Citrus fruit, Stone fruit, Spice, Floral, Pine, Resinous
Red IPA
A modern version of an American Amber Ale which is slightly hopped higher than usual and also takes advantage of dark crystal malts. Red IPA can range anywhere between light amber to dark copper in appearance.
ABV Range: 5.5% - 7.5%
Key Descriptors: Tropical fruit, Stone fruit, Citrus, Pine, Resinous, Caramel, Toffee, Toast
Brown IPA
A hoppier Brown Ale which boasts of flavours like dark caramel, toffee, chocolate along with fresh American hop characteristics. Without being too sweet or heavy, Brown IPA is more flavourful and malty than American IPAs.
ABV Range: 5.5% - 7.5%
Key Descriptors: Tropical fruit, Stone fruit, Floral, Spicy, Chocolate, Caramel, Toffee, Toast
Black IPA
This is the darkest version of an American IPA. For Black IPA, debittered roasted malts are added for colour along with American/New World hops. Balancing roasted malts and hop flavour holds key to the drinkability.
ABV Range: 5.5% - 9%
Key Descriptors: Tropical fruit, Stone fruit, Citrus, Pine, Resinous, Chocolate, Coffee
These were 6 Specialty IPAs which you probably never heard of. Next time, when you stumble across beer styles like these, make sure to try them out as they are hard to find.
Checkout our other article on difference between hoppy and bitter
A Brewer World Exclusive
Article Source: BJCP
