Our sticker for Imperial IPA

(Almost) everyone love India Pale Ales. But what about their big brother, Imperial IPA (Often labelled as Double IPA. And we are including Triple IPAs here as well)? Imperial IPAs are some of the strongest and most powerful beers there are having often at least 8% ABV, although these days, more than 10% individuals are very common. Bitterness is often absurdly high and hop aroma and flavour even stronger than traditional IPA (Although, it shares lots of same characteristics such as citrus, tropical fruit and resiny pine). So it’s basically like an IPA with steroids. Oh, and when we are saying “traditional”, we are meaning the American style IPA everyone knows, not the historical English style beer.

Style comes close to a Barleywine but the most differential factor is the lack of heavy malty backbone found in Barleywines and the flavour profile that clearly leans towards hops. Presumably, the first commercial brew labelled as Double IPA or Imperial IPA was made in 1994. After that singular beer labelled as that emerged. In the 2000s these beers have really started to pop up with an accelerating pace and many craft brewery nowadays are brewing at least one Imperial IPA.

Our Imperial IPA sticker

Like the IPA-style itself, Imperial IPAs are most likely here to stay. They are very tasteful and a true showcase of what craft beer should be: completely different from mainstream stuff and something brewers can tweak as much as they want.

What’s your favourite Imperial IPA?

-Jari from Pint Please