The IPA is not from there, as we thought until now

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 04. 08. 11:49

According to the information provided by CNN, the legends according to which the IPA was intended for the British soldiers in the Indian colonies, do not completely cover the reality. According to Malcolm Purinton, a beer historian and scholar at Northeastern University, beer was transported long distances centuries before Indian colonization. The IPA is actually thanks to George Hodgson, who gave the British East India Company an exclusive contract with a hoppy beer based on a recipe developed due to the low prices of hops in the autumn.

The original IPA was an October beer that was a stronger, hoppier and more bitter version of the traditional pale ale. In the 1820s and 30s, its competitors gave it a new name, and thus India Pale Ale was born, reinforcing imperialist pride. The IPA was therefore not born out of a technical need, but rather out of business sense and national pride.

Today’s beer palette includes many other abbreviations, such as APA (American Pale Ale), DIPA (Double IPA), or NEIPA (New England IPA), all of which have different characteristics. Purinton also mentions porter and stout types, which are also important parts of the rich history of beers.