When you start looking into the different types of beer that are widely available, you’ll learn about the different categories that they are housed under. For example, IPA (India Pale Ale) and pale ale are 2 of the most popular types of beer that you can find around the world. Considering that they both have similar names, it makes a person wonder what is it that is different between the two?
What is Pale Ale?
Originally pale ale was the name that you would give any type of beer that was lighter in color from the other few beers that you would be able to find at your local pub. The name originated in England and has since moved into North America and created a new genre of ale. When making pale ale your brew will be created out of malt coke and when you’re working with the flavors, you’re going to want the hops and flavor to be the first thing that you notice. But it’s equally as important to ensure that the malt helps to balance all of the flavors in the brew. In most cases, pale ale is going to have a crisp and sweet taste.
What is India Pale Ale?
The first thing that you’ll notice about India Pale Ale is that it has far more hops than what you would get with a regular pale ale. IPA has an interesting past as it was stumbled upon by accident with the help of import and export ships. These ships would hold barrels of beer that would sail around the horn of Africa, and by the time they reached their final destination the beer had been spoiled. This is why the brewers would continue to add more and more hops to the mixture as hops are a natural preservative that keeps the beer tasting great for longer. With an IPA you’re going to have a far more bitter taste, but there will also be more carbonation.
It is important to remember that although in the past, pale ale originated from England and IPA originated from India, there are dozens of different breweries around the world that now focus on making these two categories of brew. Whether you’re interested in imports that offer an authentic taste or if you prefer to support your local breweries, it’s simple to find a great tasting pale ale and IPA.
