What is the difference between India Pale Ale and American Pale Ale?

Question

I don't know anything about beer, and looking to learn...

Answer 1

Wow, there is *a lot* of misinformation in this thread.

American Pale Ales derive from British Pale Ales, most notably Bitters, Special Bitters & Extra Special Bitters (ESBs). They range in color from golden to amber, have a pronounced bitterness to balance a moderate malt profile and usually derive much of their flavor from the use of American hops such as Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Amarillo, Simcoe, etc. The ester/phenolic profile (fruity/spicy characteristics derived from the yeast fermenting sugars into alcohol) is usually very low and alcohol ranges from 4.5-6% ABV. These beers are often brewed to be session beers able to showcase American hops. Some great examples include Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale, 3 Floyds Alpha King Pale Ale & Anchor Brewing Liberty Ale.

India Pale Ales are traditionally a British ale, but recently a seperate style, termed American IPA has emerged. During British occupation, soldiers stationed in India lacked decent ale to drink for two reasons- India was not a good area to grow hops/barley, and beer would often spoil on the long journey by ship when exported from mother England. A solution was to take the British Pale Ale & increase the alcohol & also increase the hopping rate. Increased alcohol helps a beer stand up to extreme conditions & time, while hops posess preservative properties as well. American IPAs are pretty much beefed up American Pale Ales. All of the above descirptions for American Pale Ales hold true for IPAs, only you can expect more bitterness, more alcohol, a bit more maltiness & a big to ridiculously big hop flavor & aroma. Good examples are Bells Two Hearted Ale, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, & Great Divide's Titan IPA.

A few wrong statements in this thread
- The amount of hops has nothing at all to do with alcohol content. The amount of sugars from the barley, type/amount of yeast & fermentation conditions effect the alcohol.
- All Pale Ales are, by definition ales, but that means that they *top ferment,* not bottom ferment. They also take significantly less time to brew than all lagers (typical American macrobrews).
- While most American lager is brewed with rice/corn, you would be very hard pressed to find any American IPAs or Pale Ales brewed with any rice/corn.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is the difference between India Pale Ale and American Pale Ale?
I don't know anything about beer, and looking to learn...

Answer 3

India Pale Ale (IPA, a variation of which is known as Imperial Pale Ale), is a distinct style of beer and is characterized as a sparkling pale ale with a high level of alcohol (modern day versions are usually greater than 6% by volume, though the original versions were considerably higher) and hops, thus having an increased bitterness (in modern times typically 35–48 on the IBU scale, though originally probably more than 60 IBU).



American Pale Ale (APA) is a style of American beer based at least originally on beers of the British pale ale tradition. They are pale to amber in color and generally their flavor and aroma is centered around the citric and pine character of American hops with caramel-like malt flavors and fruity esters from the ale yeast playing a supporting role. [1] The style evolved in tandem with a renewed interest in ales and the insurgence of microbreweries in the United States which brought about a new focus on American hops.[2]

Answer 4

Don't you love when you ask a question, those people who know squat always go to Wikipedia for the answers???

As a veteran beer drinker and here in Canada we have several brewery's now and in the past that produce IPA, today the best around here is Alexander Keith's, American beers in general are brewed with rice and native hops and malt.

Indian Pale Ale is made with imported ingredients, in the UK the malt and hops plus the brewing process in different. Ale of any kind is brewed in the bottom fermenting process, it ages for a longer time.

Answer 5

India pale ale is a little more bitter than regular pale ale.

Answer 6

without getting too technical, an IPA has a much larger hops content and a darker color than an APA. The hops give it a higher alcohol content and a much more distinctive / bitter task....and I mean bitter in a very positive way. I like IPA's and recommend that you try a few, if you are 21 or older, to see if you would as well....

Answer 7

Alexander Keiths is the worst IPA every