IPA - Specialty IPA - Red IPA
Name
Specialty IPA - Red IPA
Category
IPA
The IPA category is for modern American IPAs and their derivatives. This does not imply that English IPAs aren’t proper IPAs or that there isn’t a relationship between them. This is simply a method of grouping similar styles for competition purposes. English IPAs are grouped with other English-derived beers, and the stronger Double IPA is grouped with stronger American beers. The term “IPA” is intentionally not spelled out as “India Pale Ale” since none of these beers historically went to India, and many aren’t pale. However, the term IPA has come to be a balance-defined style in modern craft beer.
Guidelines
Impression
Hoppy, bitter, and moderately strong like an American IPA, but with some caramel, toffee, or fruit character as in an American Amber Ale. Retaining the dryish finish and lean body that makes IPAs so drinkable, a Red IPA is a little more flavorful and malty than an American IPA without being sweet or heavy.
Aroma
Moderate to strong hop aroma, often with a stone fruit, tropical fruit, citrus, resin, pine, berry, or melon character. Medium-low to medium malty-sweet aroma mixes in well with the hop selection, and often features medium to dark caramel, toffee, toasted bread, or dark fruit character. Clean fermentation profile. Light esters optional. Light alcohol aroma optional.
Appearance
Color ranging from light reddish-amber to dark reddish-copper. Clear. Light haze optional. Medium-sized, off-white to cream-colored head with good persistence.
Flavor
Medium to very high hop flavor, same descriptors as aroma. Medium-low to medium clean, supportive malty flavor with same descriptors as aroma. The malt and hop choices should not produce flavor clashes. Medium-high to very high bitterness, no harshness. Dry to medium finish, with a bitter, hoppy, and malty aftertaste. Low esters optional. Very low alcohol flavor optional. The malt should not overshadow the hop flavor and bitterness in the balance.
Mouth Feel
Medium-light to medium body, with a smooth texture. Medium to medium-high carbonation. No harshness. Light warmth optional.
Comments
Separated from American Amber Ale to better differentiate stronger, highly hopped examples from more balanced, standard-strength beers.
History
A modern American craft beer style, based on American IPA but with the malt flavors of an American Amber Ale. See American Amber Ale.
Ingredients
Similar to an American IPA, but with medium or dark crystal malts, possibly some character malts with a light toasty aspect. May use sugar adjuncts. Any American or New World hop character is acceptable, but the hops and character malts should not clash.
Comparison
A stronger, hoppier, more bitter version of American Amber Ale. Not as malty and sweet as an American Strong Ale. Drier, less alcohol, and not as malty as American Barleywine. Less chocolate and caramel than Brown IPA, but otherwise similar balance.
Statistics
| Type | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|
| OG | 1.056 | 1.070 |
| FG | 1.008 | 1.016 |
| IBU | 40 | 70 |
| SRM | 11 | 17 |
| ABV | 5.5 | 7.5 |
Commercial Examples
- Avery Hog Heaven
- Cigar City Tocobaga Red IPA
- Modern Times Blazing World
- Tröegs Nugget Nectar
Tags
- high-strength
- amber-color
- top-fermented
- north-america
- craft-style
- ipa-family
- specialty-family
- bitter
- hoppy