IPA - Specialty IPA - Rye IPA
Name
Specialty IPA - Rye 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
An American IPA with spicy, grainy rye malt. The rye gives a bready and peppery flavor, a creamier body, and a dry, grainy finish.
Aroma
Prominent to intense hop aroma, often with a stone fruit, tropical fruit, citrus, resin, pine, berry, or melon character. Low peppery rye malt aroma, along with a clean, background grainy maltiness. Clean fermentation profile. Light esters optional. Light alcohol aroma optional.
Appearance
Color ranging from medium gold to light reddish-amber. Clear. Light haze optional. Medium-sized, white to off-white head with good persistence.
Flavor
Medium to very high hop flavor, same descriptors as aroma. Low to medium-low clean, supportive malt possibly with light caramel or toast flavors. Low to moderate grainy, peppery, spicy rye flavor that adds to the dry finish. Medium-high to very high bitterness, no harshness. Dry, bitter, hoppy aftertaste. Low esters optional. Background alcohol flavor optional.
Mouth Feel
Medium-light to medium body. Smooth texture, may be lightly creamy. Medium to medium-high carbonation. No harshness. Low warmth optional.
Comments
A modern American craft beer variation of American IPA. Rye malt character should be noticeable, otherwise enter in 21A American IPA.
History
A modern craft era variation of American IPA, popular among homebrewers.
Ingredients
Like an American IPA, with a generous portion of rye malt. Any American or New World hop is acceptable, but the hops and malt should not clash. No caraway. No oak.
Comparison
Drier, slightly spicier, and slightly creamier than an American IPA, with more of a lingering bitterness and spiciness in the finish. Does not have the intense rye malt or Weizen yeast character of a Roggenbier.
Statistics
| Type | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|
| OG | 1.056 | 1.075 |
| FG | 1.008 | 1.014 |
| IBU | 50 | 75 |
| SRM | 6 | 14 |
| ABV | 5.5 | 8.0 |
Commercial Examples
- Founders Red’s Rye IPA
- Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye
Tags
- high-strength
- amber-color
- top-fermented
- north-america
- craft-style
- ipa-family
- specialty-family
- bitter
- hoppy