IPA is a heavily hopped, top-fermented, full-malt beer. It is brewed using a generous amount of American hop varieties, and an exceptionally strong dry-hopping process gives the beer a floral hoppy aroma.
The scent has a hint of blackcurrant leaf and fresh citrus. Despite the American hops, the body of the beer is malty, typical of a traditional English India Pale Ale. The IPA type of beer first appeared in England in the late 1700s. The reason behind its development was to produce a beer capable of lasting the long sea voyage from England to India. The high alcohol and hops content of an IPA made this possible. Today, there are countless different IPA-type beers on the market, with the lines differentiating the various beer types becoming blurred, particularly where alcohol content is concerned. In general, an IPA is known for its bittered, aroma-hopped character.