Hops: Taking Over a Beer Cooler Near You

When you ask the average consumer what the leading trend in beer is right now, chances are they would all answer very similarly; hops. Hops are working their way into every style under the sun. Imperial, Double, American, IPA these are all terms you are seeing more and more on labels these days. These bitter, citrusy, piney flowers are doing a lot to the beer you’re drinking, but not everyone knows what to expect. Let’s take a look at three unique beers that all showcase hops in different ways.

Extra Pale Ales can be a misleading title. Sometimes this will mean more malty sweetness and less of a focus on hops. More often than not you’ll find it meaning the opposite, plenty of hoppy flavors with little hoppy bitterness. Take Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island’s Flying Jenny Extra Pale Ale; this is an XPA that has a very dry flavor. It doesn’t have that rich malty backbone that pale ales are known for. Instead you get a very light and crisp body, while still providing loads of citrusy and floral aromas and flavors. Think this is too close to an IPA for you? At 54 IBUs it does start to dance on that line, but it’s a very mild and clean bitterness. This is not the taste bud killer that today’s IPAs are.

White IPAs started popping up on the market roughly in 2012. This is a prime example of a light and refreshing style, the White Ale, which has been taken over and transformed into a hoppy beer. Taking a previous style that is low on hops and turning it into an IPA is common practice these days. This is why you are seeing all these new styles pop up on the shelves. Black IPAs, White IPAs, Brown IPAs, Red IPAs, Rye IPAs, Belgian IPAs, Pumpkin IPAs. It can be overwhelming and sometimes a bit too much. Anchorage Brewing Company’s Galaxy White IPA is just right. This is a White IPA that complements the traditional White Ale spice of coriander and orange peel, in this case kumquats, with tropical fruity hops, specifically Galaxy hops. It’s a great balance between the two styles. Anchorage also throws in brettanomyces yeast and oak aging to take things even further, but those are two topics for another article.

The final style we will look at is one of many names. Cascadian Dark Ale, India Black Ale, American Strong Ale, Dark IPA, but most commonly known in these parts as just Black IPA. This is one of the first “hybrid IPAs”. Take the rich chocolate and coffee notes of a stout or porter and toss in some hops and you’ll get one of my favorite styles. Revival Brewing Co.’s Double Black IPA is the perfect example of this style. Using both Chinook, for an herbal, earthy, sometimes smoky flavor, and Sorachi Ace with a very unique citrusy note you’ll get the perfect complement to the rich, roasted malts featured in this beer.

These are just three styles straying away from the traditional IPA while still delivering the kick of hops you are looking for. There are many more out there that focus on hops in additional ways. So whether you are ready to ease into the hop world or just need a break from the American IPA, there are plenty of options out there.

Cheers!

Jared Kent, C.B.S.

Grapes & Grains Beer Specialist