The difference between Pale Ale and IPA

I still drink more Brooklyn East India Pale Ale than any other IPA.

 

Why don't you think IPA is an Ale? The clue is the last letter.
British brewing styles, the source of much of the beer revolution, are basically Ale and Stout. Different history, different breweries, different barrel sizes, different drinking houses. Why people started regarding Stouts as a form of Ale is beyond me. Probably because most beer literature is regurgitated rather than properly researched.

 

I know IPAs are Ales. But remember that I am American and what we call IPAs are usually far removed from English IPAs. I think of English IPAs as "Ales", and all the "IPAs" from the US as a marketing term overstuffed with hops but otherwise all over the place. I know they are technically Ales, but they are far removed from the English nomenclature.

A Hazy IPA is just as much an "Ale" as a Stout is.

 

Exactly!

 

I only can speak to styles and beers I can access. Most non national East Coast brewers limit distribution to the East Coast, with some rare drops like Heady Topper bypassing Chicago but reach Denver (or RR PtE bypassing Chicago to hit Philadelphia).

Are there are good fresh East Coast IPAs I can purchase here? Can you provide a shorthand on the East Coast IPA style, and/ or primary differences with WC, MW and NE?

 

Thanks. But a Stout is not an Ale, the two types have a separate history, and practically every pub has a sign offering "Ales and Stouts"
Martyn Cornell wrote a good article on the misuse of the word Ale, ("Look, will you all stop misusing the word Ale, Thank you" ) and a quick Google image search of "Ales and Stouts" is an interesting exercise.

 

Why are you arguing with me? I was agreeing with your usage of the word Ale. I don"t think of Stouts as Ales either despite the top fermentation. I was also arguing that the plethora of American "IPA" styles are also not Ales by the English/your definition.

 

Yeah @marquis -- I think you knee-jerked with your reply, I read bsp77 as agreeing with you.

I know there's a majority of Yanks who often don't understand the history of beer, but it's not all of us (and don't jump on me for using "beer" as an umbrella term )

 

Not saying it's right or wrong, but probably because stouts use an ale yeast.

 

Before the New England IPA (once called the Vermont IPA) blasted on the scene in the mid-aughts, IPAs were often organized from least to most assertive hop bitterness by English IPA -> East Coast IPA -> West Coast IPA. East Coast IPAs have prominent malts but are more bitter than a typical English IPA. In other words they were balanced [to American tastes, the English may disagree]. Today East Coast IPAs are fading into obscurity, but there are a few still out there. Victory HopDevil, Harpoon IPA, and Dogfishhead 60 Minute are probably some of the best known and widely distributed examples.

 

So what's the difference between that and what people are calling the Midwest IPA?

 

Thank you, this was very helpful to understand the distinction. The Dogfish 60 minute is the one beer I’ve tried of the three, my rating and your description are consistent. Very mild hops and hops, at least on my end. For whatever reason I never connected with most Dogfish or Sam Adams offerings, including this one.

Based on Ranbot’s description and my experience, would state the primary difference is a much sweeter / caramel malt backbone/presence in a Midwest IPA vs. the bitter to neutral malt noted in the East Coast IPA profile.

There are a few Midwest Brewers who put out a good WCIPA beer, but many Midwest IPAs / IPA drinkers describe MW style as close or the same as WCIPA s, but I don’t share that opinion.

The strong sweet malt caramel found in Terrazzo by Phase Three is distinctly Midwest, though many posted in the Great Lakes forum the beer was “exactly” like PtE, which simply isn’t true, at least by my palate (and I suspect most WCIPA drinkers).

 

Interesting, I would definitely consider 60 minute and 2 hearted the same style (or sub-style) of beer. I think 2 hearted is better but I'm biased and that's subjective. They seem to be shooting for the same target

 

Yeah I think we’re splitting hairs at this point.

Is there a major difference between Tree House Julius and Sierra Nevada Torpedo? Absolutely.

Is there a major difference between Bells Two Hearted and Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA? Absolutely not.

 

I'm starting to suspect that the Midwest IPA is just an east coast ipas rebrand since the neipa thing makes the east coast moniker confusing for some modern consumers

 

I use yacht varnish to paint my garage door. It remains a garage door.

 

I checked my reviews for both beers and they're almost identical point-wise.

 

Very nice. Does 3 Floyds distribute to RI?