NEIPA, WCIPA, DIPA鈥�听
If听测辞耻鈥檝别听ever looked at a beer list and wondered what any of this听actually means,听测辞耻鈥檙别听not alone. While 鈥業PA beer鈥� once referred to a听fairly defined听style, today it has become one of the most diverse and fast-evolving family of听beers.听
As explored in our听APA vs IPA guide, modern IPAs are already a reinterpretation of a historical English style. But over time, brewers have continued to experiment with ingredients and techniques, creating a wide range of expressions that can differ dramatically in flavour,听texture听and appearance.听
This is why two beers labelled听鈥�IPA鈥�听can taste completely different in the glass.听
These acronyms refer to different IPA听styles, and听help explain what the beer will taste like.听So听what do they听actually mean听and why are there so many of them?听
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Why are there so many IPA styles?听
The answer lies in how much the style has evolved.听
The original India pale ales of the 19th century were highly hopped pale ales exported from England to India. However, most IPAs you听encounter听today are based on a modern interpretation that听emerged听in the United States in the 1970s. These beers used new American hop varieties, bringing pronounced听citrus, tropical fruit听or resinous hop aromas and the potential for听high bitterness.听
As brewers pushed the style further, they began creating noticeably different versions. Some emphasised clarity and bitterness, while others focused on fruit character,听mouthfeel听or alcohol strength. These differences became significant enough that brewers needed a way to signal them clearly.听
罢丑补迟鈥檚听where the acronyms come in. They act as a form of shorthand, helping you understand what to expect.听
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IPA styles explained听
IPAs today are less a single, fixed style and more a broad family of hop-forward beers. While they share a common focus on hop aroma and flavour, they can vary widely in bitterness, appearance,听mouthfeel听and alcohol level depending on how they are brewed.听
The styles below听represent听some of the most common expressions of IPA听测辞耻鈥檙别听likely to听encounter.听
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WCIPA (West Coast IPA)
Clear,听dry听and firmly bitter, with citrus,听pine听and resin-led hop character.听
The term West Coast IPA is often used to describe the classic American IPA style. These beers are typically clear and range from gold to amber in colour, with high bitterness and a dry finish.听
They display prominent hop aromas, commonly from American hop varieties, including citrus,听pine听and resin. While hop character dominates, there may be subtle malt notes such as bread or biscuit providing balance.听
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NEIPA (New England IPA /听Hazy IPA / Juicy IPA)听
Hazy,听soft听and 鈥榡uicy鈥�,听with intense tropical and citrus fruit character and lower bitterness.听
Hazy IPA听represents听a distinct departure from more traditional IPA styles. It is typically straw to gold in colour with a distinctly hazy appearance.听
The aroma profile is dominated by hops, showing pronounced notes of tropical fruit, citrus and stone fruit, often described as 鈥榡uicy鈥�.听Bitterness is low to medium, and the mouthfeel is smooth and often described as silky.听
This texture is often enhanced听by the use of听wheat or oats. Dry hopping (adding hops later in the brewing process, typically during or after fermentation) is used to intensify hop aroma, and the beer is usually unfiltered, contributing to its hazy appearance.听
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DIPA (Double IPA / Imperial IPA)听
Stronger and more intense, with higher alcohol and amplified hop aroma and bitterness.听
Double IPAs are听very similar听in style to American IPAs but are higher in alcohol, often high to听very high. This increased strength can give a slight warming quality.听
It also shows even more intense hop aromas and bitterness, typically derived from American hop varieties.听These elevated hop levels help to balance the increased alcohol and听maintain听the overall structure of the beer.听
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Session IPA听
Lower alcohol but still hop-driven, offering a lighter and more approachable take on the style.听
The term session IPA is used to describe an IPA-style beer with lower alcohol. These beers听retain听hop aroma and flavour but are lighter in body and more approachable, making them similar in strength and structure to an American pale ale.听
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And the rest鈥�听
Given the popularity of the IPA, brewers have continued to experiment with the style, resulting in a wide range of variations. These are often defined by a twist in ingredients,听colour听or brewing technique.听
Black IPA听is dark in colour due to the use of roasted malts, which give coffee and chocolate notes, but it still听retains听a strong hop-forward character as well.听Red IPA听uses darker malts to create a reddish hue and a slightly richer, more caramelised profile alongside the hops.听Brown IPA听combines hop character with deeper malt notes such as toast,听nuts听or light chocolate.听
Rye IPA听includes rye in the grain bill, adding a subtle spice and dryness.听Brut IPA听is brewed to be extremely dry, with听very little听residual sugar, giving a light and crisp character.听Fruited IPA听incorporates fruit additions to enhance or complement hop-derived aromas, while听Milkshake IPA听uses lactose to create a fuller,听sweeter听and creamier听mouthfeel and is often brewed with the addition of fruit.听听
Belgian IPA听combines hop-forward character with the fruity and spicy notes produced by Belgian yeast strains.听
Regardless of the variation, hop aroma remains a key feature of the style.听
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What these IPA styles听actually tell听you听
These acronyms are听essentially shorthand听for a few key differences:听
- Bitterness听鈥� from high in West Coast styles to lower in hazy styles听听
- Appearance听鈥� from clear to intentionally hazy听听
- Aroma听鈥揻rom resinous and piney to intensely fruity and tropical hop aromas and in some cases听additional听aromas from a twist on ingredients听
- Alcohol听鈥� from lighter session-strength beers to high-strength double IPAs听听
Understanding these elements makes it much easier to navigate a beer list or shop shelf, even if听测辞耻鈥檝别听never听encountered听a particular style before.听
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Making sense of IPA styles听
What started as a single style has become a broad and evolving family of beers shaped by innovation, ingredients and changing tastes. The growing range of IPA styles reflects just how versatile the听style听has become.听
Rather than adding complexity, these terms are there to guide you. Once you understand what they听represent, they become a useful shorthand for discovering new styles and finding the flavours you enjoy most.
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