![]() ![]() ![]() Everything from the grain bill to the hops to the dry-hopping technique to the yeast strain have been engineered to develop a crispy, clean, hop-heavy IPA that one hundred percent showcases the hops in brilliant clarity. On the other hand, Davey specifically designed Cold IPAs to enhance the West Coast IPA. They just do not stand out enough to gain any footing.” Usually, the fermentation is hurried, or it is mis-handled because brewers that try this approach don’t hang their hats on lager styles. “The lager esters and uptick in SO2 really does not work with American hops. “Recipes in this fashion employ a clean, American IPA recipe and sub the yeast from Chico to lager yeast, usually 34/70, ferment cold and see what happens,” writes Davey in an article for The New School. IPLs can be a bit clunkier because they simply take an IPA recipe and substitute an ale yeast with a lager yeast. While the Beer Judge Certification Program does not officially have a category for IPLs (preferring to add it under an all-encompassing umbrella “Specialty IPA” segment), IPLs are widely recognized in the industry as an IPA fermented with a lager yeast instead of an ale yeast. “In my mind, an IPL is like making an IPA into a lager and that’s not what this is… To me it’s taking a West Coast IPA and making it more West Coast by showcasing the hops and having a really crispy grain bill.” “A lot of people think is an IPL, but it’s not,” says Hughes. But dig into the details and you’ll find very separate beers. What Is the Difference between an India Pale Lager and a Cold IPA? Photography courtesy of Necromancer Brewing Co.Īt first glance, these two styles may seem similar. Instead, Cold IPAs are a category all their own. In other words, a Cold IPA should be a hop-forward ale with characteristics common in an IPA, but a beer that’s ultimately crisper, cleaner, and more crushable like a lager.īut it’s not an India Pale Lager (IPL). ![]() “You’re looking for alcohol content equal to a regular IPA or West Coast IPA, something that’s really going to showcase the hops you’re working with to get that clean grain bill.” “It’s going to be super crushable, super crispy, but stronger than lagers,” says Lauren Hughes, head brewer at Necromancer who brewed their own version of a Cold IPA called Cold Feet. ![]() Fermenting an IPA at colder temperatures means brewers often use a lager yeast or a combination of a lager and an ale yeast. In a nutshell, “a Cold IPA is an IPA fermented at lower temperatures than what is normally used to ferment an ale,” writes Skip Schwartz, head brewer at WeldWerks Brewing Co., in an email to Hop Culture. One, that since Davey’s initial experiments, many other brewers across the country have notched on their belt. With Relapse IPA, Davey made a West Coast IPA that showcased American hops, but one drier and cleaner than a typical IPA.Ī new style of beer, a carefully curated approach to brewing an IPA from grain to glass. Wayfinder’s first Cold IPA debuted in October 2018. And lastly, he dry-hopped the beer towards the end of fermentation. Second, he used Wayfinder’s house lager strain of yeast, which would allow the hops to shine through. He played around with a blend of techniques.įirst, he used rice and corn in the grain bill to give the beer body and mouthfeel while keeping it dry. For instance, WeldWerks, Necromancer, Reuben’s Brews, Alvarado Street, Great Notion, and so many more.īut what exactly is a Cold IPA? And why are brewers so hot on them? What Is the Origin of the Cold IPA?īetween 20, Wayfinder Brewmaster Kevin Davey pioneered the Cold IPA.Īt the time, Davey had been experimenting with IPAs, looking to put his own spin on the category. We saw one of the newer trends in the hop-forward IPA category-Cold IPAs-absolutely explode in 2022.įirst pioneered by Wayfinder Beer in Portland, OR, Cold IPAs have popped up in the portfolios of revered breweries all across the country. Last year in particular we covered “The 5 Hottest Hops of 2022, According to an Expert” and “The Four Hottest Hop Trends.” So maybe it’s time to cool things down. Who are we kidding? Hops have been hot for decades now. ![]()
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