A bitter, citrus-scented pale ale loaded with American hops. Anchor’s 1975 Liberty Ale first showcased Cascade hops; home brewing was legalised federally in 1978, and craft breweries multiplied from Sierra Nevada onward.
Brewing beer at home is licensed or restricted in much of the atlas’s readership, and this is a whole style of commercial product rather than a single preparation.
What goes into it
- pale malt
- American hops — Cascade, Citra, Simcoe and others
- ale yeast
- water
How it is made
Pale malt is mashed and the wort boiled with hops, then fermented warm with ale yeast. What defines the style is where the hops go: large late additions in the boil and a dry hop after fermentation, which extracts aroma oils without the bitterness. The result is deliberately unbalanced toward hops.
How long it takes: two to four weeks from mash to glass
How it is eaten
Cool but not cold, fresh — the aroma fades within months — with burgers and spicy food.
History
Anchor’s 1975 Liberty Ale first showcased Cascade hops; home brewing was legalised federally in 1978 and craft breweries multiplied from Sierra Nevada onward.
Frequently asked questions
What is American IPA?
American IPA is a wine & spirit from United States: bitter, citrus-scented pale ale loaded with American hops. Anchor’s 1975 Liberty Ale first showcased Cascade hops; home brewing was legalised federally in 1978 and craft breweries multiplied from Sierra Nevada onward.
How is American IPA made?
Pale malt is mashed and the wort boiled with hops, then fermented warm with ale yeast. What defines the style is where the hops go: large late additions in the boil and a dry hop after fermentation, which extracts aroma oils without the bitterness. The result is deliberately unbalanced toward hops. It takes two to four weeks from mash to glass.
Can I make American IPA at home?
No, and the atlas gives no method for it. Brewing beer at home is licensed or restricted in much of the atlas’s readership, and this is a whole style of commercial product rather than a single preparation.
What goes into American IPA?
Pale malt, american hops — Cascade, Citra, Simcoe and others, ale yeast, water.
How is American IPA eaten?
Cool but not cold, fresh — the aroma fades within months — with burgers and spicy food.
