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A Brief History of IPA & Why You Oughta Love It

Oct 7

3 min read

These days, you can’t go to a restaurant or bar (or even gas station at this point) without running into some form of India Pale Ale (IPA) on the beer list. At Falling Sky, we are quite proud to offer multiple award-winning (repeat, award-winning) IPAs featuring various styles and flavor profiles. If you love these deliciously hoppy brews as much as we do, you may find yourself asking incredibly critical questions like: Where the F did IPAs come from? How the F have IPAs changed over the years? And just what the F is the future for IPAs? Well, dear reader, we have the F-ing answers you need.



As predictable as it may be, let’s start at the beginning. Our beloved India Pale Ale was first named as such back in the late 1700s by British exporters shipping beer to India. To preserve the naturally light-bodied ale during its long journey to India’s hot, humid climate (you couldn’t even pay way too much money for overnight shipping back then – so dumb), the exporters added hops to the brew and strived to increase its alcohol content. In true beer-lover form, one British brewmaster named Hodgson decided to create an ale specifically designed to not only survive the long trip to India, but to age gracefully, tasting even more delicious by the time it arrived. The result was a slightly more intense ale with a delightful harmony of hoppy bitterness and fruity sweetness – the IPA was officially born.


In the spirit of exciting hop profiles, we created the one, the only, Falling Sky Yell-OOO IPA. This beauty is brewed with 100% Amarillo hops, a Washington state varietal with a distinctly citrusy essence and even a few sweet notes of stone fruit. We balance this rich texture out with a smooth, malty finish that will have you yelling “OOO” (get it?) in no time. And, as if that all weren’t exciting enough on its own, our deep love for the fabulous UO Ducks is brewed into every batch of Yell-OOO IPA, making it the perfect beer to enjoy during our infamous Game Night Watch Parties or our upcoming Brewers Dinner Tailgate Party!


Now, getting back to history... So, after the dawning of the age of India Pales, how the F did IPA change and evolve, you ask? Probably a whole lot more than is documented, seeing as proper beer nerdom is a relatively new phenomenon. But, one particularly exciting evolution occurred in the United States’ infamous Bay Area, starting sometime in the mid-1960s. The story goes, Mr. Fritz Maytag, owner of Anchor Brewery in San Francisco, decided to bring the age-old English brewing tradition back to life, this time using hops grown in little ol’ Oregon. Incorporating these “Cascade” hops, which were unique to the United States, after the boil, Maytag created a new American twist on the old English classic – You guessed it, the West Coast IPA. 


Since then, the West Coast IPA has become famous for its relatively clear body and extra-hoppy bite, offering unique flavor profiles from its American-grown hops, usually of the Cascade, Citra, or Chinook varieties. Here at Falling Sky, we just so happen to offer a particularly fruity rendition of this American sweetheart – our Rain Gauge IPA – which showcases the complex tastes of Strata, Bru-1, Comet, and Citra hops, leaving notes of melon and tropical fruit on your very lucky palette. 




Among our other IPA options, Falling Sky offers its 3 Magic Letters IPA – a nod to the traditional India Pale Ale, featuring the citrusy sweetness of ripe oranges and flower nectar combined with a robust spicy hop flavor throughout. Along with its Old World flavor, it also carries some of that Old World magic we all need sometimes in our strange modern lives. We recommend drinking at least a pint or two anytime you need to, say, break a curse, overcome the clutches of a witch or warlock, or turn around a streak of bad luck.


You're welcome.




As you’ve probably figured by now, WE LOVE CRAFT BEER – brewing it, drinking it, and talking about it. So, check back for more blogs on all things craft beer and Falling Sky. 


Until next time, LET IT POUR!!

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