Imperial IPA

A powerful, hop-forward ale with elevated alcohol, very high hop intensity, and a fuller mouthfeel, retaining classic citrus, pine, and resin character with extended bitterness. Compared with standard IPA, everything is amplified, especially hop load, alcohol warmth, and finish length.

Defined by elevated strength and intensified hopping, delivering bold hop character and noticeable alcohol warmth.

Also known as: Imperial IPA; Double IPA; DIPA
Family: Strong & Warming Beers - Strong ales like Tripel, Barleywine, and Imperial styles
Variant of IPA - Within the Expressive Ales, defined by a clearly dominant sensory driver such as hop intensity, yeast expression, strength, or acidity.
Variant influence: Elevated alcohol intensifies hop impact and body.
Explore in Explorer →

ABV, IBU and colour

This section summarises the typical alcohol strength, bitterness level and colour range of Imperial IPA within the GBI model.

ABV: 8,4%
IBU: 72
Colour: 6,0 SRM / 11,8 EBC

Taste profile

The sensory profile below shows the typical intensity range of the 15 core flavour dimensions.

Colour:
Pale yellow Deep gold
Clarity:
Clear Slight haze
Aroma – Malt:
Low Medium
Aroma – Hop:
High
Aroma – Yeast:
Low
Aroma – Special:
None Low
Sweetness:
Low Medium
Sourness:
None Low
Bitterness:
High
Body:
Medium High
Astringency:
Medium High
Carbonation:
Medium High
Alcohol Strength:
High Very High
Finish Length:
Long Very Long
Oxidation:
None Low

Intense, bold, and warming, with saturated hop bitterness, high alcohol presence, and a long, lingering finish.

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What gives Imperial IPA its character

These structural drivers help shape its characteristic sensory profile.

  • Very high grist intensity provides abundant extract and fermentable material, strongly supporting higher gravity and alcohol strength alongside a fuller, sweeter body and longer finish.
  • Very high hop loading strongly contributes to hop aroma and can substantially increase perceived bitterness, while also adding some astringency and finish length.
  • Late dry hopping strongly increases fresh hop aroma and can also increase perceived bitterness.
  • A sulfate-forward chloride-to-sulfate balance accentuates perceived bitterness and can make the palate seem drier and less full.
  • Early-boil-focused hopping strongly increases IBU and perceived bitterness and can lengthen the bitter finish.
  • Finings remove suspended yeast and protein, improving clarity.
  • High attenuation converts more fermentable extract, tending to reduce residual sweetness and body while supporting alcohol formation and a drier finish.
  • Low crystal usage slightly increases colour, body, sweetness, finish length and caramel-like malt aroma.

History

Evolved as a stronger extension of West Coast IPA, developed to push hop intensity and alcohol strength beyond standard IPA levels.

How Imperial IPA compares to other beer styles

This comparison shows meaningful differences in sensory ranges and style character based on the GBI data.

Imperial IPA vs IPA

Compared with IPA, Imperial IPA has:

  • a stronger alcohol impression

Other differences:

  • Imperial IPA can be hazier.
  • The hop aroma range of IPA extends to higher intensities.
  • Imperial IPA can be sweeter.
  • Imperial IPA can have a fuller body.
  • Imperial IPA can be more astringent.
  • Imperial IPA can have a longer finish.
  • Imperial IPA has resinous, pine and dank hop notes, while IPA has tropical and stonefruit hop notes; both styles have citrus hop notes.
  • Imperial IPA has fruity yeast notes. IPA can have fruity yeast notes. Both styles have neutral yeast notes.

Imperial IPA vs Barleywine

Compared with Barleywine, Imperial IPA has:

  • a lighter color
  • less intense malt aroma
  • more intense hop aroma
  • drier
  • more astringency

Other differences:

  • The yeast aroma range of Barleywine extends to higher intensities.
  • Barleywine can be less bitter.
  • Imperial IPA can have a lighter body.
  • Imperial IPA can have a stronger alcohol impression.
  • Imperial IPA can have a longer finish.
  • Barleywine can be more oxidative.
  • Imperial IPA has citrus, pine and dank, resinous hop notes. Barleywine can have earthy, resinous hop notes.
  • Imperial IPA can have toasty, caramel malt notes. Barleywine has toffee, caramel malt notes. Both styles have bready malt notes.
  • Imperial IPA has fruity yeast notes; both styles have neutral yeast notes.
  • Imperial IPA can use simple Sugars.

Compare Imperial IPA with another beer style

Choose any GBI beer style to compare sensory ranges and style character.

Want to explore the underlying data in more detail? Compare styles in the GBI Explorer →

Related styles

Other variants within the same style group as Imperial IPA.

Best food pairings for Imperial IPA

These food pairings complement the dominant sensory traits of Imperial IPA.

  • Rich grilled meats
  • Blue cheese
  • Spicy barbecue

Service & Aging

Practical guidance for serving and handling Imperial IPA.

Serving notes
Serve cool but not cold · Avoid prolonged warm storage to preserve hop character
Pouring technique
Pour carefully and allow to warm slightly to reveal hop complexity and alcohol warmth
Aging potential
Best fresh · Short-term aging (up to 1 year) possible in very strong examples
Common faults
Hot alcohol · Excessive bitterness · Oxidation · Heavy sweetness if poorly attenuated
Style details
  • Origin: United States — Originating from American craft brewing.
  • Glassware: Tulip — Stemmed tulip glass that concentrates aroma and supports a stable head; ideal for aromatic ales and Belgian styles.
    Teku — Modern universal tasting glass designed for maximum aroma capture and sensory evaluation.
    Nonic Pint — British-style pint with outward bulge for grip and foam retention; common for ales and stouts.
  • Serving: Draft — Served on draft.
  • Aging vessel: Stainless — Aged or matured in stainless steel.
  • Packaging: Can — Packaged in can.

Commercial examples of Imperial IPA

The following commercial examples illustrate widely recognised expressions of Imperial IPA in the market.

  • Russian River Pliny the Elder
  • Stone Ruination IPA
  • Firestone Walker Double Jack

Imperial IPA – Competition winners and medalists

Medal winners for Imperial IPA from major beer competitions. Categories follow each competition's official classification and may include stylistically adjacent interpretations.

2026 competition results

World Beer Cup 2026

Imperial India Pale Ale

  • Gold – Fully Adrift – Pinthouse Brewing , United States
  • Silver – D.R.E.A.M. – Trap Door Brewing , United States
  • Bronze – Power Plants – Barebottle Brewing Co. , United States

Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale

  • Gold – Lupulin Collider – North Park Beer Co. , United States
  • Silver – Panda – Mothfire Brewing Co. , United States
  • Bronze – Road Rash – Wagon Wheel Brewing Co. , United States

Source: World Beer Cup ( official website )

Dutch Beer Challenge 2026

Double/Imperial IPA

  • Gold – Mr. Anderson, Welcome Back – Uiltje Brewing Company , Netherlands
  • Silver – Loveship – vandeStreek bier , Netherlands

Source: Dutch Beer Challenge ( official website )

2025 competition results 21 medalists

European Beer Star 2025

Imperial India Pale Ale

  • Gold – MOON JELLY DDH DOUBLE IPA – Slowboat Brewery , China
  • Silver – MONKEY’S FIST IMPERIAL IPA – Slowboat Brewery , China
  • Bronze – Spartan Squatch – No-Li Brewhouse , United States

Source: European Beer Star ( official website )

Great American Beer Festival 2025

Imperial India Pale Ale

  • Gold – Dankish – Moonraker Brewing Co. , United States
  • Silver – HopTomic – Morgan Territory Brewing , United States
  • Bronze – Hop JuJu – Fat Heads Brewery , United States

Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale

  • Gold – tracing the departed – everywhere , United States
  • Silver – King Fallen Flag – Narrow Gauge Brewing Co. , United States
  • Bronze – DDH The Other Brian – Green Cheek Beer Co. , United States

Source: Great American Beer Festival ( official website )

World Beer Cup 2025

Imperial India Pale Ale

  • Gold – Punchface Champion – Grains of Wrath Brewing , United States
  • Silver – Fall On In – MadeWest Brewing Co. , United States
  • Bronze – House of Fu! – North Park Beer Co. , United States

Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale

  • Gold – Juice Master – Shred Beer Co. , United States
  • Silver – Contains No Juice – Alvarado Street Brewery , United States
  • Bronze – For 4 – Brothership Brewing , United States

Source: World Beer Cup ( official website )

Dutch Beer Challenge 2025

Double/Imperial IPA

  • Silver – Backyard Brewing Co - Epicurious DDH DIPA 7.4% – State Of Bliss Bv / Backyardbrewing.co , Netherlands
  • Bronze – Dr. Raptor – Uiltje Brewing Company , Netherlands

Source: Dutch Beer Challenge ( official website )

Brussels Beer Challenge 2025

Double IPA

  • Gold – Pacific Monster – De Mortselarij , Belgium
  • Silver – West Coast Dream – Mingri Brewing , China
  • Bronze – Hope Beer Brewers Edition DIPA – Hope Beer Dublin , Ireland
  • Bronze – Looking Down On You - Hazy DIPA – Revision Brewing Company , United States

Source: Brussels Beer Challenge ( official website )

2024 competition results 3 medalists

European Beer Star 2024

Imperial India Pale Ale

  • Gold – Extra Guacamole – Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse , United States
  • Silver – MARIO TRA 20 ANNI – Birra Perugia , Italy
  • Bronze – Breaking Hops – MC77 Birrificio Artigianale , Italy

Source: European Beer Star ( official website )

2023 competition results 3 medalists

European Beer Star 2023

Imperial India Pale Ale

  • Gold – PaperPlaneC#5Double IPA – PaperPlaneBrew.co , China
  • Silver – Hinterland Rest In Paradise – Hinterland Brewery , United States
  • Bronze – Rumble IPA – Rügener Insel-Brauerei , Germany

Source: European Beer Star ( official website )

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