IPA
A hop-forward ale defined by assertive bitterness and expressive hop aroma supported by a restrained malt backbone. It is more bitter, more aromatic, and more structurally hop-driven than pale ale.
Defined by assertive hop character combining expressive citrus and fruit-forward aroma with firm bitterness over a restrained malt backbone.
ABV, IBU and colour
This section summarises the typical alcohol strength, bitterness level and colour range of IPA within the GBI model.
Taste profile
The sensory profile below shows the typical intensity range of the 15 core flavour dimensions.
Aromatic and hop-forward, with expressive citrus and fruit character, firm bitterness, and a restrained malt backbone.
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What gives IPA its character
These structural drivers help shape its characteristic sensory profile.
- Very high hop loading strongly contributes to hop aroma and can substantially increase perceived bitterness, while also adding some astringency and finish length.
- High grist intensity provides more extract and fermentable material, supporting higher gravity and alcohol strength alongside fuller body, slightly greater sweetness and a longer finish.
- 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.
- Late-boil-focused hopping shifts the emphasis away from IBU toward hop aroma, while still contributing some perceived bitterness and finish length.
- 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
Originating in Britain as a strongly hopped pale ale intended for extended stability, IPA evolved into a hop-dominant style where elevated bitterness and aroma define the structure.
How IPA compares to other beer styles
This comparison shows meaningful differences in sensory ranges and style character based on the GBI data.
IPA vs West Coast IPA
Other differences:
- West Coast IPA can be hazier.
- The hop aroma range of IPA extends to higher intensities.
- West Coast IPA can be less astringent.
- West Coast IPA can have a shorter finish.
- IPA has tropical and stonefruit hop notes, while West Coast IPA has resinous, pine and dank hop notes; both styles have citrus hop notes.
- IPA can have caramel malt notes. Both styles have bready malt notes. Both styles can have toasty malt notes.
IPA vs New England IPA
Compared with New England IPA, IPA has:
- a darker color
- clearer in appearance
- less intense yeast aroma
- more bitter
Other differences:
- New England IPA can be sweeter.
- New England IPA can have a fuller body.
- New England IPA can be less astringent.
- New England IPA can have a shorter finish.
- IPA can have toasty and caramel malt notes. New England IPA has grainy malt notes. Both styles have bready malt notes.
- IPA has neutral yeast notes and can have fruity yeast notes. New England IPA has estery, fruity yeast notes.
- New England IPA can use wheat and oats as a grain; both styles include barley.
- IPA can use simple Sugars.
Compare 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 →
Modelled variants of IPA
The following variant profiles are formally modelled expressions derived from this Core Style, each differing structurally in at least one primary sensory driver.
Style details
- Origin: International — Style without a single defined regional origin.
-
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 IPA
The following commercial examples illustrate widely recognised expressions of IPA in the market.
- Sierra Nevada Torpedo
- Lagunitas IPA
- Bell’s Two Hearted
IPA – Competition winners and medalists
Medal winners for 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
Classic India Pale Ale
- Gold – Immutable Dawn – ISM Brewing , United States
- Silver – Hop-Fu! – North Park Beer Co. , United States
- Bronze – Shred IPA – Shred Beer Co. , United States
Experimental India Pale Ale
- Gold – Flint – Bighand Bros. Brewery , Japan
- Silver – Escaping Gravity – Roadhouse Brewing , United States
- Bronze – Conix Brut IPA – Repubrew , Japan
New Zealand-Style India Pale Ale
- Gold – Westland – BKS Artisan Ales , United States
- Silver – Chepedelic – ISM Brewing , United States
- Bronze – Wannabe Wallaby – Riip Beer Co. , United States
Session India Pale Ale
- Gold – Which Way – BKS Artisan Ales , United States
- Silver – Breakside Total Entertainment Forever – Breakside Brewery , United States
- Bronze – Josh's Lil' Shoes – Green Cheek Beer Co. , United States
Source: World Beer Cup ( official website )
Dutch Beer Challenge 2026
Ipa
- Gold – Mooie Nel – Jopen Bier , Netherlands
- Silver – Say Hello To My Little Friend – Uiltje Brewing Company , Netherlands
- Bronze – The Ants Are My Friends, They're Blowing In The Wind – Uiltje Brewing Company , Netherlands
- Bronze – Instant Krush – Jopen Bier , Netherlands
Session IPA
- Gold – Frisky – vandeStreek bier , Netherlands
- Silver – Pais Tropical – Oedipus Brewing , Netherlands
- Bronze – Calypso – Brouwerij 't IJ , Netherlands
Source: Dutch Beer Challenge ( official website )
2025 competition results 46 medalists
European Beer Star 2025
Session India Pale Ale
- Gold – Leopoldina Session Ipa – Brewine Leopoldina , Brazil
- Silver – Frisky – vandeStreek bier , Netherlands
- Bronze – Punto – MC77 Birrificio Artigianale , Italy
India Pale Ale
- Gold – Leopoldina Ipa – Brewine Leopoldina , Brazil
- Silver – Deadhead IPA – Destihl Brewery , United States
- Bronze – DR. SHULTZ – 50&50 , Italy
Source: European Beer Star ( official website )
Great American Beer Festival 2025
American-Style India Pale Ale
- Gold – Built for Speed – Grains of Wrath Brewing , United States
- Silver – Time's Arrow – Our Mutual Friend Brewing , United States
- Bronze – Breakside IPA – Breakside Brewery & Taproom , United States
Experimental India Pale Ale
- Gold – Hazy Crush – New York Beer Project - Beer Lodge , United States
- Silver – Pistol Peach IPA – McMenamins Breweries , United States
- Bronze – Pepper & Peaches – Claremont Craft Ales , United States
New Zealand India Pale Ale
- Gold – Chepedelic – ISM Brewing , United States
- Silver – Muka Laka Hiki – Hop Dogma Brewing Co. , United States
- Bronze – Perverse Inverse – Ghost Town Brewing , United States
Session India Pale Ale
- Gold – Oros – Offset Bier Co. , United States
- Silver – Scenic Route – Westbound & Down Brewing Co. , United States
- Bronze – Trump Hands – Cannonball Creek Brewing Co. , United States
Source: Great American Beer Festival ( official website )
World Beer Cup 2025
Experimental India Pale Ale
- Gold – Pepper & Peaches – Claremont Craft Ales , United States
- Silver – Infinite Glow – Highlander Beer - Salmon , United States
- Bronze – Rainbow Suspenders – Seapine Brewing Co. , United States
New Zealand-Style India Pale Ale
- Gold – Perverse Inverse – Ghost Town Brewing , United States
- Silver – Loyal to the Soil – Formula Brewing , United States
- Bronze – Modern Love – TapRoom Beer Co. , United States
Session India Pale Ale
- Gold – Micro Blaster – Shred Beer Co. , United States
- Silver – Hefty Fee – Docent Brewing , United States
- Bronze – Scenic Route – Westbound & Down Brewing Co. , United States
Source: World Beer Cup ( official website )
Dutch Beer Challenge 2025
Session IPA
- Gold – País Tropical – Oedipus Brewing , Netherlands
- Silver – Calypso – Brouwerij 't IJ , Netherlands
- Bronze – Vesting Session – Stadsbrouwerij Vos , Netherlands
Ipa
- Gold – Craft Beer Cookout – Uiltje Brewing Company , Netherlands
- Silver – Wispe IPA – Wispe Brouwerij , Netherlands
- Bronze – Hooglander Behouden Vaart (10 jaar jubileum IPA) – Hooglander Bier , Netherlands
- Bronze – Vuur & Vlam – Brouwerij De Molen , Netherlands
Source: Dutch Beer Challenge ( official website )
Brussels Beer Challenge 2025
American IPA
- Gold – Feed Your Mind – Birrificio Sabino di Marco Colafigli , Italy
- Silver – Postwave IPA – Postwave Brewing , China
- Bronze – Maisel & Friends West Coast IPA – Brauerei Gebr. Maisel , Germany
- Bronze – Say Hello To My Little Friend – Uiltje Brewing Company , Netherlands
Pacific IPA
- Gold – Retro Futrurism NZ IPA – No.18 Brewery , China
- Silver – Santilli – Night Shift Brewing , United States
- Bronze – West Coast IPA – pFriem Family Brewers , United States
- Bronze – Zona Cesarini – 28 Toccalmatto , Italy
Session IPA
- Gold – Session IPA – Birrificio Bandiga , Italy
- Silver – Session Ipa – De Lab Fermentazioni , Italy
- Bronze – Buckskin Session IPA – Buckskin, King Car Group , Taiwan
IPA Alcohol-Free/Low
- Silver – Playground non alcoholic IPA – vandeStreek bier , Netherlands
Source: Brussels Beer Challenge ( official website )
2024 competition results 3 medalists
European Beer Star 2024
Session India Pale Ale
- Gold – Mezzo fatto – Birrificio WAR , Italy
- Silver – Mini – Hammer Italian Craft Beer , Italy
- Bronze – Berggren Session Ipa – Berggren , Brazil
Source: European Beer Star ( official website )
2023 competition results 3 medalists
European Beer Star 2023
Session India Pale Ale
- Gold – GOD OF LIFE – 50&50 , Italy
- Silver – Berggren Session Ipa – Berggren , Brazil
- Bronze – Euforia – Beha Brewing company , Italy
Source: European Beer Star ( official website )
Competition results for IPA variants
These modelled variants have separate competition results in the GlobalBeerIndex dataset.