New England IPA, also known as NE IPA, is a beer style that has recently gained popularity. It is a type of India Pale Ale (IPA) with unique characteristics that set it apart from other IPAs and this style of beer is one of my personal favorites. This article will discuss the factors that make NE IPA so unique.
History and Origin
NE IPA originated in the northeastern region of the United States, specifically in Vermont and Massachusetts. The style emerged in the early 2010s as a response to the growing popularity of West Coast IPAs, which were known for their intense bitterness and high-hop content.
The first NE IPA was brewed by The Alchemist, a brewery in Waterbury, Vermont, in 2004. The beer was called Heady Topper, and it quickly gained a cult following among beer enthusiasts. Other breweries in the region, such as Tree House Brewing Company and Trillium Brewing Company, soon followed suit and began brewing their versions of NE IPA.
Appearance
One of the most distinctive features of NE IPA is its appearance. Unlike traditional IPAs, which are clear and bright, NE IPAs are hazy and opaque. This cloudiness comes from using large amounts of hops during the brewing process. The hops create a lot of particulate matter in the beer, which remains suspended in the liquid, giving it a cloudy appearance.
Craft Aroma and Flavor
NE IPAs are known for their intense hop aroma and flavor but are not as bitter as traditional IPAs. Instead, the hops used in NE IPAs are chosen for their fruity and floral qualities rather than their bitterness. This gives the beer a juicy, tropical flavor reminiscent of citrus fruits, stone fruits, and berries.
In addition to hops, NE IPAs often contain adjuncts such as oats, wheat, or lactose. These ingredients contribute to the beer’s creamy mouthfeel and add sweetness to balance out the hop bitterness.
New England IPA – Malt Character
Another factor that sets NE IPAs apart from other IPAs is their malt character. Traditional IPAs have a dry, biscuity malt profile that provides a clean background for the hops to shine. NE IPAs, on the other hand, have a softer, sweeter malt profile that complements the fruity hop flavors. This is achieved using malted barley kilned at a lower temperature, resulting in a more complex malt flavor.
Yeast
The yeast used in NE IPAs also plays a significant role in the beer’s unique character. Many NE IPAs are brewed with yeast strains that produce fruity esters and add to the beer’s overall fruitiness. Unfortunately, these yeast strains also flocculate poorly, contributing to the beer’s cloudy appearance.
In conclusion, New England IPAs are Delicious
In conclusion, a New England IPA is unique because of its hazy appearance, intense hop aroma and flavor, creamy mouthfeel, sweeter malt profile, and fruity yeast character. This combination of factors distinguishes beer from other IPAs and has gained a loyal following among beer enthusiasts. NE IPA is a perfect example of how the craft beer industry continues to evolve and innovate, and it will be interesting to see how this style develops in the future.
