Happy IPA Day y’all! Yes, you read that right; IPAs have their very own day now. Thank you, internet! We're not complaining; we’ll take any excuse to sip on our favorite beverage.
In the craft beer world, IPAs, also called India Pale Ales, are as divisive as pineapple on pizza. Some folks love them, and others can’t stand the sight of them. The reasons for this divisiveness vary, but the most common complaint (if you want to call it that) is their bitterness.
Here at East Brother Beer Company, we take pride in brewing beers that are approachable and darn easy to drink, including IPAs. If you're no an IPA fan, we might just be the brewery that converts you.
More than just Lagers, India Pale Ales shine at East Brother Beer.
You’re probably thinking, “but aren't you the Lager guys?”. Wait - are people actually calling us that? If they are, we're kind of into it. Anyways, back to our point.
While we might focus on Lagers, we're also huge fans of the India Pale Ale style, in fact, we have three wildly different IPA categories, and we're confident there's one in there that will please your palate.
Before we go any further, there's one thing you should pay attention to when choosing an IPA, and that's the IBU, which stands for the International Bittering Units. It measures the acid in hops, so the higher the number, the more bitter the beer. Now that we've got that out of the way let's explore our hoppy beers.
Red IPA
ABV: 6.5% IBU: 60
As with all things in life, your first time should always be gentle and maybe a little sweet? We're starting things off with our Red IPA, a classic American IPA. This award-winning IPA is not quite pale or hoppy enough to be considered a true American IPA, but it's too hoppy to be considered an Amber Ale. Boy, talk about an identity crisis!
If you're thinking about dipping your toes into the world of IPAs, this is definitely the beer you want to start with. You'll get some nice hoppiness, but the malt will balance things off nicely.
Gold IPA
ABV:7.3% IBU: 60
Our Gold IPA introduces you to a sub-category of American India Pale Ales: The West Coast IPA. We couldn't be a California brewery without including at least one West Coast IPA in our lineup. Although it has the same IBU as the previous beer, you'll notice the flavor is much more hop-forward with some bright carbonation. It's as refreshing as a beach day in San Diego.
Double IPA
ABV: 8.0% IBU: 90
The last two styles were just a warm-up for the final India Pale Ale on our list, the Double IPA. As part of our Freighter Series, this ale delivers in its name. It's hoppier and danker than our other two, making it the perfect beer for the IPA enthusiast. This beer is released every summer and is only available for a short time, so make sure to plan accordingly if you want to get your hands on it.
Celebrate at our Richmond, CA Taproom
If you find yourself in the San Francisco Bay Area or up for a weekend trip, head over to our taproom and enjoy these beers straight from the tap. Our taproom is open Wednesday - Sunday for both indoor and outdoor dining as well as for take-out.
You can find some of these styles at your favorite grocery store, retailer, or restaurant. Click over to our Beer Locator to find our beer near you.
