The milkshake IPA style is a relatively recent addition to the craft beer scene, and it has quickly gained popularity among beer enthusiasts. While it is difficult to pinpoint exactly who created the milkshake IPA, there are a few key breweries that played a significant role in popularizing this style.
One of the earliest pioneers of the milkshake IPA is Omnipollo, a brewery based in Stockholm, Sweden. They are known for their experimental and boundary-pushing beers, and it was no different with the milkshake IPA. Omnipollo's co-founder, Henok Fentie, has been credited with creating the first milkshake IPA back in 2013. Their beer, “Omnipollo Noa Pecan Mud Cake Stout,” was a collaboration with Buxton Brewery and featured lactose, vanilla, and cocoa nibs to give it a creamy and dessert-like quality.
Tired Hands Brewing Company, located in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, also played a significant role in popularizing the milkshake IPA style. They are known for their hazy and juicy IPAs, and they embraced the addition of lactose, fruit, and vanilla to create a beer that resembled a milkshake. Tired Hands released their first milkshake IPA, “Alien Church,” in 2015, and it quickly became a sought-after beer among beer enthusiasts.
Following the success of Omnipollo and Tired Hands, breweries across America started releasing their own versions of the milkshake IPA. Some notable breweries that have embraced and popularized this style include:
1. Other Half Brewing Company (Brooklyn, New York): Other Half is known for their hop-forward beers, and they have embraced the milkshake IPA style with open arms. They have released numerous variations of milkshake IPAs, often featuring different fruits, vanilla, and lactose to create a creamy and fruity beer.
2. The Veil Brewing Co. (Richmond, Virginia): The Veil is known for their innovative and experimental beers, and they have incorporated the milkshake IPA style into their lineup. They often use a variety of fruits, lactose, and spices to create unique and flavorful milkshake IPAs.
3. Great Notion Brewing (Portland, Oregon): Great Notion has gained a reputation for their fruit-forward and heavily hopped beers, and they have embraced the milkshake IPA trend. They are known for their vibrant and flavorful milkshake IPAs that often feature fruit purees, lactose, and vanilla.
Personal experience: As a brewer and beer enthusiast, I have had the pleasure of trying various milkshake IPAs from different breweries. One of the most memorable experiences was trying Tired Hands' “Alien Church.” The beer had a hazy appearance, with a creamy and smooth mouthfeel. The addition of lactose and vanilla gave it a distinct milkshake-like quality, while the hop character still shined through with tropical and citrus flavors. It was a truly unique and enjoyable beer.
While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact creator of the milkshake IPA style, Omnipollo and Tired Hands played significant roles in popularizing this unique and flavorful beer. Since then, breweries across America have embraced and experimented with the style, leading to a wide variety of delicious and creative milkshake IPAs available for beer enthusiasts to enjoy.