What is the New England IPA?
The New England IPA, or NEIPA, has taken the craft beer world by storm as one of the most popular and sought-after styles of IPAs. Hailing from Vermont in 2011, this style of IPA is characterized by its unfiltered appearance, low bitterness, and intense dry-hopped aroma. Not only do NEIPAs have a unique flavor profile but they also offer an interesting visual experience with their hazy appearance that many beer enthusiasts enjoy.
What sets NEIPA apart from other IPAs?
The two main differences between a NEIPA and other IPAs are their fermentation process and carbonation levels. The fermentation process for a NEIPA is typically longer than other IPAs which can cause the beer to be hazier in appearance. Additionally, the carbonation levels tend to be lower resulting in a smoother drinking experience with lower amounts of foam created during pouring.
What are the key ingredients in a NEIPA?
NEIPAs are brewed using malted barley and wheat malt along with hops such as Citra and Mosaic which provide strong aromas of citrusy fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, and tangerine. Yeast is also added to aid in fermentation which helps to create that signature hazy look asociated with this style of beer. Many breweries also dry hop their NEIPAs which adds additional hop flavor without adding too much bitterness.
What should I expect when drinking an NEIPA?
When drinking an NEIPA you should expect to taste intense tropical fruit flavors such as mango, pineapple, guava, and lychee. The hop character should be present but not overpowering since the bitterness level tends to be very low in comparison to other styles of IPAs. Additionally, you should expect your beer to look cloudy or opaque due to it being unfiltered and having midrange carbonation levels compared to other styles of IPAs.
Overall the New England IPA is an incredibly popular style that continues to grow in popularity all over the world due its unique flavor profile, interesting visual appeal, and relatively low bitterness level that appeals to wide range of drinkers looking for something new and exciting!
The Difference Between IPA and NEIPA
IPA (India Pale Ale) is a classic beer style, known for its strong hop flavors and intense bitterness. It has a deep golden-orange color and usually has an ABV of 6-7%. The bitterness of IPA comes from the hop varieties used during brewing, as well as the amount of time they are boiled.
NEIPA (New England India Pale Ale) is a spinoff of the traditional IPA style. It is characterized by being hazy or cloudy and has low bitterness compared to other IPAs. NEIPAs can be distinguished by teir fruity, juicy and tropical flavors, due to the use of newer hop varieties, such as Mosaic, Citra or Amarillo. They often have a higher ABV than regular IPAs (6-8%) and their carbonation levels tend to be moderate.
The Origin of the Name ‘Neipa'
The New England IPA, or NEIPA, is so named because it was first brewed in New England–specifically in Vermont–in 2011. The style has bcome widely distributed and purchased since the 2015 Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Style guidelines were released. This particular IPA style features a hazy, opaque appearance and a creamy mouthfeel due to the use of lactose, wheat and oats. It also has a full-bodied flavor profile with notes of tropical fruits like mango and pineapple along with citrusy hop aromas coming from the dry-hopping process. NEIPA's are generally lower in bitterness than traditional IPAs due to their higher level of hopping late in the brewing process compared to traditional IPAs, which results in more hop aroma and less bitterness. All these factors combined have contributed to its success and why it is called a New England IPA.
What is a New England Hazy Beer?
A New England hazy beer is a style of India Pale Ale (IPA) that has become increasingly popular in recent years. This type of beer is characterized by its hazy, opaque appearance, a result of the large amounts of proteins and yeast suspended in the beer from the brewing process. The beer also has an intense aroma of tropical fruits such as pineapple and passionfruit, with a soft mouthfeel and low bitterness. The ABV (alcohol by volume) of these beers usualy ranges from 6.3% to 7.5%. This style of IPA has been criticized for its lack of hop bitterness, instead relying on juicy fruit-forward flavors to carry the taste profile. It has been jokingly referred to as “orange juice” due to its color and flavor profile. All in all, New England hazy beers are an exciting and delicious take on the traditional American IPA.
Are New England IPAs Sweet?
Yes, New England India Pale Ales (NEIPAs) are typically sweet. This is because brewers add hops late in the brewing process and during fermentation to bring out fruity aromas without any perceivable bitterness. This results in beers that have a pleasant sweetness and go down easy. The hop varieties used in NEIPAs also contribute to a sweeter taste, such as varieties like Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe which lend notes of passion fruit, peach and mango.
The Taste of a New England IPA
New England IPAs (NEIPAs) are known for their juicy, hazy appearance, and fruity aromas and flavours. They have a smooth, full-bodied mouthfeel, with low bitterness and strong hop presence. The beer is usually unfiltered and unpasteurized, allowing the yeast to contribute to the flavour profile. The hop character is often described as “juicy” or “tropical”, as it can include notes of mango, pineapple, or citrus fruits. NEIPAs tend to be sweeter than traditional IPAs due to the higher amounts of malt used in the brewing process.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the New England IPA (NEIPA) or Hazy IPA is a unique beer style that has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its unique flavor profile and low bitterness. The NEIPA is generally unfiltered, dry-hopped, and fermented to have midrange carbonation. It is characterized by intense tropical fruit notes and a cloudy appearance that can be mistaken for orange juice. The ABV of NEIPA is usually between 6.3% – 7.5%. With its popularity continuing to rise, the NEIPA offers an enjoyable drinking experience for craft beer lovers looking for something new and exciting.
