Where Did India Pale Ale Get its Name?

A Relic of the British Raj

Craft beer drinkers are very familiar with the term IPA – or India Pale Ale.  But how did the beer get its moniker?

William Bostwick writing in The Wall Street Journal recently explained that in centuries past, beer was brewed with hops that contained antimicrobial compounds that kept unpasteurized beer fresh – well, fresher (we’re talking about the 15^th century until the Industrial Revolution). The resulting beer was dark and rich masking the hops’ bitterness.  With the advent of coal-fired kilns, the grains used for brewing became lighter and the hops more pronounced.  So the new beer was pale and bitter.  The British army in India liked this style of brew.  Apparently made locally, its flavors reminded them of home, hence India Pale Ale.