What You Need to Know About IPA or Lager Beers

“For the average beer drinker, the difference between an IPA and a lager comes down to how the beer looks, smells, and tastes”

What You Need To Know About IPA’s

To start IPA is short for India Pale Ale

Ales are brewed with a top fermenting yeast that operates at warmer temperatures (around 55-77°F, usually).

Ales take less time to ferment compared to lagers. As a result, this provides a stronger taste.

Some IPA History

 IPA was created during the British invasion of India. To make sure their ales wouldn’t go bad during the long ship ride for exportation to British citizens living in India, brewing companies began to put in extra alcohol and ingredients such as hops. 

Session: Less alcohol! Which may or may not be a good thing, depending on your lifestyle. Modern session IPAs usually fall below 5% ABV (although historically, the style is 4% and below). With lower alcohol comes a thinner body, so these are the types of beers you can drink on repeat.

Double/Imperial: Double and imperial IPAs are essentially the same thing: IPAs with a higher hop concentration. To balance all that hop flavor, the brewer uses more malt, which results in a higher ABV (usually over 7%). It’s an IPA on steroids, and in the stoic words of Dave Chappelle (as Samuel L. Jackson), “This shit’ll getcha drunk!”

What You Need To Know About Lagers

Lagers are by far the most popular beer. 

Lager beer uses a process of cool fermentation, followed by maturation in cold storage. The German word “Lager” means storeroom or warehouse. The yeast generally used with lager brewing is Saccharomyces pastorianus. It is a close relative of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast used for warm fermented ales.

All of those beers you think of as “national” brands — Heineken, Tsing Tao, Sapporo, Kingfisher, Budweiser to name just a few — those are all lagers. 

Lagers are brewed using bottom-fermenting strains of yeast held at colder temperatures (around 40-52°F)

Heineken is an example of a pale Lager which is one of the most popular lager types.

I hope this answer your questions about IPA’S and Lagers. We will be keeping this post updated so check back every now and again.