Originally brewed in the 18th century to survive seabound exportation from Imperial England to British troops in colonial India, imperial pale ales (or IPAs) exploited the preservative qualities of hops by using more of them. Although the first versions were considered highly hopped at the time, today's IPAs now include significantly bolder and even more bitter American versions of this English original. The IPA is a medium-bodied, maltier, and hoppier version of the pale ale with flavors and aromas typical of English malt and hop varieties (caramel, toffee, biscuity, toasty, light fruitiness, floral, earthy), as well as of American malt and hop varieties (citrus, caramel, piney, resinous, and some fruitiness). IPAs can range in color from pale amber to reddish copper and typically have good head retention, leaving behind great lacing in the glass. The alcohol content of IPAs is normally between 5 and 7.5%.
