BJCP 2021 / 21A
American IPA
A drinkable hop showcase with enough malt to balance it. Freshness decides most of the score.
- Drink fresh
- high strength
- pale color
- top fermented
- north america
Serve: 44 to 50F, Tulip or pint
OG1.120
1.056 to 1.070FG1.030
1.008 to 1.014IBU120
40 to 70SRM40
6 to 14ABV14%
5.5 to 7.5%Taste it in order
Aroma
12 pts- Hop first: grapefruit, orange peel, pine and resin
- Tropical or stone fruit in newer hop blends
- Light bready or caramel malt, clean yeast
- Vague
- Hoppy
- Better
- Citrusy hop aroma
- Best
- Moderate-high grapefruit and pine hop aroma with a light caramel note, clean yeast
Appearance
3 pts- Gold to deep amber
- Clear to a slight dry-hop haze
- White to off-white head that persists
- Vague
- Gold
- Better
- Gold and clear
- Best
- Gold to amber, bright with a faint dry-hop haze, dense white head that lasts
Flavor
20 pts- Hop flavor leads and matches the aroma
- Firm bitterness that fades without harshness
- Light bread or caramel malt, dry finish
- Vague
- Bitter
- Better
- High bitterness, dry finish
- Best
- High, clean bitterness that fades quickly, resin and citrus hop flavor, light caramel, dry finish
Mouthfeel
5 pts- Medium-light to medium body
- Medium-low to medium carbonation
- Smooth, no astringent grip
- Vague
- Smooth
- Better
- Medium body, smooth
- Best
- Medium-light to medium body, smooth, medium carbonation, no hop astringency
Overall Impression
10 ptsLifts it
- Fresh hop character
- Dry clean finish
Drops it
- Sweet sticky finish
- Lingering rough bitterness
- Stale hop
Writing tip
Judge freshness first. Example: 'Hop aroma fades under a cardboard note. Package fresher and keep cold to protect the hop character.'
Pour these
- Two HeartedBell's BreweryGrapefruit and pine over clean malt
- Union JackFirestone WalkerBright citrus hop and a dry finish
- TorpedoSierra NevadaPine and resin with firm bitterness
Often confused with
- 21C Hazy IPAHazy IPA is soft, juicy and has lower bitterness
- 18B American Pale AleAmerican Pale Ale is lighter in strength and bitterness
- 21B Specialty IPASpecialty IPA adds a named twist
Fine here
- Estery: A faint fruit note is fine
Ruinous here
- Oxidized: Cardboard or honey kills the hop
- Diacetyl: Butter
- Grassy: Old or vegetal hop
- Astringent: Harsh bitterness
Style names, numbers and vital statistics follow the BJCP 2021 beer guidelines. Descriptions and example choices are our own. Check a beer is still made before you hunt for it.