Recently, a type of beer that has become popular on the streets is called "IPA." Unlike the golden-colored, light-tasting beer that is well known in Japan, this type is a little darker and has a unique aroma. It also has a "bitter taste that hits you hard when you drink it."
It's true that it's a "slightly peculiar beer," but perhaps the phrase "strong personality" is more appropriate. Even if you've never tried it, you might get hooked once you try it. In this article, we'll introduce the reasons for the popularity of IPA, its characteristics and types, as well as recommended snacks that go well with IPA.

■What is the currently popular beer “IPA”?

This beer, called "IPA" (India Pale Ale), is thought to have appeared around the 18th century. "India" refers to India. At the time, India was under British occupation, and many British people were staying there.

Beer was sent to these British people from the mainland, but at the time there was no efficient refrigeration method and the conditions for transportation were not ideal. As a result, beer was created using large amounts of hops, an ingredient in beer and a preservative. Hops is a plant that originally gives beer its aroma and bitterness. By increasing the amount of hops, the beer's aroma became stronger and it became more bitter. The alcohol content was also increased to prevent deterioration. This is said to be the historical process that led to the unique IPA characteristic of "a strong bitterness when you drink it."

The aroma of IPA is described as "floral" or "citrus". There are many different types of hops, so even if it's the same IPA, the aroma and bitterness will differ depending on the type of hops. It's strange that it can be described as "floral" or "citrus", as if it were a different plant, but this is also the work of yeast.
Why not try pouring it into a glass instead of drinking it straight from the can or bottle and enjoy the color and aroma? There are also special glasses for drinking IPA.

■ List of types of "IPA"

There are many different types of IPA. Here are some of the most popular ones.

■ Recommended snacks to go with IPA beer

The selling point of IPA is the hop aroma and bitterness, and the snacks that go well with it are not dishes that do not overwhelm this aroma and bitterness, but dishes that have an equally strong personality. As shown below, dishes that are surprisingly strong in aroma, strong in flavor (spicy), and slightly greasy dishes go perfectly with IPA.

Spicy foods such as very spicy curry
・Foods that are oily and have a strong aroma, such as gyoza
・Soy sauce-based meat dishes such as braised pork
・Natto dishes (such as natto omelet rice and natto wrapped in spring roll skins and deep-fried)
・Fish dishes with strong aromas, such as seared bonito
・A dish of slightly charred beef with a rich sauce

As you can see, IPA has a flavor that stands up to strong dishes. For that reason, if you are drinking IPA for the first time, it is a good idea to start with a standard IPA or session IPA. You may be a little surprised at first by the never-before-seen aroma and bitterness, but you may find that you actually like it. That is the appeal of IPA and the secret to its popularity.

■ Beer containers