Pale Ale Versus IPA

[lembeck2001]

What is the defining difference between and American IPA and an American Pale Ale?

There is a lot overlap between the 2 in description and style. Without looking at what the label calls it, how would you reconize an IPA over an APA?

 

[the_bird]

Bitterness, mostly. APA is 30-45 IBU (as per BJCP style guidelines), IPA is 40-70. So, a little bit of overlap.

There will be similar flavors, and both should finish reasonably dry. IPA will usually have a much more aggressive hop profile overall (flavor and aroma); APA will usually have a fairly strong hop character, just not nearly as much as a good example of an American IPA.

Basically, American IPA = 'roided up APA.

 

[niquejim]

Most APA's now would have been considered IPA's 15 years ago, but the amount of hop bitterness and a little more malt in an IPA today