So it seems like the hazy craze is no longer in fab and the craft beer scene is making way for yet another thing to rave about. We're seeing an increasing amount of this "new" variant of IPA called the Cold IPA. WTF is this Cold IPA all about? Do we not have enough of versions of this delicious ale or are we trying to commemorate each Covid19 strain with a new IPA?Â
Since that now we got the XBB strain, we must also have the Cold IPA and in this blog post that we have yet to update in ages, let us take a dive a get to the bottom of this.
According to a lazy google search, the origin of this beer started way before Covid19, somewhere between 2017 and 2018, by Wayfinder Brewmaster Kevin Davey. At the time, Davey was simply looking to put his own spin on the IPA and played around with a blend of techniques. What this genius did was to use their in-house lager strain of yeast, allowing the hops to shine through before dry-hopped the beer towards the end of fermentation.
To put it simply, because we're all beer noobs, a Cold IPA is an IPA fermented at lower temperatures than what is normally used to ferment an ale. Fermenting an IPA at colder temperatures means brewers often use a lager yeast or a combination of a lager and an ale yeast. You may also refer back to our write up on Yeast previously if you're struggling to understand the difference.
More importantly, what does this mean to us as non beer geeks? Is this a lager or an IPA? Well, it is actually a super crushable, super crispy, but stronger than lagers IPA, with alcohol content close to a regular IPA or West Coast IPA. In other words, a Cold IPA should be a hop-forward ale with characteristics common in an IPA, but a beer that’s ultimately crisper, cleaner, and more crushable like a lager.
But wait, isn't that like an India Pale Lager (IPL)? Hmmm, not quite. IPLs can be a bit clunkier because they simply take an IPA recipe and substitute an ale yeast with a lager yeast. Anyway, that's another discussion for another time. For now, we've just stocked up on an amazing Cold IPA by Offshoot, Cruising!
This new crisp & refreshing Cold IPA is the perfect companion for all your warm-weather adventures. Simcoe, Centennial, and Cashmere hops provide fruity, tropical notes and aromas of citrus, grapefruit, and pine, while Weyermann Pilsner malt, along with corn and toasted flaked rice, provide a light, refreshing mouthfeel.