21. Ale

Cold IPA

Cold IPA beer style — watercolor illustration
OG 1.055-1.070
FG 1.004-1.010
IBU 35-60
SRM
3.5 Straw
ABV 6.5%

Description

A clear, crisp, hoppy beer fermented with lager yeast at warmer temperatures or ale yeast at cooler temperatures. Clean, dry, and hop-forward.

Aroma

Clean, prominent hop aroma with citrus, tropical, or stone fruit notes. Very clean fermentation with no esters or malt character. Crisp and refreshing. More aromatic than a lager, cleaner than a typical ale.

Appearance

Pale straw to gold, 2-6 SRM. Clear to brilliant. White head with good retention. Clean, bright appearance like a premium lager.

Flavor

Clean, crisp hop flavor with citrus, tropical, or stone fruit notes. Very clean fermentation adds no ester character. Moderate to high bitterness. Very dry finish. Precision and cleanliness define the style.

Mouthfeel

Light to medium body with high carbonation. Very crisp and clean. Lager-like smoothness with ale aromatics. Refreshing and precise.

History

Created by Wayfinder Beer in Portland, Oregon around 2018-2019 as a deliberate hybrid of lager cleanliness and IPA hop expression. Fermented at cooler temperatures with either lager or ale yeast, it challenges traditional style boundaries. Gaining rapid popularity as the 'best of both worlds' answer to drinkers wanting hop character with lager crispness.

Commercial Examples

Wayfinder Cold IPA Boneyard RPM IPA Crossroads Brewing Cold Process Chuckanut Cold IPA

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cold IPA beer?
Cold IPA — a crisp, clean, hop-forward beer bridging IPA intensity with lager drinkability.
What is the ABV of Cold IPA?
Cold IPA has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 5.5-7.5%.
How bitter is Cold IPA beer?
Cold IPA measures 35-60 IBU (International Bitterness Units).
What are some examples of Cold IPA beers?
Wayfinder Cold IPA, Boneyard RPM IPA, Crossroads Brewing Cold Process, Chuckanut Cold IPA

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