There’s a story behind every pint. But few beers have a legend like the India Pale Ale — the IPA. It’s the craft beer world’s crown jewel. The hoppy heavyweight. The one drink that can start a debate faster than a bad call in a Little League game. But before it became the mascot of modern microbreweries and ironic flannel, the IPA was born out of something very old-school: survival and long-distance grit.
The Original Long-Haul Beer
In the late 1700s, Britain had a problem. Its empire stretched all the way to India, and British soldiers and colonists wanted beer.
The problem? Regular beer spoiled on the long, hot voyage from England to the subcontinent. By the time the barrels hit Bombay, the ale had gone bad. So brewers got clever. They took a strong pale ale and amped up the alcohol and hops — both natural preservatives to help it survive the six-month sea trip. That beer arrived not just drinkable, but better than ever. Bright, bitter, and refreshing in the Indian heat. And so, the “India Pale Ale” was born.
From Empire to Every Barstool
By the mid-1800s, the IPA was the beer of choice across the British Empire. But by the early 1900s, it had mostly vanished. Tastes changed. Lagers took over. Fast forward to the 1970s, and American homebrewers rediscovered the old recipe. They didn’t just bring it back — they turned it up to eleven. American hops like Cascade and Citra added citrus, pine, and floral punch. The bitterness got bolder. The color got lighter. And the IPA became a statement: “I drink something with flavor.”
The Dad Day Take
For all its hipster baggage, the IPA is one of the manliest beers in history. It’s strong, rugged, and built for endurance. The kind of drink made for long journeys, hot days, and tired hands. Order one, and you’re raising a glass to sailors, explorers, and brewers who refused to settle for spoiled beer.
So next time someone rolls their eyes at your IPA, just smile and say,
“It was literally made to survive a trip halfway around the world.”
Then take a sip.
