{"title":"Norfolk IPA","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover IPAs brewed in Norfolk by independent breweries across the county – from crisp, refreshing and citrus-led beers to intensely aromatic IPAs bursting with tropical fruit and hop character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIPA has become one of the defining styles of modern independent brewing, but those three letters can cover a surprisingly wide range of beers. Some are dry and distinctly bitter, others soft and juicy; some are deliberately easy-drinking, while others deliver considerably more intensity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorfolk's independent brewers are producing their own interpretations – combining brewing skill, Norfolk's strong connection with malting barley and hops selected from Britain and around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does Norfolk IPA taste like?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hops tend to take centre stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDepending upon the varieties used, an IPA can deliver aromas and flavours of \u003cstrong\u003egrapefruit, lemon and lime, pine, peach and stone fruit through to mango, passion fruit and other tropical fruits\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome IPAs have a pronounced dry, bitter finish; others concentrate much more on aroma, fruit and a softer mouthfeel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat's why it's worth looking beyond the letters IPA. The particular beer and the way it has been brewed will tell you much more about what to expect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's the difference between IPA and Pale Ale?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere's considerable overlap, particularly amongst modern craft beers, but \u003cstrong\u003eIPA generally puts greater emphasis on hops\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompared with a typical Pale Ale, you can usually expect an IPA to offer more hop aroma and flavour, often more bitterness and sometimes a higher alcohol content.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePale Ale will often be the gentler, more balanced option, while IPA is where brewers can really showcase particular hop varieties and combinations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are plenty of exceptions, however, and modern brewing has blurred the distinction considerably.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does IPA actually mean?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIPA stands for \u003cstrong\u003eIndia Pale Ale\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe style has its roots in British brewing and beers exported to India during the 18th and 19th centuries. Over time, IPA evolved considerably and has subsequently been reinvented by generations of brewers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday's Norfolk IPA doesn't have to resemble those historical beers. IPA has become a broad family of styles united principally by the importance of hops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAre all IPAs very bitter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo – and this is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about IPA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome certainly are deliberately bitter, but modern brewers can use hops to create \u003cstrong\u003earoma and flavour without making bitterness the dominant characteristic\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDry hopping, for example, can introduce huge amounts of citrus or tropical-fruit aroma. Different yeasts, malts and brewing techniques can produce IPAs that are juicy, hazy, soft, crisp, dry or intensely bitter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo if you've tried one IPA and didn't like it, you haven't necessarily discovered that you don't like IPA – you may simply prefer a different interpretation of the style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat are Session, West Coast and New England IPAs?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou may encounter several different descriptions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003eSession IPA\u003c\/strong\u003e generally aims to provide plenty of hop character at a lower, more easy-drinking strength.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003eWest Coast IPA\u003c\/strong\u003e typically emphasises hops, citrus and pine alongside a distinctly dry, bitter finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003eNew England or NEIPA\u003c\/strong\u003e tends to be softer, hazier and more fruit-forward, often showing pronounced tropical and stone-fruit characteristics with less emphasis on bitterness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIndividual brewers naturally put their own interpretation on these styles, but the terms can provide a useful clue when choosing a beer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNorfolk ingredients, hops from around the world\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorfolk has a particularly strong connection with beer because it is one of Britain's important \u003cstrong\u003emalting-barley growing regions\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat gives Norfolk brewing a genuine connection with the surrounding agricultural landscape. Local grain and malt can provide the foundations upon which a brewer builds a beer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIPA also demonstrates how local brewing can look beyond the county. Brewers select hops for the flavours they want to create, which can mean varieties grown in Britain, Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's an interesting combination: \u003cstrong\u003ea beer brewed in Norfolk, potentially built upon Norfolk-grown grain, but influenced by hop varieties and brewing ideas from around the world.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIPA brewed in Norfolk\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur Norfolk IPA collection brings together beers from independent breweries across the county, with the selection changing as breweries introduce new recipes, seasonal beers and limited releases.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you prefer something light and approachable, juicy and fruit-forward or properly dry and bitter, Norfolk's independent breweries demonstrate just how varied three little letters – \u003cstrong\u003eIPA\u003c\/strong\u003e – can be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore our current selection of Norfolk IPAs below.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/5870\/9434\/collections\/golden-close-ipa-barsham-brewey-3827654.jpg?v=1790088098","url":"https:\/\/norfolk-deli.co.uk\/collections\/norfolk-ipa.oembed","provider":"Norfolk Deli","version":"1.0","type":"link"}