India Pale Lager
India pale lager, or IPL, takes the heavy American hopping of an IPA and ferments it with lager yeast. The result has the grapefruit, pine and tropical fruit aroma of an IPA with the clean, dry, crisp body of a lager. It is for people who love hop flavor but find IPAs heavy.
Food pairings
- Tacos
- Grilled fish
- Spicy Thai food
Glassware and serving temperature
Pilsner glass39 to 45°F (4–7°C)
What it tastes like
Bright citrus and tropical hop aroma, a lean cracker-like malt body and a crisp, firmly bitter finish. Lager yeast adds no fruitiness of its own, so the hops stand out sharply. It is usually 5.5% to 7% ABV.
Where it comes from
Craft brewers began experimenting with heavily hopped lagers in the 2000s. Jack's Abby in Massachusetts, a lager-only brewery, made the style known with Hoponius Union in 2011, and many breweries now brew one as a summer release.
How to serve it
Cold, 4–7°C, in a pilsner glass, and as fresh as possible. The hop aroma fades within a few months.
What to eat with it
Tacos, grilled fish, fried chicken, spicy Thai and Indian food, and sharp cheddar.
