Dictionary

India pale ale en · NOUN

Etymology

From India + pale ale, from being the type of beer, an ale with little colouration, shipped from Britain to India, with a higher hops content to prevent spoilage and further fermentation during transit.

Meanings

1. (countable, qualifier:alcoholic beverages, uncountable) A beer, with a high level of alcohol and hops, traditionally made for export from Britain to India.
   • This action proceeds most satisfactorily at a temperature of 72° F., and care is taken in the brewing of the finer varieties of beer, such as India pale ale and bitter beer, […] 1868, Chambers's Encyclopædia: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge, page 810:
   • Hence, the India pale ale style was born. 2005, Sam Calagione, Brewing Up a Business: Adventures in Entrepreneurship from the Founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, page 149:
   • Not bad for an amber or pale ale, but India pale ale, I don't think so. So why does Bass put IPA on the label? 1998, Pete Slosberg, Beer for Pete's Sake: The Wicked Adventures of a Brewing Maverick, page 128:

Forms

Coordinates

English pale ale · American pale ale

Deriveds

New England India pale ale · imperial India pale ale · double India pale ale · West Coast India pale ale

Hypernyms

ale · beverage · pale ale