As you have probably seen if you follow our Facebook page (and if you don’t, you totally should go follow us now!), we’re hosting an event with NH Urban Sport on April 22nd! They’re throwing a 2000s Adult Prom Night. While a lot of great things came out of the 2000s, we think the best has got to be the popularity of craft brewing. While Stark Brewing Co. has been around since the 90s (before it was cool), the 2000s is when everybody else caught up. And we have one of our favorite beer styles to thank for it: the IPA. So before you party like it’s just after 1999, let your favorite NH brewery tell you about the IPA, the beer that kicked off the craft brewing craze.
Older Than the Hipsters
While we have the cool kids of the 90s and 2000s to thank for making the IPA and craft brewing popular, this style of beer goes back hundreds of years. It has its origins in the pale ales of the early 18th century. Many of these pale ales were exported to India by the East India Company. This style of beer continued to gain in popularity and brewers across England were brewing India pale ales by the 1860s. Around this time, American, Canadian, and Australian brewers were also trying their hand at making IPA-style beers.
The IPA Renaissance
While IPAs never went away, they dropped in popularity until the craft beer revolution hit the United States in the 90s and 2000s. Brewers were looking for beers to experiment with that had fallen out of style. Many were inspired by Ballantine IPA, which was made in the US between the 1890s and 1990s. American hops have an intense flavor and aroma and are well-suited to IPAs.
New England made its mark on the IPA when John Kimmich of the Alchemist Brewery in Vermont invented the hazy IPA in 2004. Also called a New England IPA, juicy citrus and floral flavors, hoppy aroma, and low bitterness mark this style of beer. It is also hazy in appearance and has a smoother mouthfeel than other IPAs and pale ales. Stark Brewing’s current take on the New England IPA is our White Wolf IPA. If you’re a fan of hazy IPAs, we suggest you give it a try.
Do Good, Come to Your Favorite NH Brewery
Come have a good time and support a good cause at your favorite NH brewery on April 22nd! Stark Brewing Co. is hosting a 2000s Adult Prom Night by NH Urban Sport to benefit Game Plan Sports. To learn more about the event and get tickets, check out the event details.
