Utah IPA Day 2015

Today we celebrate one of the most iconic beer styles to come out of the craft beer movement – the IPA. The India Pale Ale was born out of necessity in the late 18th Century and actually shares no characteristics with Indian culture or it’s agriculture. Basically it was the answer to the problem of providing beer for citizens and soldiers of the British Empire in the east. It was too hot to brew in India, so what was needed was a beer that could survive the grueling six-month journey from Britain without spoiling. In the 1780s, the Hodgson Brewery in London answered the call by sending out a strong, heavily hopped beer called October ale that would normally be aged like wine before drinking. The beer not only survived the journey, but was found to have improved immeasurably. This was the prototype IPA; the beer gradually became paler and more refreshing to suit the hot and humid Indian climate. Now it’s one of the most popular beer styles in the world.

Today you’re tasked with the sacre …