The English language is filled with words and phrases that have little to do with their original meanings. In days of yore, wooden stakes were called pales, as were, by extension, the stake-based fences that marked the boundary of a kingdom or empire. Thus, one who was “beyond the pale” would have been lawless, uncivilized, and generally frowned upon. But today, when we say “beyond the pale,” few of us picture wooden fences. It’s just a way to say that something is unacceptable or unconventional.
And so it is with India Pale Ale (IPA). The oft-told story is that India Pale Ale was brewed strong and hoppy to survive the long sea voyage from England to India. And while that tale is certainly romantic, the connection between historic IPAs and today’s American IPAs is about as strong as that of a certain taco chain and the street food of Mexico.
And yet, when you order a beer whose name contains those three letters, you know exactly what to expect when you take that first sip—hops, lots and lots of hops.