Brut IPAs burst onto the craft beer scene early in 2018, inspiring breweries across the country to pour their own versions of the emerging style. Light in color and very drinkable, the concept was born at the hands of Kim Sturdavant, brewmaster at San Francisco’s award-winning Social Kitchen & Brewery.
Borrowing a term from the wine world, brut translates to extra dry — a fitting description. Brut IPAs are made with amyloglucosidase, an enzyme commonly used in brewing to break down sugars derived from malts in big imperial stouts. When added to a traditional IPA recipe, the enzyme aids yeast in consuming sugar during the fermentation process. This creates a very dry finish, usually bulking up the alcohol content along the way.
The brut IPA is a refreshing return to the light-bodied roots of the traditional India Pale Ale. With it, brewers are highlighting tropical, citrusy and fruity hop aromas, resulting in a refreshing, fragrant, Champagne-like beer that is perfect for ringing in the new year. Swap these five brut IPAs into your toasts to 2020.
New Belgium Brewing Co. Brut IPA
The nearly 30-year-old Colorado-based brewery recently released an effervescent brut IPA as the first release in a new “Up Next” rotator series. “The IPA drinker is constantly on the lookout for fresh new flavors and that’s really inspiring for a brewer,” said Ross Koenigs, New Belgium’s research and development brewer. The brewery’s version of a brut IPA weighs in at 6.7 percent ABV and features a combination of fruit and citrus-forward hops like Nelson Sauvin, Huell Melon, Citra, Azzaca and Amarillo.
