This beer is made from pale malted barley with the addition of crystal malt in the mash to leave a residual sweetness and round out the flavour. The best has a higher original gravity than the ordinary and subsequently is slightly stronger. Bittering hops are often Fuggles and Goldings. The gravity gives the beer an alcohol content about the same or slightly higher than best bitter. Pale ales are normally more highly hopped than bitters and lack their sweeter finish.
Pale ales vary in colour from copper to deep amber.
IPA was originally brewed for British Troops serving in the Raj. To better survive the voyage, the beer was brewed to a higher gravity and was well hopped. In Canada, no national bottled brand comes close to deserving the appellation, but good IPAs are available on draught in the beer pubs and in bottles from microbreweries. These are amoung the most bitter ales you will taste at our show. Oddly, Newcastle Brown, is not typical of the classic style.