India Pale Ales get their name and unique style from British brewers who were making beer for export to India. The hops were used to preserve the beer for the long sea voyage. Not surprisingly, India Pale Ales are usually very hoppy!
For centuries, beer had been a preferred beverage at sea for sailors who had little access to fresh water. Long sea voyages without refrigeration lead to spoiled beer, however, and the British admiralty set out to recitify the situation by challenging brewers to solve the dilemma. In response, London brewer George Hodgson formulated a highly hopped and bitter ale in the early 18th century that eventually came to be known as the India Pale Ale. The anti-septic and preservative value of hops kept the beer relatively fresh even after many months at sea.
Today, English India Pale Ales are not nearly as hop aggressive as their American counterparts, but as late as the early 20th century English India Pale Ales were much more aggressive in hops than they are today. Over time, commercial interests dictated that the hop and bitterness levels of English IPA's subside, while American IPA's have taken their place at the forefront of assertively hoppy beers.
