PTo impress you, your friend at the counter likes to order a pint of IPA by saying it with his best accent: “aï-pi-eï”. On the label of this highly fashionable beer, its name is often displayed in full: “India Pale Ale”, an Indian pale ale, which stands out for its slightly bitter taste.

Your friend, after toasting you, offers to tell you the origin of this strange IPA name. He began his pseudo-historical tale with enthusiasm, foaming at the mouth.

Its origins come from colonialism?

According to widespread opinion, the origin of the name dates back to the 18th century.^e century, at that time England colonized India. A (very British) problem then arose: how to get beer in this new territory? It was impossible to brew beer on site due to the climate, and British authorities feared the colonists would turn to local alcoholic beverages, which were considered dangerous to health.

So, to supply the colonists with foam, they had to transport barrels from England and spend five months on board without turning a beer during the crossing. The brewers therefore had the idea to add sugar, to increase the alcohol content, and hops, which have antibacterial properties. This is how your friend convinced us that the IPA recipe was born.

A marketing stunt

That’s right, an IPA’s bitter taste comes from its high hop content. This plant is valued for its antiseptic properties. However, at the risk of disappointing your friends, it seems that this wonderful story was actually a great marketing stunt carried out by English brewer George Hodgson, in the early 19th century.^e century, who invented the IPA recipe.

The main reason why APIs were imported into India is believed to be not because of their ability to survive the long journey between England and India, but rather because of the commercial arrangements. George Hodgson, then the country’s largest brewer, had a special relationship with the company that handled travel between the two countries, so he took advantage of this to fill the ships with his IPA beer. Mainly because the British East India Company preferred to transport this drink otherwise the journey to India would be empty.

Therefore, the IPA was not born to survive the long journey between England and India, but perhaps simply so that thousands of people, like your friend, could stand out in the bars of France.

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