History of Hazy IPA
Craft beer enthusiasts have likely heard the term "hazy IPA" thrown around quite a bit in recent years. This relatively new beer style has taken the craft beer world by storm, but where did it come from? The hazy IPA style originated on the East Coast in the early 2010s. Brewers in New England began experimenting with ways to create a beer that was both hoppy and hazy. The goal was to capture hops' juicy, fruity flavors while also making a visually appealing, cloudy beer. The first hazy IPAs were often called "New England IPAs" or "Northeast IPAs." They were characterized by their cloudy appearance, low bitterness, and intense hop aroma. Brewers achieved the hazy appearance by using high-protein grains like wheat and oats and specific brewing techniques like dry hopping and skipping the traditional filtering process. As the popularity of hazy IPAs grew, the style began to spread beyond the East Coast. Breweries across the country started brewing their versions of the hazy IPA, each with its unique spin on the style. Today, hazy IPAs are among the most popular craft beer styles in the United States. Despite their relatively short history, hazy IPAs have significantly impacted the craft beer industry. They've introduced new brewing techniques and ingredients and helped to popularize the idea that beer doesn't need to be clear to be delicious. As the craft beer world continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how the hazy IPA style continues to develop and influence the industry.
Enjoy our take on this popular beer variety:
Sew Hop'd Needles Hazy Eye is a traditional east coast Hazy IPA, and our Hey Hey Hazy is more on the juicy side of NEIPAs.
Do you want to learn more about craft beer? Follow along for more from the Sew Hop’d Family.