Hop to It: Your Ultimate Guide to National IPA Day
Brace yourselves, hop enthusiasts. The most anticipated day of the year is rapidly approaching. Yes, you heard it right! National IPA Day will soon be upon us, marking a well-deserved homage to hops on the first Thursday of August.
Some of you might be thinking, “What’s an IPA?“ Don’t worry, we’ll get to that.
Others might be thinking, “Isn’t every day IPA day?” Which is a valid point.
Others of you might think, “IPA Day? Is that really a thing?” Well, not only is it a thing, it’s your thing. So ready your cool beer accessories and funny beer glasses, because this is a holiday we can all get behind.
When is National IPA Day?
Ready to mark your calendars, pale ale fans? National IPA Day falls on the first Thursday of August each year.
That means that this year, it falls on August 3, 2023. It’s the perfect excuse to say, “It’s August 3rd somewhere,” right in the middle of the workweek.
Missed National IPA Day 2023? Don’t worry. Here’s a convenient list that’ll answer the question “What day is National IPA Day this year?” for the next 10 years:
- 2023: August 3
- 2024: August 1
- 2025: August 7
- 2026: August 6
- 2027: August 5
- 2028: August 3
- 2029: August 2
- 2030: August 1
- 2031: August 7
- 2032: August 5
*If you’re reading this in 2033, don’t worry—it’ll always fall on the first Thursday in August. So teleport over to your local solar-powered nanobrewery to raise a glass! (Or whatever you folks in the 2030s have replaced glassware with.)
What Exactly are IPAs?
IPAs (or India Pale Ales) are a type of beer characterized by strong hop bitterness, fruity/citrusy flavors, and higher alcohol content. These brews were first crafted by British brewers in the 18th century, hopped up to the brim with humulus lupulus to help them survive the long journey to India.
Today, you’ll find several variations of this classic style, each with its own unique twist. You’ve got your English IPAs with a balanced hop/malt profile, your American IPAs bursting with bold, piney hops, and let’s not forget the explosively juicy and hazy New England IPAs.
This is just the tip of the iceberg—to learn more, you’ll need to do some sipping and some reading. So grab your favorite hop-forward ale, sit back, and head on over to our complete guide to IPAs (and other pale ales).
Popular IPAs to Try This Year
Looking to wet your whistle but not sure where to start? Here’s a hand-picked rundown of some great IPAs to try:
- Foothills Brewing Jade IPA – Bold, citrusy Pacific Jade hops lend striking tropical fruit notes and a hint of peppery finish to this easy-drinking ale, while dry hop additions of Chinook and Citra add heady aroma and bold flavor. Go ahead. Get Jaded.
- Bell’s Two Hearted Ale – Straight from the heart of Michigan, this American IPA is a favorite among beer enthusiasts, ranking high for its balanced hoppy bitterness and malt sweetness.
- Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA – This Delaware brew’s got a solid malt backbone and is continuously hopped for an hour during brewing, hence the name.
- Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA – A bold, extra hop-heavy IPA from one of America’s craft beer pioneers.
- Russian River Pliny the Elder – A double IPA legend! If you’re up for a potent, yet exceptionally well-balanced beer, this is it.
Tip: Want more recommendations for beers to try? Check out Hops Hunters’ reviews and ratings of top beers from around the country!
In terms of beer sales, light lagers have seen an increase, while IPAs have actually seen a slight decline, but craft IPAs still hold a significant share of the American market. (As of 2022—the most recent statistics available at the time of this writing in 2023)
Let’s be honest though, you probably don’t need a bunch of boring statistics to know that IPAs still rule the roost. You’re probably drinking one as you read this, or at least have one chilling in the fridge for later. Or maybe you’re even planning your IPA lineup for the big day.
No matter where you are or what you’re doing—one thing’s clear: it’s a great time to be a pale ale lover.
Hoppy National IPA Day!
References
- “Craft Beer Industry in the U.S.” Statista, 8 July 2022, www.statista.com/topics/1806/craft-beer-in-the-us/. Accessed 12 June 2023.
- Kotter, Uwe, and Martin Biendl. “Hops (Humulus Lupulus)” American Botanical Council, www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/87/table-of-contents/article3559/.
- “IPA vs PA: A Tale of Two Pale Ales – Hops Hunters.” Hops Hunters, 4 May 2023, hopshunters.com/ipa-vs-pa-a-tale-of-two-pale-ales/. Accessed 12 June 2023.
“The Top Beer Trends in 2022-23.” Beverage Dynamics, 24 Oct. 2022, beveragedynamics.com/2022/10/24/the-top-beer-trends-for-2022-23/. Accessed 12 June 2023.
