Malt aroma & flavor
Medium malt flavor should be present
British Origin Ale Styles
British-Style India Pale Ale
Ale · Gold to copper
What to expect
Malt character: Medium malt flavor should be present. Hop character: Medium to high, expressed as floral, herbal, earthy, stone fruit or other attributes from high hopping rates.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
6–14
Pale / strawBlack
Gold to copper · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
4.5–7.1%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
35–63
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 3 · PDF page 12. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
Medium to high, expressed as floral, herbal, earthy, stone fruit or other attributes from high hopping rates.
Perceived bitterness
Medium to high
Body & mouthfeel
Medium
Clarity
Chill haze is acceptable at low temperatures
Color
Gold to copper
Fermentation characteristics
Fruity esters are medium to high. Traditional interpretations are characterized by medium to medium-high alcohol content. The use of water with high mineral content results in a crisp, dry beer with a subtle and balanced character of sulfur compounds. Diacetyl can be absent or may be present at very low levels.
Additional guideline notes & competition context
A wide range of hop varieties may be used for bitterness or for approximating traditional English hop character. The use of water with high mineral content may result in a crisp, dry beer rather than a malt-accentuated version.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.046-1.064 (11.4-15.7 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.012-1.018 (3.1-4.6 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 3.6%-5.6% (4.5%-7.1%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 35-63 • Color SRM (EBC) 6-14 (12-28 EBC)