National India Pale Ale Day is a holiday that’s observed annually on the first Thursday in August. As the name of this holiday suggests, it’s a day to celebrate IPA beers. For those who might not be knowledgeable about beer, what distinguishes IPA beer from other types of beers is the brewing process.

IPA beers tend to be brewed with a higher percentage of hops compared to other beers, and this often results in a flavor profile that’s more bitter and hoppy. IPA beers also tend to have a more complex flavor profile than other beers. They are bolder and have a higher alcohol content as well, as many people will discover on this holiday.

The History of National India Pale Ale Day

IPA beers can be traced back to the late 18th century. These ales were originally brewed for British sailors who had to make long sea voyages to India.

Before IPA was invented, much of the beer that these sailors would travel with would spoil, so a formula had to be created that would allow the beers to remain fresh for longer periods, even in hotter climates. The result was IPA beer.

National India Pale Ale Day is a holiday that was created in 2011 by Ashley Routson. She’s a beer enthusiast and author who decided that there needed to be a holiday to celebrate IPA beers. Ever since then, this holiday has been observed by IPA beer enthusiasts all over the world.

Some Quick Facts About India Pale Ale

We’re not going to celebrate a holiday named National India Pale Ale Day without at least taking a few moments to list some facts about IPA beers. It’s the least we can do in service to this holiday. So with that being said, let’s take a look at the following facts before moving on to how this holiday is observed.

• IPA beers were originally known as October Ales.
• They are the most commonly produced beer by U.S. craft breweries.
• It’s believed the term “IPA” was first used in Australia in 1829.

Observing National India Pale Ale Day

With such a wide variety of IPA beers on the market today, it shouldn’t be difficult for anyone to celebrate this holiday. It doesn’t matter where a person purchases their beer; they are likely going to find more than a few varieties of these beers to choose from.

People who are celebrating this holiday might want to spread the word about it using the hashtag #NationalIPADay on social media.