IPAs are everywhere- and for good reason. This bold, hop-forward evolved into one of the most diverse styles in craft-brewing.
In this blog, we're going to break down the most popular styles of IPA, what sets them apart from each other and what to expect in terms of flavour when you crack one open. Whether you're looking to expand your palate or just want to understand what's in your glass, this guide will help you navigate IPAs.
Table of Content
A Traditional IPA
An IPA is a hoppy often strong type of beer that originated in the 18th-century England. The style was originally brewed with extra hops and higher alcohol to help preserve it during long voyages to India- hence the name of the beer.
In terms of their taste, IPAs are known for their bold, bitter flavour, often featuring notes of citrus, pine, or tropical fruit, depending on the hops used. Depending on the hop varieties and how they're used in brewing, you can taste notes of citrus (like grapefruit or orange), pine, resin, tropical fruit (like mango or passionfruit), herbs, or even floral and earthy tones.
They usually have a golden to amber colour as well as a higher alcohol content compared to other standard beers, typically around the 6-7% mark.
IPAs at Full Circle!
LOOPER - IPA - 6.4%
Looper's accolades speak for themselves, having been crowned the winner of the highly coveted Keg IPA of the Year at the 2024 SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) awards.
Citra, Mosaic and Cashmere hops work in perfect balance to create a blend of tropical fruit flavours with notes of grapefruit, lemon and lime. The oat content gives this beer the classic full bodied luxury that you expect from a 6.4% New England IPA.
Add a can of Looper to your craft beer cart & find out why so many have enjoyed this award-winning IPA to date.
Session IPA
A Session IPA is a lighter, more drinkable version of a traditional IPA, designed for extended drinking sessions without overwhelming the palate or the drinker.
Typically, this style features the same bold hop flavours like citrus, pine, floral or tropical notes but with a lower alcohol content, usually around 3.5%-5% ABV. The goal of a session IPA is to retain the hop intensity that IPA fans love whilst making the beer more refreshing and easier to enjoy over a long period, hence the term "session".
Despite the lower alcohol and lighter body, a good Session IPA still delivers a satisfying hop bite and aroma. Brewers often use dry hopping and specific hop blends to ensure the flavour remains vibrant, The bitterness is also usually well-balanced. A session IPA is a lot of peoples choice during warmer weather. It is essentially a hop-forward beer built for refreshment.
Session IPAs at Full Circle!
REPEATER - SESSION IPA - 4.2%
Brewed with a blend of Centennial, Amarillo and Mosaic hops, Repeater boasts that classic American hop profile bursting with juicy citrus notes. This beer is finished off with hints of tropical fruit and a touch of classic bitterness of pine resin.
New Zealand IPA
A New Zealand IPA is a hop-forward beer style that showcases the unique aromatic hops grown in New Zealand. These hops include Nelson Sauvin, Moteuka, Riwaka, and Wai-iti bring a distinct flavour profiles that set this specific style apart from their American or British counterparts. Expect vibrant notes of white grape, gooseberry, lime passionfruit and tropical fruit, often with a soft herbal edge.
The bitterness often varies, the New Zealand style strikes a balance between a bright, juicy hop character and smooth drinkability often with a medium body and clean malt backbone.
*NEW* THAT TRANSITION WAS FANTASTIC - NZIPA - 7.0%
Back with another New Zealand brew, showcasing one of our favourite styles with plenty of our most loved hops. This one is packed with Superdelic, Nectaron and Nelson Sauvin, giving this beer abundances of tropical fruits, white grape and citrus. Finished with the subtle bitterness of stone fruit to balance out this super hoppy and juicy brew.
New England IPA
Originating from the north eastern U.S, a New England IPA is known for its cloudy appearance, smooth mouthfeel and intense tropical and citrus flavour. Common flavours include mango, pineapple, orange and stone fruit often with a touch of sweetness and very low perceived bitterness. The haze within the beer comes from the use high protein grains like oats or wheat and minimal filtering giving the beer a thick, almost creamy texture.
New England IPAs are heavily dry-hopped, meaning hops are added in the later stages of the brewing process to extract the aroma without adding bitterness. The alcohol content usually ranges from 6-8%, and while the style is approachable and juicy, it can also be deceptively strong.
HELLO SQUIRE - SESSION NEIPA - 4.5%
Arriving at the perfect time, right at the peak of summer, we have our brand new Session NEIPA, Hello Squire. Incredibly easy to drink with bags of tropical flavours provided by Idaho 7, Bru-1 and Cryopop, finishing up with a big hit of citrus. Super light with tonnes of summery flavours and aromas, the perfect drink for a hot day!
West Coast IPA
Unlike hazy or juicy IPAs , West Coast IPAs focus on clarity and crispiness. They use techniques like early kettle hopping and minimal dry hopping to extract strong bittering compounds while still delivering aromatic hop flavour. The finish is usually dry and snappy, which makes each sip feel crisp and refreshing.
Alcohol content often ranges between 6% and 7.5%, and overall experience is bold, clean and designed to showcase the raw power and complexity of American hops.
WEST COAST LOOPER - WEST COAST IPA - 6.4%
It’s the Looper you know and love — but with a West Coast twist. Expect crystal clarity, dialled-up bitterness, and fewer oats for a cleaner, crisper finish.
Cold IPA
A Cold IPA is a newer, hybrid of IPA that combines the crispiness or a larger with the hop-forward character of a modern IPA. Unlike traditional IPAs, they are fermented with lager yeast at a cooler temperature, which usually results in a cleaner, crispier base that allows the bright punchy hop flavours to be enhanced.
What also sets a this particular style apart is its refreshing drinkability paired with a high hop expression. It is usually brewed with adjuncts like rice or corn to lighten the malt profile, keeping the beer bright and drinkable. They are are usually around 6-7% ABV, making them a great option for hop lovers who want bold flavours without having sacrifice heaviness or haze.
I NEED TO SPEAK TO THE KURGAN - COLD IPA - 6.7%
In collaboration with our friends at Hackney Church, we brewed one of our absolute favourite styles is a Cold IPA — a classic IPA brewed with lager yeast which provides the hop forward character of an IPA with a cleaner, crisper finish. In the whirlpool, we used CTZ and Idaho hops, then added Krush and Cashmere in the dry hop. Expect big, juicy mango notes with hints of papaya, lemon and lime zest for a juicy, tropical burst of flavour that'll be perfect for those hot summer nights.
Double IPA
A Double IPA (DIPA), also known as an imperial IPA, is a stronger, bolder version of a traditional IPA. It typically features a higher alcohol content, ranging from 7.5% to 10% ABV, and an intensified hop profile.
From this style of IPA, expect big notes of pine, resin, citrus, tropical fruit or stone fruit, depending on the hops used, with a pronounced bitterness.The malt backbone is also increased to support extra hops and alcohol, often adding subtle caramel, biscuit or honey notes for balance.
GLAMOROUS OLD CARPET FACTORY - DIPA - 8.2%
Named after how our Packaging Manager described his visit to a certain brewery in Scotland, this 8.2% DIPA was brewed with a combo of Talus and Simcoe. They give this beer abundances of florality on the nose, followed by bags of passion fruit and peach on the palate. Thick bodied from the addition of jumbo rolled oats, this beer is finished off by a massive hit of grapefruit.
Fruited IPA
A Fruited IPA is a creative twist on the traditional India Pale Ale, brewed with the addition of real fruit or fruit purée to enhance and complement the hop flavours.
While IPAs already offer fruity notes from hops—like citrus, mango, or passionfruit—fruited IPAs take it a step further by infusing the beer with ingredients like pineapple, grapefruit, guava, peach, berries, or even exotic fruits.
This vibrant variation strikes a balance between hop bitterness, fruit sweetness or tartness, and malt backbone , creating a flavorful, refreshing beer with a twist.
Last year, we released grapefruit looser, it’s looper but loaded with grapefruit. It was the classic Looper everyone knows and loves, replicated with the addition of 100 litres of fresh grapefruit juice and 10kg of grapefruit zest.
Unfortunately, it’s no longer available on our webshop — but don’t worry! We’re planning to bring back another fruity edition of Looper soon. In the past, we’ve released a delicious mango version, so keep your eyes peeled for what’s coming next!
Interested in Tasting IPA Styles? Subscribe to Beer Club!
If you're keen to explore different styles of IPA like the ones above, our brewery specialises in them — join our beer club and discover your new favourites.
Beer Club is our monthly subscription box where you can pick up the freshest beers every month at a discounted rate.
There are three beers to choose from when joining our club, Bronze, Silver or Gold. Typically these boxes will break down as follows. Bronze - 6 cans, Silver - 8 cans, Gold - 12 cans.
The beers included in the subscription box will be about 90% Full Circle beers (as expected), with occasional guest appearances from some of our close friends in the industry who also produce phenomenal beer. You will often find collaboration brews which have been brewed by ourselves.
Why are IPAs called IPAs?
IPA stands for India Pale Ale .
A long time ago, British brewers made a special kind of pale ale to send to British soldiers and traders living in India. To help the beer survive the long trip by ship, they added extra hops —a natural preservative that also adds flavour.
What is the difference between an IPA and a Pale Ale?
An IPA is a hoppier, stronger version of a Pale Ale . While Pale Ales are more balanced and easier to drink, IPAs have bolder flavours, more bitterness, and usually higher alcohol content.
Typically how strong are IPAs?
Some styles, like Session IPAs , can be lower (around 4%–5% ), while Double or Imperial IPAs can go much higher—up to 9% or more .
Why are IPAs bitter?
IPAs use a lot of hops, which contain alpha acids that create bitterness. Bitterness helps balance the sweetness from malt and enhances flavour complexity.
Are IPAs gluten-free?
No, most IPAs are not gluten-free .
They are typically brewed with barley or wheat , both of which contain gluten. However, some breweries make gluten-reduced IPAs (using enzymes to break down gluten) or gluten-free IPAs made from alternative grains like sorghum, rice, or millet.
What is Dry Hopping in the IPA Brewing Process?
Dry hopping is the process of adding hops after fermentation , usually during or after the beer has finished fermenting. Unlike hops added during boiling (which contribute bitterness), dry hopping is all about enhancing the aroma and flavour —bringing out bold notes of citrus, pine, fruit, or flowers without adding much bitterness.
Where can I try IPAs from Full Circle?
Our range of IPAs are available to purchase on our web shop, you can also drink a rotating selection of our IPAs in our taproom in Hoults Yard!
