It’s National IPA Day! This celebration of all things happy and hoppy comes every year on the first Thursday of August. Obviously we’re HERE for it! From old-school West Coast bitter bombs to super fluffy New England Hazies, we’re suckers for anything made with the delicate cones of Humulus lupulus, the humble hop plant.
And while we’ve often explored the flavors, aromas, and even histories of India Pale Ale, there’s one aspect of this delicious holiday that we’ve never delved into before — where the heck did National IPA Day come from, anyway?
Turns out, this ancient anniversary of the alpha acids traces its storied lineage all the way back to… 2011. That’s when Ashley Routson, AKA The Beer Wench, rallied a group of lupulin loving pals together to launch a new day for IPA.
Often cited as the original craft beer influencer (long before that word had taken on the meaning that we know today), Routson has been a fixture in the craft brewing world for years. She’s spoken at GABF and the Craft Brewer’s Conference, talked about beer on NPR, written for Time.com, and published an (excellent) book called The Beer Wench’s Guide to Beer: An Unpretentious Guide to Craft Beer.
So she knows a TON of people in the industry. And in 2011, they were pretty much all on Twitter.
Rouston reached out to friends at Karl Strauss Brewing, Founders, Dogfish Head, and New Belgium. She convinced the Brewers Association to join in, and sent an email blast imploring “all craft beer evangelists, brewers, bloggers, and suds-savvy citizens” to “participate in the largest international craft beer celebration and virtual conversation the world has ever seen!”
And on August 4th, 2011, they dropped #IPAday. It blew up immediately.
This year, breweries from coast to coast will be dropping special brews and welcoming fans to party on IPA day. And you know WE have to join in, so look out for even more hoppy beers on Tavour than usual!
How will you be observing the holiday? Drop us a line and let us know! And if you’re posting any of your beers or buddies on your socials, make sure to tag it #IPAday!
