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Rye IPA facts for kids

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A glass and bottle of Rye IPA, a type of beer made with rye grain.

Rye India Pale Ale, often called Rye IPA, is a special kind of beer that uses rye grain. It's similar to a regular India pale ale (IPA) but has a unique spicy or tangy taste from the rye. Brewers add rye to the mix of ingredients when they make this beer. While it's become popular recently in America, people in Eastern Europe have used rye in their drinks for a very long time.

What is the History of Rye IPA?

India pale ales, or IPAs, have a long and interesting history. Rye started to be used in this type of beer because it was already popular in other foods and drinks. Rye IPA is part of a bigger group called "Rye Beer." People sometimes call it "RyePA" because it sounds like "IPA."

In America, rye has been used for a long time in baking. Think of pumpernickel bread, which is made with rye. It's also used to make rye whiskey. However, rye wasn't a common ingredient in beer until the early 2000s.

Why is Rye IPA Popular?

Craft beer, which is beer made by smaller, independent breweries, is becoming very popular around the world. IPAs are one of the most popular types of craft beer. In fact, sales of IPAs went up by 47% in 2014!

Because Rye IPAs are a type of IPA, they are also growing in popularity. They offer a slightly different taste that many people enjoy. Many breweries that are known for their IPAs now make Rye IPAs to offer more choices. This increase in the use of rye has even been called the "rye spike." It's also seen in the growing popularity of rye whiskey.

How is Rye IPA Brewed?

Rye is a type of grain. When making Rye IPA, brewers add rye to the other grains, usually barley, during a step called mashing. Mashing is when the grains are mixed with hot water to create a sugary liquid.

Brewing with rye can be a bit tricky. This is because rye has a lot of something called "beta-glucan." This makes it harder to filter the liquid, called "wort," after mashing. Brewers usually add rye to beer for its special flavor. It gives the beer a complex, crisp, and spicy taste. Sometimes, rye can even give the beer a reddish color.

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