What does IPA stand for when referring to a type of beer?

India Pale Ale (IPA) is a hoppy beer within the broader category of pale ale. India pale ale originated in England before 1815, by which time it was extremely popular. It was frequently exported to India.

Among the first brewers known to export beer to India was George Hodgson's Bow Brewery, on the Middlesex-Essex border. Its beers became popular among East India Company traders' provisions in the late 18th century. Ships exported this beer to India, which was apparently highly regarded among its consumers in India.

At the behest of the East India Company, other breweries, such as Allsopp's and Burton's, developed a strongly-hopped pale ale in the style of Hodgson's for export to India. Burton India Pale Ale was preferred by merchants and their customers in India, but Hodgson's beer clearly influenced the Burton brewers' India Pale Ales.

In the 21st century, IPA is one of the most popular beer styles in the UK. In 2019, Brewdog's 'Punk IPA' was the country's best selling craft beer in the on-trade and Swannay's 'Muckle IPA' won overall craft keg gold in the Society of Independent Brewers Independent Beer Awards.