Double IPA

[UB2]

What makes a Double IPA double? Double the fermentambles, double the hops?

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

its the hops mostly, apa is milder than ipa and double ipa is the most hoppy beer

 

[bilhelm96]

There are additional fermentables too for a higher alcohol level to balance against the hops. A double IPA should still be relatively dry (FG < 1.020), so brewers tend to use some percentage of corn or cane sugar in addition to increasing the malt. All-grain brewers can also mash at a lower temp to increase fermentability

 

[Steve da Sleeve]

IPAs are pretty open to interpretation, with the focus on hops. I generally distinguish the three, IPA, IIPA, and imperial IPA like this:

IPAs -> 1.055-1.070, 55-80 calculated IBUs, 4-8 oz crystal in a 5 gallon batch the rest base malt
IIPA -> 1.075-1.085, 150+ calculated IBUs, 4-8 oz crystal in a 5 gallon batch the rest base malt
Imperial IPA -> 1.080-1.090, 150+ calculated IBUs, 6-10 oz crystal in a 5 gallon batch + a touch of smething special (!) the rest base malt

I distinguish IIPAs from imperials by pushing the malt balance slightly forward in imperials, making these closer to a barlywine. I mash IPAs 150-156, doubles and imperials 148-152. All my IPAs these days are high alpha hops added late in the boil.

Fwiw and ymmv and wtf!

Steve da sleeve