White IPA explained

A witbier meets an IPA

White IPA is a cross between two well-known styles. From Belgian witbier it takes a pale, hazy wheat base, coriander and orange peel. It also takes a fruity, spicy Belgian yeast. From American IPA it takes higher bitterness and bright citrus hop aroma. The result is a hazy, spicy, citrusy beer that tastes refreshing despite its hop load.

The style grew up in American craft brewing in the late 2000s and early 2010s. It now appears in the BJCP guidelines as one of the specialty IPA variants. Our witbier guide covers the Belgian parent.

The witbier side

Witbier is a Belgian wheat beer, pale and cloudy, traditionally brewed with unmalted wheat, coriander seed and dried orange peel. Its yeast adds fruity and peppery notes. White IPA borrows all of that:

• Wheat: gives haze, a soft body and a creamy head.
• Coriander: adds a light, lemony, floral spice.
• Orange peel: adds a gentle citrus and light bitterness.
• Belgian yeast: adds fruity esters and a peppery, spicy edge.

The IPA side

From IPA, the style takes hops. White IPA uses American hops with citrus, tropical fruit or floral character, often added late in the boil and as a dry hop. Bitterness rises well above a witbier's: guidelines put white IPA at roughly 40 to 70 IBU, compared with the low bitterness of a traditional wit.

Strength also rises. White IPA usually sits around 5.5 to 7% ABV, stronger than a standard witbier of about 4.5 to 5.5%. The extra malt helps support the hops.

Hop choice matters more here than in many IPAs, because the hops share the stage with spice and yeast. Brewers tend to pick varieties with orange, lemon or floral character that echo the coriander and peel. Very resinous, piney hops can clash with the spice and make the beer taste muddled. When the hops and the peel point the same way, the citrus feels layered rather than crowded.

What it tastes like

Expect a pale, hazy beer with a dense white head. On the nose and palate:

• Citrus from both hops and orange peel: orange, lemon, grapefruit.
• Light spice from coriander and yeast: pepper, a floral lemony note.
• Soft wheat and bread in the background.
• Firm bitterness and a dry, crisp finish.

The challenge for the brewer is balance. Spice and yeast character should be noticeable without fighting the hops. A good white IPA tastes like one beer, not two beers sharing a glass.

Where it sits among wheat and IPA styles

• Witbier: low bitterness, spice and yeast forward, about 4.5 to 5.5% ABV.
• American wheat beer: clean yeast, light hops, no spice.
• New England IPA: hazy and juicy, clean or lightly fruity yeast, no spice.
• White IPA: hazy, spiced, Belgian yeast and firm citrus hops.

Our guide to hefeweizen versus witbier separates the two main wheat beer families.

An Indian twist

White IPA suits Indian ingredients well. Brewers in India have long experimented with local citrus and spices in witbiers. The same ideas carry into white IPA. Nagpur orange peel can stand in for the Curaçao peel used in Belgium. Fresh coriander seed is easy to find in any Indian market. Our guide to witbier with Nagpur orange explores the idea.

The style's refreshing, citrusy character also suits warm weather. It carries more flavour than a light lager but feels lighter on the palate than many IPAs.

How to serve and pair it

Serve white IPA at about 5 to 8 °C in a tulip or a tall wheat glass. Pour with a generous head to release the hops and spice. Hazy beers are meant to be cloudy, so there is no need to leave sediment behind.

Food pairings worth trying:

• Prawn or fish curries with coconut and kokum.
• Salads with citrus, herbs and goat cheese.
• Grilled chicken with lemon and pepper.
• Light Thai dishes with lemongrass.

The citrus and spice echo flavours in the food, while the bitterness cuts through richness.

How to taste one well

White IPA is a good beer for training your palate to separate overlapping flavours. Citrus comes from hops and orange peel. Spice comes from coriander and yeast. Try to tell which is which. Taste it next to a witbier and a standard IPA if you can. You will pick out what each parent brings.

Drink small pours, have water alongside and never drive after a tasting.

Your first step: taste a white IPA beside a witbier and try to name which citrus notes come from the hops and which from the orange peel.

Common questions

What is a white IPA?

A hybrid of Belgian witbier and American IPA, with wheat, coriander, orange peel and Belgian yeast plus American citrus hops.

How bitter is a white IPA?

Guidelines put it at roughly 40 to 70 IBU, much more bitter than a traditional witbier.

How strong is a white IPA?

Usually around 5.5 to 7% ABV, stronger than a standard witbier.