India pale ale er en relativ alkoholstærk og meget bitter øl, og det er netop disse to faktorer, der karakteriserer øltypen. Alkoholstyrken ligger på 5,5-7,5 vol % og bitterheden på 45-80 BU. Da IPA oprinder fra Pale Ale ligger IPA i samme farveinterval dvs. 20-40 EBC, hvilket svarer til en gylden til lys rav farve
English Pale Ale has a medium high to moderate hoppy flavor and aroma. Often a malt or caramel flavor and aroma is present, with a slight alcoholic warmth
Original gravity is generally between 1.048 and 1.062, with 30-50 IBUs of bitterness. Color is golden to deep copper (6-18 SRM). Alcohol by volume is a healthy 4.6-6.2%
Burton water
For Burton style English Pale Ales, the water profile is extremely high in Calcium Carbonate and Bicarbonate. Burton water has 295 ppm Ca, 725 ppm Sulfate and 300 ppm Bicarbonate. This exceptionally hard water accentuates the bitterness in the hops giving a sharp finish to the beer
