Do you know the difference between a Pale ale and an IPA? Both will be offered at Horseshoes & Brews at Vernon Downs Saturday October 1st.

Pale Ale Defined

A pale ale was originally a term used to describe a beer that was lighter in color from the other perhaps two or three beers on tap in the pub. Yes – old English pubs had maybe three beers on tap, not 30. Pale ale was perhaps the Budweiser of the era, although by today’s standards those two are very different things (Budweiser is a lager) A pale ale has to do with the flavor and balance of the hops – you want them to be front and center but also still taste the malt that went into making the beer which balances out the over all taste. Pale ale tends to be a bit sweeter and crisp.

IPA (India Pale Ale) Defined

An IPA, which stands for India Pale Ale, is a much more hoppy beer. IPA came about because ships sailing around the horn of Africa would end up with plenty of spoiled beer by the time they got to India and back to Europe. Hops are a natural preservative and so if you increase the amount of them in a beer, it’ll be preserved for a longer period. With more hops comes a higher alcohol content too – so these tend to not only be a bit more bitter than an pale ale, but they also have a more carbonation and a lot more dominating flavors from the hops.

Horseshoes & Brews will be Saturday, October 1st in the parking garage at Vernon Downs from 2PM – 5PM. There is also a special hour of VIP only tasting that begins at 1PM. Sample over 100 releases from some of America’s best craft breweries. Plus hang out in an atmosphere filled with live music from Squirrel Murphy, delicious food available for purchase, and great vendors.

Tickets are $35 or $55 for VIP access. Both tickets include a sampling glass.

See the full list of breweries at Horeseshoes & Brews.

More From WIBX 950