Imperial or Double
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Remmy
Drink First, Ask Questions Later
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IIPA, Imperial IPA, Double IPA...call it what you want. They all refer to BJCP category 14C.
Nightshade
Well-Known Member
From my count it is two letters longer to spell Imperial 
Same thing one just sounds more impressive.
Same thing one just sounds more impressive.
i've read crap along the lines that DIPA emphasizes extra hops, while imperial emphasizes the additional alcohol... but it's just that - crap. they're the same thing.
Nightshade
Well-Known Member
Lets throw another in there...how about a NW IPA
UnDeadPresident
Junior Member
I always thought of them as different ways of saying the same thing. That is, the "double" was in reference to the two "I"s in an abbreviated Imperial India Pale Ale (IIPA). In other words: (2xI)PA, not 2x(IPA).
According to the BJCP guidelines, they are one style with the prefix being pretty much arbitrary.
According to the BJCP guidelines, they are one style with the prefix being pretty much arbitrary.
Nightshade
Well-Known Member
Same thing with Russian Imperial Stout and Imperial Stout, one just lends a more regal impression.
I think in some ways this may trick the less informed drinker into thinking that one has something more than the other. Might be a neat psychological experiment to run...same beer, two glasses, first presented as an RIS the second presented as an IS. You could do the same with a Dbl IPA and an Imperial IPA. Would be interesting to document the results.
