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Back in 1990, when the independent beer scene as we know it today was just barely up on its feet, most beer drinkers had never heard of India Pale Ale. For the most part only homebrewers recognized the now-so-familiar acronym IPA. As craft beer toddled its way into childhood, very few breweries dabbled with IPAs. One of those breweries was Pike Brewing in Seattle, which introduced Pike IPA in 1990.

Seattle’s iconic brewery just announced the reformulation of Pike IPA to more accurately express the kind of flavors 21st century beer drinkers expect. The updated recipe includes the use of hop varieties that simply were not available back in 1990, including beloved modern hop varieties like Citra and Mosaic.

Here’s the complete story of this re-imagining straight from the source:

Pike IPA – Seattle brewery updates a classic for today’s hop forward palates.

Pike Brewing Company is releasing an updated Pike IPA to bring more of today’s vibrant, hoppy flavors and a lighter body to this easy drinking IPA. Head Brewer Art Dixon kept everything you count on in Pike IPA, like its incredible balance and drinkability, while modernizing the recipe to brighten the beer’s body and rev-up its tropical and stone fruit hop flavors. Piney, citrus and fresh Citra, Cascade and Mosaic hop flavors artfully mix with a clean and light malt base in the refreshed Pike IPA, which is available year-round in 12 oz. bottles and on draft.

When Pike IPA was first introduced in 1990, by then Pike Head Brewer Fal Allen, (now with Anderson Valley Brewing) IPAs were rare and more than a few people scoffed at a beer with so much hop flavor. Pike IPA prevailed and went on to convert countless craft beer drinkers to the deliciousness of hops and IPAs. Accolades rained in for Pike IPA, including Roger Protz naming it as one of ‘300 beers to try before you die’ and also “one of five best IPAs in U.S.”

Times and palates have changed dramatically since Pike IPA was originally developed, as has the myriad of newer hops and local malts. This has led Pike Brewing Company to update this flagship beer, holding steady to its intent as a low-bitter, balanced IPA that pairs well with food while keeping your hop craving palate satisfied. Enjoy fresh pints of Pike IPA now at the brewery’s two restaurants, The Pike Pub and Tankard & Tun, in downtown Seattle, on tap at Puget Sound area bars and restaurants and in 12 oz. bottles at local retailers.

ABV 6.0%

IBU 46

OG 1.062

°L = 3

MALT VARIETIES: Pilsner, Munich, Carapils, Aromatic, Malted Wheat

HOP VARIETIES: Cascade, Centennial, Summit, Citra. Dry hopped with Mosaic.