A Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) is brewed to be stronger, bolder, and more intensely flavored than a standard IPA. This potency is achieved by using a larger quantity of malted grains and hops, resulting in a higher concentration of alcohol and body. Maximizing these components directly impacts the final caloric content, making the DIPA one of the more energy-dense options.
The Standard Calorie Range for Double IPAs
A typical 12-ounce serving of a Double IPA contains a substantial number of calories, usually falling within a range of 220 to over 300 calories. This wide variance is a result of the flexible nature of the style, which commonly features an Alcohol By Volume (ABV) between 7.5% and 10%. The alcohol content alone contributes the majority of the energy, acting as the primary driver of the final calorie count. For example, a DIPA at the lower end of the ABV scale, around 8%, might contain approximately 238 calories per serving.
Conversely, a DIPA that reaches 10% ABV or higher will push the calorie count towards the upper limit. The concentration of unfermented sugars, or residual carbohydrates, also plays a role. A DIPA labeled as “hazy” or “New England-style” often has a higher residual sugar content, adding to the total number of calories compared to a drier, more traditional West Coast DIPA. The exact number depends entirely on the brewer’s specific recipe choices.
Why Double IPA Calories Vary So Much
The caloric content of any beer is dictated by two components: ethanol and residual sugars. Alcohol, or ethanol, is energy-dense, contributing approximately seven calories per gram. Since Double IPAs are defined by their high ABV, the alcohol content is the largest factor pushing their calorie counts upward. When a beer’s ABV increases from 5% to 9%, the calories derived from ethanol rise dramatically, regardless of other ingredients.
The second major contributor is unfermented carbohydrates, often referred to as residual sugars, which provide four calories per gram. The “double” in DIPA necessitates a large amount of malted barley to create a high starting gravity (Original Gravity), the measure of sugar concentration before fermentation. The yeast consumes these sugars and produces alcohol, but a significant portion remains in the final product. This leftover sugar adds body, sweetness, and calories to the beer.
The brewer’s technique directly influences the amount of residual sugar that remains. A higher mash temperature creates more complex, unfermentable sugars that the yeast cannot convert into alcohol. This results in a sweeter, fuller-bodied DIPA with a higher carbohydrate and calorie count. Conversely, a lower mash temperature and the use of highly attenuating yeast produce a beer with fewer residual sugars, leading to a “drier” taste and lower calories from carbohydrates. Hops, though used in abundance for flavor and aroma, contribute a negligible amount of calories.
Calorie Comparison with Other Popular Beers
The Double IPA’s elevated calorie profile becomes clearer when compared to other common beer styles. A standard 12-ounce Light Lager typically contains between 90 and 110 calories, achieved by minimizing both alcohol content and residual carbohydrates. The DIPA’s calorie count is often more than double that of a light lager, reflecting its significantly higher ABV and malt load.
A regular India Pale Ale (IPA) usually sits in the range of 180 to 210 calories per 12 ounces. This difference of 40 to 90 calories between a standard IPA and a DIPA illustrates the caloric impact of increasing the ABV by just a few percentage points. Heavier styles, such as Imperial Stouts or Porters, known for their dark malts and rich body, often land in a similar range to the DIPA, typically between 250 and 300 calories. The high alcohol content means the DIPA’s caloric density rivals that of a standard glass of wine or a mixed drink.