This year, Emily designed 3 different logos—two black and white and one color. Feel free to share them on all your social media platforms, blogs and use them on any IPA Day marketing and event materials!

Need higher res? e-mail emilyragle@gmail.com

Color

Black & White #1

Black & White #2

ABOUT EMILY RAGLE

Emily Ragle is a graphic designer from New Jersey. She works full-time at a small studio making iPad apps, and part-time giving tours at Carton Brewing. She’s a certifiable craft beer nerd who also enjoys baking, football, travel, and the occasional bourbon. When she has free time (which is not often) she directs/films/produces a web series on homebrewers. Check her other work out at http://emilyragle.com or follow her on twitter & instagram @emilyragle.

ABOUT IPA DAY

Some of you might be asking yourself, what is IPA Day? Great question!

Founded in 2011, IPA Day has quickly become the world’s largest virtual beer party. It is a universal movement that was created to unite the voices of craft beer enthusiasts, bloggers and brewers worldwide, using social media as the common arena for connecting the conversation.

For the past two years, hundreds of events, tastings, festivals and dinners have been hosted around the world in celebration of IPA Day. Last year, roughly 12 thousand tweets from more than eight thousand people were sent out over a 24-hour period, yielding over 10 million impressions for the #IPAday hashtag on Twitter.

The goal is to make this year’s IPA Day even more viral. Getting involved is easy, the only requirements are an appreciation for great craft beer and the willingness to spread the word. On August 1, share your photos, videos, blog posts, tasting notes, recipes and thoughts on IPA with the world. Be sure to tag your posts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ and other social media platforms with the #IPAday hashtag. Please note that this year we are using a lower case “d” in the hashtag to reduce confusion.

Wanna take your participation to the next level?

Organize an IPA Day event at your brewery, brewpub, restaurant, bar, bottle shop, home or office. Be sure to post your events on the CraftBeer.com Event Calendar so others in can join in. Here are some helpful tips on submitting an event.

This year, that all changed. Thanks to the kind people at HashTracking. com, I was able to get my hands on a pro-report for a 24 hour period spanning from 2am (PST) on Thursday, August 2nd to 2am (PST) on Friday, August 3rd. As a result, this report is biased to the U.S. West Coast, and doesn’t completely represent the global picture of International IPA Day.

It is important to note that, outside of the U.S., reports of IPA Day were recorded from Europe (mostly the UK), China, Japan, New Zealand, Australia & Brazil — as well as other countries that I haven’t been able to officially capture data from. Although, many of these countries were very active on IPA Day, due to the major timezone differences, the data I’m sharing with you today mostly reflects the Western Hemisphere and U.S. participation in IPA Day.

Nonetheless, the data is pretty exciting and I am pretty stoked to pass it along. If you have any questions, comments or concerns about any of these numbers or findings, feel free to comment below and I will do my best to address them.

First, let’s talk about general stats. In the course of 24 hours, the #IPAday hashtag was tweeted 11.8 thousand times by 8 thousand people with a total followership of 5.1 million. This yielded over 10.2 million impressions.

The majority of tweets (in the thousands) were sent between the hours of 7pm PST and 9pm PST — roughly 10pm-12pm EST.

Of the total 11.8k tweets, 9.7k (83%) were original tweets, 922 (8%) were @message or reply tweets, and 1.1k (9%) were retweets.

Now, let’s talk about the big hitters on #IPAday — aka the influencers. First we have the categories for Most Popular and Most Tweets. The most popular #IPAday tweets were determined based on number of mentioned and number of retweets. Most Tweets speaks for itself.

And then we have the categories for most reach and most impressions. Most reach was determined based on number of followers. And most impressions was a combination of number of tweets and the number of followers (how many potential followers did those tweets reach?).

When it came down to where all the action took place, I relied on Trendsmap.com for real-time local Twitter trends. Sadly, these graphs are impossible to capture after the fact, so sadly all I have are two screen shots of the map — one of the world and one of the U.S. Luckily, they were taken during the “high traffic” time of #IPAday posts, so I do think the screen shots are on spot when it comes to tracking activity.

According to Trendsmap.com, throughout the day, the hashtag #IPAday trended, at one point or another, in the following North American cities: Vancouver (Canada), Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Boise, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver, Austin, Houston, Jacksonville, Orland, Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Washington D.C., New York City, Philadelphia, Manchester, Boston, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Des Moines, St. Louis and Winnipeg (Canada). And there were probably other cities that I didn’t see or write down because the map changed so frequently. But, you have to admit that this is a pretty damn good snapshot.

The U.S. at 6:18 PM (PST)

As for the most active cities, noted by the size of the #IPADay box floating over them, Atlanta, Philly, Chicago, Austin, San Diego, San Francisco and Vancouver take home the cake as the most popular IPA Day locations. The most amount of tweets during the day seem to have been coming from those cities. If I had to pick just one, I would say that Chicago was consistently one of the most popular, if not the most popular, #IPADay cities all day long.

The most impressive statistic, in my eyes, was Brazil, who consistently appeared on the Trendsmap all day long. U.S. and U.K. was expected to trend — but Brazil? Now, that is impressive!

The World at 6:13PM (PST)

As for the other social media platforms, little data is known. Unfortunately, Facebook’s privacy features do not allow us to get an accurate snapshot of IPA Day related posts. All we can do is estimate that Facebook had a similar overall participation number to Twitter (which was 8k, if you remember). Add fan pages into the mix and this number is amplified. As for Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, Flickr and all the other social media sites — that data is not also available at this time. However, the ever popular beer-themed social media platform Untappd should be releasing its data within a few hours or so — which will give us a little more insight.

When it comes to blog posts and articles from noteworthy media sources, hundreds if not thousands of sites made IPA Day reports. Other than doing a Google search on the terms #IPAday and IPA Day, there is little data that I have outside of my guesstimate.

Moral of the story is that the 2nd Annual #IPADay was a tremendous worldwide success. And I can say this with complete confidence, with or without statistics. Most people can probably agree that 8k+ people talking about craft beer on the Internet is a good thing for the industry, regardless of whether or not they personally “agreed” with the celebration concept. I also think it is safe to say that this has been the biggest virtual craft beer party to date — something you (my fellow par-tay people) should all be proud of.

And on my last note, I want to send a tremendously grateful toast to each and every single one of you that participated in #IPADay for your support and advocacy of craft beer! It is because of all of you that craft beer continues to grow and thrive in today’s crazy world and backwards economy!

Cheers!

In honor of today’s beeralicious celebration of one of craft beer’s most iconic and beloved styles, the India Pale Ale, I would like to feature a list of awesome (and very important) articles to read today.

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Mythbusting the IPA

[Source: All About Beer Magazine, Author: Pete Brown] — Most people would call it crazy, but the crazies call it ‘living archeology’: if material remains of our past no longer exist, we have to recreate past times as best we can in order to figure out the truth of how people lived back then. It drives some to live as bronze-age villagers, others to dress up as Roman legionnaires and go ten rounds with Gaulish barbarians. It drove me to recreate the greatest journey beer has ever made, an 18,000 mile sea journey that hasn’t existed for 140 years. (read more)

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The Truth About the Origins of IPA

[Source: Beer Connoisseur Magazine, Author: Martyn Cornell] – Because of its popularity, most craft drinkers know – or think they know – how IPA began. To quote one version of the popular history of the style: “Back in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, England held a large colonial presence in India. The soldiers, sailors and civilians had a huge appetite for beer. Trouble was, the voyage to India was long, and by the time the ship made it there the traditional beers had spoiled. Even when they didn’t, the dark porters that were popular at the time weren’t quite the ticket in the hot climate of India. (read more)

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The Ever-Emerging Sub-Categories of IPA

[Source: CraftBeer.com, Author: Ashley V Routson] – In a world were innovation only breeds innovation, it’s natural that craft beer, an industry born from ingenuity, is ever-evolving. Today, there are no laws that dictate how beer must be brewed, and the creative ability of craft brewers is seemingly unlimited—as evidenced by the boundless flavor combinations being brewed. Older styles are continuously being manipulated to create newer styles and sub-categories. As a result, style guidelines and categories are constantly changing to keep up with evolution of craft brewing. (read more)

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Cascadian Dark Ale: A Rose By Anything Other Name

[Source: CraftBeer.com, Author: Matt Van Wyk] — Lately there has been much fuss over a new—or is it old—beer style and what it should be called.  The style I’m referring to is known by three different names; Black IPA, India Black Ale (IBA), or Cascadian Dark Ale (CDA). In short, it is a dark hoppy beer. But in truth, it is so much more. So the questions remain; what do we name it, who made it first, and what defines the style? And, do any of these details even matter? (read more)

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In Defense of Language: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Black IPA

[Source: CraftBeer.com, Author: Greg Koch] – If you know anything about me, this should come as no surprise. You see, I’m kind of a stickler about names, and I can stay silent no longer. There’s been some controversy over what to call an IPA that is black. Hmmm…Black IPA seems like a damn fine match if you ask me. But there are some who wish to confuse the issue by introducing other, more confusing names to the equation. (read more)

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For the Love of Hops: The Birth of a New Style

[Source: All About Beer Magazine, Author: Stan Hieronymus] – Our mission on this last Thursday in September: To try every double (or imperial) IPA we can find at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Why? These are extreme beers that take your taste buds on a roller coaster ride as long and furious as, say, the Raptor at Cedar Point in Ohio. (read more)

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“OMG Hops!” Today’s American-Style India Pale Ale

[Source: CraftBeer.com, Author: Kay Witkiewicz] – If German brewers are the masters of malt and Belgian brewers are the wizards of yeast, then American craft brewers are undoubtedly the kings of the hop. Despite its British colonial origins, no beer style is more closely associated with the U.S. than the India Pale Ale (IPA). To be even more specific, the West Coast—California, Oregon, and Washington—has long been the emerald beacon of hoppy beers, but this trend appears to be changing. (read more)

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August and IPA Day

[Source: Brewer’s Association Blog, Author: Paul Gatza] – The crack staff of CraftBeer.com (and by crack I mean ready to crack a cold beer) is featuring IPA Day (#IPADay). IPA Day celebrations commence August 2nd. For more background on IPA Day, here is one CraftBeer.com muse.

India Pale Ales have vaulted in popularity over the last few years. IPAs even outsell all of the seasonal beers out there by dollars in SIG scan data. In the latest year-to-date data, IPAs are up 39.5% by volume–on top of 40% growth last year–and up 45.7% by retail dollars. (read more)

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#IPADay: When Big Beer Takes Your Holidays, Make Your Own

[Source: Bagel Bites, Author: Emily Ragle] – The buzz around #IPADay reached a fever pitch yesterday, and while most tweeters were being good sports, reminiscing about their first IPA, sharing recipes, etc., every holiday must have its Scrooge, and the Bah-Humbug tweets have REALLY started to wear on me. The worst part? They’re coming from craft beer drinkers, industry members, and bloggers remarking that #IPADay and all holidays like it are “for the record, stupid.” (real more)

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25 Must Try West Coast IPAs for International #IPADay

[Source: BREWPUBLIC.com, Author: Angelo De Ieso] – With IPAs, harnessing the bold character of a heavy hop bill is an art and a science that is continually being understood as the modern palate continues to be redefined. Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are blessed with access to about 20-percent of the world’s hop supply, with varietals unlike any others grown abroad. Here’s a look at some wonderful IPAs from the West Coast available in bottles/cans that we think you’ll enjoy on this hoppy day. (read more)

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Cooking & Mixing Cocktails with IPA

[Source: IPADay.Org, Author: Ashley V Routson] – A collection of IPA-based cooking recipes, beer cocktails and homebrew recipes from brewers, bloggers, bartenders and chefs. New recipes are constantly being featured, so keep checking back for more delicious ideas! (read more)

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Pairing Lesson: Pale Ale, IPA, and Imperial IPA

[Source: Brew.Cook.Pair.Joy., Author: Steph Weber] – India pale ale (IPA) is a really wonderful style to pair with food. IPAs are assertively bitter, with prominent hop flavor and aroma.

IPAs are bold, and therefore require boldly-flavored foods. Grilled steak with a peppercorn spice rub paired with an IPA is a match made in heaven. And anything made with hot peppers works. When the bitterness of an IPA equals the intensity of the spices in the dish, you’re good to go. (read more)

Although still extremely niche and relatively new, the “beer cocktail” is a developing trend in both mixology and craft beer. Essentially, a beer cocktail is exactly what it sounds like: a cocktail that uses beer as an ingredient.

Many craft breweries are also dabbling in spirits production. Dogfish Head, Rogue, New Holland, Ballast Point and Anchor Steam all have micro-distilleries within the brewery walls. In my opinion, Sebbie Buhler from Rogue has emerged as the leader of the “beer cocktail” movement in the craft beer industry, introducing the concept of adding craft spirits to craft beers, creating new flavors combinations by mixing Rogue spirits with various craft beers.

As an amateur mixologist and a craft beer connoisseur, the “beer cocktail” trend really excites me. This weekend, the creativity bug bit me and decided to start mixing my own concoctions. And I’m not going to lie, this beverage was good. I mean REAL good.

I love tequila, especially wood-aged tequila (reposado & anejo). When mixing, I almost always choose reposado. It has more depth in flavor than the blanco, but it isn’t as intense as anejo, which is typically sipped on its own, not mixed (unless of course, you are a baller).

My perfect margarita is simple: tequila + fresh or pure lime + agave nectar. Sometimes, I might add orange liquor or fruit for added sweetness, but the basics always stay the same.

My cocktail was inspired by the “Hoparita” invented by New Holland Brewing Company. They have a spirit called Hopquila, which is essentially a white whiskey that gets steeped with Centennial hops. The hops give the spirit a uniquely bitter and resin like quality, which mimics similar flavors found in tequila. After tasting that cocktail, I knew that hops and tequila made a perfect match. And since I can’t get Hopquila in my market, I set on a mission to recreate the flavor profile of the Hoparita.

The result was ab.so.fucking.lute.ly. amazing. I used 21st Amendment’s Brew Free or Die IPA this time around, and I found that the extra citrus-like resiny hop quality of a West Coast IPA was really ideal for the recipe. So, without further ado, here is my recipe:

The IPA-a-rita

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Reposado Tequila
• 1 ounce Pure Lime Juice
• 1 TBSP Raw Agave Nector
• 6 ounces IPA

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, shake ice, tequila, lime juice and agave syrup until the ice is broken up and all the ingredients are well mixed.

2. Pour shaker contents into a glass. Top with 6 ounces of IPA. Give it a quick stir. And enjoy.

CHEERS!

(Note: This would be a PERFECT cocktail to drink on International #IPADay!)

International #IPADay is a grassroots movement to unite the voices of craft beer enthusiasts, bloggers, and brewers worldwide through social media. On Thursday August 4^th, craft beer drinkers across the social sphere and across the globe will raise pints in a collective toast to one of craft beer’s most iconic styles: the India Pale Ale. This celebrated style represents the pinnacle of brewing innovation with its broad spectrum of diverse brands, subcategories, and regional flavor variations – making it the perfect style to galvanize craft beer’s social voice.

#IPADay is not the brainchild of a corporate marketing machine, nor is it meant to serve any particular beer brand. #IPADay is opportunity for breweries, bloggers, businesses and consumers to connect and share their love of craft beer. Getting involved is easy; the only requirements are an appreciation for great beer and the will to spread the word. Anyone can participate by enjoying IPA with friends, making some noise online with the #IPADay hashtag, and showing the world that craft beer is more than a trend!

Tips on How to Take Part:

1.   Organize an #IPADay event at your brewery, brewpub, restaurant, bar, home, or office (Ex:  An IPA dinner/cheese pairing/comparative or educational tasting/cask night/tap takeover…). Share your events on the official #IPADay forum at http://www.ratebeer.com.

2.  On August 4th, share your photos, videos, blog posts, tasting notes, recipes, and thoughts with the world. Be sure to include the #IPADay hashtag in your posts Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, WordPress, RateBeer, Foursquare, Yelp, Untappd or any other social media site.

3.   See what other people are saying by searching “#IPADay” on Google, search.twitter.com, et cetera…

4.  Track down your favorite IPA’s, ones you’ve been meaning to try, and ones you’ve never heard of; share them with friends and share your thoughts with the world.

5.  Have a good time and know that by sharing your experiences online, you’re strengthening the craft beer community at large.

About International #IPADAY
Founded in 2011 by beer evangelists and social media personalities Ashley V Routson and Ryan A Ross, International #IPADay is the largest grassroots social media-based celebration of craft beer. The goal of #IPADay is to use social media to strengthen the collective voice of craft beer through the simple celebration of beer itself. The success of #IPADay hinges on the passionate voices of beer enthusiasts worldwide and their willingness to share that passion across the social sphere.