We both have an affinity for India Pale Ale, also known as IPA, so we decided to take on a few this week.

British brewers developed IPA in the late 1700s to survive the long voyage from England to India. Supposedly they began increasing the hops and alcohol content, which are natural preservatives. This stronger brew became known as India Pale Ale.

According to Beer Advocate American IPA is usually more flavorful than traditional English IPA and typically uses American hops. Double, or imperial IPAs, are basically IPAs on steroids. Brewers use larger amounts of malt and hops. Double IPAs typically have alcohol content above 7 percent by volume.

Beer me:

• Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
• Alcohol by volume: 7 percent, 12-oz. bottle
• Brewed in: Kalamazoo, Mich.
• Website: www.bellsbeer.com/

Melanie says: Please excuse the pun, but I double-heart this beer. It is one of my go-to IPAs. It’s very golden in color and has a hint of haze. The hops in this brew have a slightly sweet, citrusy taste, and it smells exactly like grapefruit. The hops are pretty tame though, not overpowering. The texture is slightly creamy and I think this brew has absolutely no aftertaste. The balance of hops and malt is excellently balanced.

Meredith says: Forgive me, but I love this beer slightly less than Melanie does. Not enough to put it in the “beer meh” category, because it is good, but I give it a B+ for originality — it’s not very complex. However, it’s light and creamy and is very balanced, and goes down very easily. I could definitely drink a couple in a sitting — and maybe I will. This, along with the Lagunitas reviewed below, was a little hard to find in the Maryland ‘burbs and I had to ask Melanie to bring me some, which she did all in the name of Girls on Beer. Points for Mel; no points there for Bell’s.

Beer me:

• Lagunitas Maximus
• Alcohol by volume: 7.5 percent, 12-oz. bottle
• Brewed in: Petaluma, Calif.
• Website: www.lagunitas.com/

Melanie says: This is a pretty good beer. I almost put it under “Beer meh” but it just didn’t seem fair. It’s very light for an IPA but stronger and hoppier than Lagunitas’ regular IPA. It has a strong malt and flower smell. It tastes very light and I think might use flowery hops and maybe a hint of spice. It has a clear amber color with hints of gold. This beer is very clear and not too carbonated.

Meredith says: This brew had me with its honey-citrus-little-bit-of-floral taste. It goes down sweet, with a bitter aftertaste, and kind of makes me think of those “first they’re sour, then they’re sweet” Sour Patch Kid commercials. But in reverse. It’s a little on the heavy side as far as IPAs go and I think one in an evening is probably enough.

Beer me:

• Stone Ruination
• Alcohol by volume: 7.7 percent, 12-oz. bottle
• Brewed in: Escondido, Calif.
• Website: www.stonebrew.com/

Melanie says: Ruination can be tough to get at our local store. It’s often sold out, leading me to think this is a pretty popular brew. This beer is cloudy, the cloudiest IPA I have seen. The color is golden with a hint of amber. The taste is very strong and immediately I notice bitter hops and a hint of citrus. The bitter taste really lingers. I’m very aware of the alcohol in this beer though. While the alcohol by volume is not as strong as others, the taste is strong. If you like your IPAs on the bitter side, this is the beer for you.

Meredith says: This brew is most definitely on the pricey side — I paid $23, including tax, for a six-pack at Gilly’s Craft Beer & Fine Wine — but the bottle alone almost makes up for the cost. It’s got an evil gargoyle-looking thing painted on it in gold, and what appears to be a novella on the back of the bottle discussing the history of the brew. They lay it on a little thick with the hyperbole, but man, that is some hops. The brew is dry and the bitter aftertaste sticks with you. But not in a bad way.

Beer me:

• Flying Dog Raging Bitch
• Alcohol by volume: 8.3 percent, 12-oz. bottle
• Brewed in: Frederick, Md.
• Website: www.flyingdogales.com/

Melanie says: This is a tough beer — but not tough in a negative way. The name fits the beer. It’s strong and it tastes strong. It smells sweet but the flavor is so bold. I think Flying Dog took a big chance on this beer and at first I was a little put off, but the flavor had a way of winning me over.

Meredith says: Two words: Holy hops. I heart this beer. This brew is hoptastically bitter, with a hint of peach. It’s very aromatic, and not too filling. Drink two and you’ll get the job done quickly. However, those who don’t prefer hoppy beer may not like this, and malt lovers need not apply.

Beer me:

• Dogfish 90 Minute
• Alcohol by volume: 9 percent, 12-oz. bottle
• Brewed in: Rehobeth, Del.
• Website: http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/index.htm

Melanie says: Dogfish 90 Minute is an Imperial IPA. This beer is dangerous. It goes down so easy, considering the strong alcohol content, almost too easy. It’s so full-bodied and full of flavor. It’s malty and very creamy. Has no aftertaste whatsoever. Be sure and go easy on the number of these you drink. If you like this beer you should try the Dogfish 120 Minute IPA, but be careful, it contains 18 percent alcohol by volume.

Meredith says: This beer manages to be simultaneously classy and sassy. Guys, if it were a chick, you would want to date it. Hell, if I weren’t married, I might want to date it, too. Like Melanie says, it’s very flavorful, with a hint of grapefruit and other citrus. And — bonus — it will make just about anything you eat taste better. I drank it while I ate some cheese and crackers and could have sworn I heard my tastebuds sing the Hallelujah chorus. Those who are intrigued, but hesitant to jump into the wonderful world of IPAs, might want to try out its slightly more reserved little sister, the 60 Minute IPA.

— Written by Meredith Williams and Melanie Kramer