The ingredient in IPA beer that can cause drowsiness

For many, a bold and hoppy IPA (India Pale Ale) is a must-have, whether it's a winter version with rich, spicy hops or a summer beer with bright, citrusy flavors. IPAs have a characteristically intense hop flavor and a more pronounced taste compared to their more balanced cousins. That hoppy character is one of the main differences between a pale ale and an India Pale Ale. While almost all beers contain hops, the abundance of hop flowers is the magic ingredient that truly transforms a beer into an IPA. They give the beer a bold and bitter flavor that can have hints of pepper, fruit, or even pine, depending on the variety used in brewing. The more hops added, the more intense the IPA's flavor.

While some IPAs have a high alcohol content (10% or more), this isn't the only reason you might feel sleepy after a pint or two. Hops have sedative properties, so you're likely to relax while enjoying your beer. This means that hops are quite possibly the reason your IPA makes you drowsy.

The hops in IPAs make you sleepy, but they probably won't help you sleep.

Hop flowers contain compounds that preserve and flavor beer, making IPA the iconic beverage we know. These same compounds also activate the human body's relaxation system, particularly by interacting with the same brain receptors targeted by other sedatives and hypnotics. Hops have been known for their sedative properties since the origins of IPA beer in the 18th century. With all that sedative power, it seems logical to think that one should enjoy an IPA if they want to sleep well. But this isn't necessarily the case because of the alcohol.

Instead of the sedative effect of hops being enhanced by the depressant effect of alcohol, inducing a deep sleep until morning, alcohol actually disrupts sleep cycles. That's why it appears on so many lists of the worst foods to eat before bed. So, while the hops in the IPA might make you sleepy, the alcohol will ultimately prevent you from sleeping soundly through the night.