IPA proved success can be bitter sweet
They used to say 'the sun never sets on the British Empire.' Being a superpower means having a lot of troops and with that comes a big thirst, especially in places like India. In 1750, the thirst-quenching beverage of choice was, you guessed it, beer. Unfortunately beer couldn't handle the long boat trip south, through the Atlantic Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope, and then north, through the Indian Ocean to Calcutta. With no refrigeration or pasteurization, beer and other perishable goods were just pleasant memories of home. Ironically, the popular beer of the day, porter, named after the dock workers of London, showed up on India's docks sour, flat, and undrinkable.
London brewer George Hodgson knew that hops had anticeptic qualities because of its acidity. He played around with his popular pale ale recipe, adding more and more hops. The sample barrels he sent to India were a success. The style of beer, although extremely bitter, turned out to not only be palateable, but was deemed tasty. The demand for Hodgson's India Pale Ale and others like it grew exponentially not only in India, but in the new world as well.
India Pale Ale is a favorite in European and American markets of today. Almost every micro-brewery has their version of this classic brew. IPAs malty flavors work well as a canvas for the floral, exotic perfume of the hops and the complimentary bitterness. Pale Ales are not for the light beer drinking crowd because of this prominent bitterness. If you like things that are extreme an IPA just might be your cup of tea.
Try these IPAs:
Imports: Fullers and McEwan's
Domestics: Stone Ruination, Descutes,
Snake River-New Delhi Freight Train, Bridgeport, and Avery.
