CBN Blind Tasting Panel
Jay R. Brooks, general manager, CBN
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Angela Wagner Coleman, reporter, CBN
Bob Coleman, reporter, CBN
Tom Dalldorf, editor/publisher, CBN
Vic Kralj, owner, The Bistro, Hayward, Calif.
Special thanks to Mike Long, BTP Head Steward
INDIA PALE ALES
As many people know, India pale ales are so named because they were originally brewed beginning in the late 1700s for the specific purpose of surviving the long journey aboard ship from England to India. What is less well known is that they also had original gravities in the neighborhood of 1.070 or even higher. Hopping was also many times what would be considered normal today, ranging from four to seven pounds per barrel! Of course, we have no way of knowing today how strong those hops were or whether or not they were aged first to reduce potency, since their purpose was largely as a preservative. Regardless, it should be some comfort to the many hop-heads of the western United States to learn that the "new" hoppier West Coast IPAs are really closer to the original incarnation. What are now known as English-style (or East Coast) IPAs generally have much lower IBUs and/or use less aromatic hops than have become the norm out West. Today's India pale ales have gravities from 1.050 to 1.075 and IBUs of 40-60, according to the BJCP guidelines, with slightly higher bitterness permitted under GABF style guidelines. All beers were tasted blind. Results are listed alphabetically by score.
5
AleSmith IPA
AleSmith Brewing Co., California
Orange-amber color with an impressively big, thick head. Big floral hop aromas with hints of spice. Wonderfully creamy and smooth with big hop character and a magnificent mélange of flavors. Finishes clean and leaves you wanting more!
5
Big Daddy IPA
Speakeasy Brewing Co., California
Complex nose of herbs, vanilla and citrus. Light straw-gold color. Great hop bite with good balance and a clean finish. A marvelous hop-focused beer!
5
Drake's IPA
Drake's Brewing Co., California
Wonderful aromas with hints of alfalfa and herbs. Excellent hop/malt balance, clean and fresh-tasting with exquisitely complex flavors. An all-around great beer!
5
HopDevil India Pale Ale
Victory Brewing Co., Pennsylvania
Tart nose with strong, dusty hop aromas. Malty sweetness up front balanced nicely with big, beautiful hop character. Displays excellent balance throughout. Shoots a huge gaping hole in the idea that an East Coast brewery can't really make a big, hoppy IPA.
5
Hop Ottin' IPA
Anderson Valley Brewing Co., California
Starts with a subtle nose of light hop aroma and orange-amber color with good lace. Creamy, with big hop character and a hint of honey among its complex flavors. Very drinkable, with a long, lingering finish.
5
India Pale Ale
Sacramento Brewing Co., California
Herbal aromas and good hop nose with orange-gold color. Good, rich flavors and excellent hop bite with a nice mouthfeel. Tastes quite fresh and very balanced for its bigness!
5
IPA
HopTown Brewing Co., California
Herbal hop nose and golden-orange color. Big hop presence with underlying spiciness and a lingering, bitter finish. A huge beer and very well-conditioned.
5
IPA
Lagunitas Brewing Co., California
Clean, subtle nose with floral hop aromas and hints of grapefruit. Tart, with substantial hop character and a wonderfully long, lingering finish. The consummate West Coast IPA.
5
IPA
Ross Valley Brewing Co., California
Big, complex nose with strong hop aromas and subtle sweetness. Cloudy orange-amber color (from bottle-conditioning) and a substantial head. Chewy, with a great mouthfeel and excellent flavors. Finishes with a long, warming maltiness. Great Hera!
5
IPA
Rubicon Brewing Co., California
Starts with slightly sweet aromas and excellent spicy hop notes. Very rich flavors with citrusy hop character and a grainy mouthfeel. Finishes bitter but doesn't outstay its welcome.
5
IPA
21st Amendment Brewery, California
Huge, dry hop aromas and orange-amber color. Soft, rich mouthfeel with nice balance, yet it's still a juicy hop monster with a long finish!
5
Racer 5 India Pale Ale
Bear Republic Brewing Co., California
Golden-amber color with a subtle nose displaying nice hop character. Tart, with an initial sharp hop bite. A big beer that maintains excellent balance throughout. The finish is delightfully long and lingering. A wow!
5
Stone IPA
Stone Brewing Co., California
Subtle herbs and good hop character on the nose. Golden-yellow color. Wonderful mouthfeel, well-integrated flavors with complex taste sensations and a zippy hop character.
4
Bagel Beer Everything IPA
Lotsolox Brewing Co., California
Light nose with orange-amber color and decent lace. Creamy, with clean, bready malt flavors and lively, spicy hop character.
4
Four Towers IPA
Kelley Brothers Brewing Co., California
Fruity sweetness and dry herbal nose. Deep orange-brown color. Good mouthfeel with tart, tight hop flavors and a good, long finish.
4
Fuller's India Pale Ale
Griffin Brewery, England
Citrusy nose of oranges and grapefruit with floral hop aromas. Distinctive English flavors with fruity hints and a grainy mouthfeel. Finishes clean.
4
India Pale Ale
BridgePort Brewing Co., Oregon
Richly refreshing floral nose and amber-orange color. Zippy, grassy floral notes. Complex flavors balance nicely in the end to create an exotic taste profile.
4
Indica India Pale Ale
Lost Coast Brewing Co., California
Sweet malt aromas with hints of hops and smoky character. Nice interplay of sweet malt and bittering, with just a touch of smoked character and a long, dry finish.
4
IPA
MacTarnahan's Brewing Co., Oregon
Toasty malt aromas with hints of sherry. Orange-brown color. Malt-forward but well-balanced with lighter body and a clean finish.
4
IPA
Marin Brewing Co., California
Sweet and sour nose with hints of fruit. Orange-brown color. Sharp, bitter flavor with fruit undertones and a dry finish. A good example of the style.
3
California IPA
Acme Brewing Co., California
Sweet and sour nose with citrus hop aromas and bright gold color. Rich, malty flavors with clean bittering and lingering finish.
3
Five Towers IPA
Kelley Brothers Brewing Co., California
Hop aromas mix pleasantly with more uncommon aromas of maple and cheese. Very hoppy, almost to the point of being a double IPA, but still has strong, complex spicy flavors. The finish is long and enduring.
3
India Ale
Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster), England
Slightly sweet nose with hints of lemon, citrus and licorice. Tart and hoppy but unassertive with a slightly thin body and hints of nuttiness.
3
India Pale Ale
Russian River Brewing Co., California
Warm hop character in the nose. Orange-amber color. A hop monster with a grainy mouthfeel, but still well-balanced with a long, bitter finish.
3
IPA
E. J. Phair Brewing Co., California
Lightly sweet nose with hints of plums and fruit. Dark brown color. A decent example, with grassy hop character and a long, lingering finish.
3
Organic India Pale Ale
Butte Creek Brewing Co., California
Grassy, herbal nose and dark amber color. Malty, with an unusual hop character and a tart, bitter finish.
3
Presidio India Pale Ale
Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant, California
Sweet fruit nose with hints of pear, lemon and grapefruit and a dash of spices. Grainy mouthfeel with tart fruit flavors. It starts malt-forward, but the hops sneak up on you at the finish.
3
Pyramid India Pale Ale
Pyramid Brewing Co., California and Washington
Gentle floral nose and orange-brown color. Starts with a good hop bite, herbal malt character and light spicing. Finish is long and lingering.
3
Snake Dog IPA
Flying Dog Brewery, Colorado
Grassy, sweet nose with only light hop aromas. Strong bittering in the flavor profile and decent mouthfeel with a long finish.
________________________________________
In the next issue, we'll report on our tasting of blonde or golden ales/fruit beers/lambics. If you'd like your brewery's beer in one or more of these three styles to be included, please send at least two bottles of each, a flat label and any available information about the beer to:
Blind Tasting Panel
Celebrator Beer News
1500 Washington Avenue
San Leandro, CA 94577
Samples must arrive no later than MayÊ5.
Copyright 2003, Celebrator No material herein may be reprinted without permission of the Celebrator Distributed On the W3 For personal, non-commercial enjoyment and use only. Cheers!
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