Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

International IPA Tasting Mar. 16 - 31

• oregonbeerlover

  

  Member
   

  March 15, 2009

  Let's include everyone in this IPA tasting and take it international. IPA's from Canada, Europe, or anywhere outside the US fit into this category. Let's continue to enjoy the hoppy goodness!

  Let's include everyone in this IPA tasting and take it international. IPA's from Canada, Europe, or anywhere outside the US fit into this category. Let's continue to enjoy the hoppy goodness!
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  March 16, 2009

  Export IPA, 5.00% ABV
  Greene King, Westgate Brewery, Bury, England
  
  The Export IPA from Greene King in Bury St Edmonds, England pours out a deep amber in color with perfect clarity and a very small head that goes away almost immediately. On the nose there is a lot more malt than hop with scents of caramel and a little gassiness. In the mouth this brew is very refined. A sweet malt comes first followed by some hop bite but nothing over the top. This is what I would call a distinguished IPA (in that it is kind of subtle and well integrated flavor wise). Light side of medium bodied. Subdued carbonation. Very little lacing. Slight oil to the mouthfeel. Nice bitter notes on the finish that is quite dry. This is a great beer but if you are looking for or used to a NW hop monster this is not going to do it for you. However, if you want an enjoyable session beer this would fit right in.
  
  

  Export IPA, 5.00% ABV
  Greene King, Westgate Brewery, Bury, England
  
  The Export IPA from Greene King in Bury St Edmonds, England pours out a deep amber in color with perfect clarity and a very small head that goes away almost immediately. On the nose there is a lot more malt than hop with scents of caramel and a little gassiness. In the mouth this brew is very refined. A sweet malt comes first followed by some hop bite but nothing over the top. This is what I would call a distinguished IPA (in that it is kind of subtle and well integrated flavor wise). Light side of medium bodied. Subdued carbonation. Very little lacing. Slight oil to the mouthfeel. Nice bitter notes on the finish that is quite dry. This is a great beer but if you are looking for or used to a NW hop monster this is not going to do it for you. However, if you want an enjoyable session beer this would fit right in.
  
  
• oregonbeerlover

  

  Member
   

  March 17, 2009

  Belhaven Brewery - Dunbar, Scotland
  Twisted Thistle IPA, 6.1% ABV
  
  This beer poured out cloudy and golden. Did not have any real distinctive scent to it, not at all hoppy in the scent. I would give it more of a malty ale like scent. Taste, more malt and yeast than hops. Had some caramel sweetness, light citrus. Not much bitterness to it. I found it to be fairly carbonated for a European IPA...but maybe it was just me. Pretty thin, not chewy or thick.
  I'll have to compare it to other European IPAs before I form an opinion. A lot different from Western US IPAs to be sure.

  Belhaven Brewery - Dunbar, Scotland
  Twisted Thistle IPA, 6.1% ABV
  
  This beer poured out cloudy and golden. Did not have any real distinctive scent to it, not at all hoppy in the scent. I would give it more of a malty ale like scent. Taste, more malt and yeast than hops. Had some caramel sweetness, light citrus. Not much bitterness to it. I found it to be fairly carbonated for a European IPA...but maybe it was just me. Pretty thin, not chewy or thick.
  I'll have to compare it to other European IPAs before I form an opinion. A lot different from Western US IPAs to be sure.
• ilovebeer

  

  Member
   

  March 19, 2009

  St. Peter's IPA
  St. Peter's Brewery Suffolk, England
  5.5% ABV
  
  This brew was a little underwhelming. Not bad, just not excellent. Poured out clear and orangish gold. A small one finger head that vanished fairly quickly.
  
  Smelled sweet and slightly hoppy. Bread like. Some malt presence as well.
  
  Taste: not too much hop bite, a honey like sweetness, a little citrus, some malt.
  
  An OK beer. Drinkable. But fairly average.

  St. Peter's IPA
  St. Peter's Brewery Suffolk, England
  5.5% ABV
  
  This brew was a little underwhelming. Not bad, just not excellent. Poured out clear and orangish gold. A small one finger head that vanished fairly quickly.
  
  Smelled sweet and slightly hoppy. Bread like. Some malt presence as well.
  
  Taste: not too much hop bite, a honey like sweetness, a little citrus, some malt.
  
  An OK beer. Drinkable. But fairly average.
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  March 23, 2009

  St. Peter's IPA, 4.90% ABV
  St. Peters Brewery, St. Peter South Elmham, Suffolk, England
  
  The India Pale Ale from St. Peter's Brewery in St. Peter South Elmham, Suffolk, England pours out a very clear, coppery amber in color with a nice, foamy white head. Malty sweetness on the nose along with grass, some citrus and a tiny bit of pine. In the mouth a dash of sweetness comes first followed by some earthy breadiness then comes the hop bitterness that is quite mild if comparing it to a NW IPA. Medium bodied. Fairly high carbonation. Good lacing. Pretty clean mouthfeel, not much oil to it. The finish is fairly long with the biggest dose of hops, albeit not huge in any way, coming right at the end.
  
  

  St. Peter's IPA, 4.90% ABV
  St. Peters Brewery, St. Peter South Elmham, Suffolk, England
  
  The India Pale Ale from St. Peter's Brewery in St. Peter South Elmham, Suffolk, England pours out a very clear, coppery amber in color with a nice, foamy white head. Malty sweetness on the nose along with grass, some citrus and a tiny bit of pine. In the mouth a dash of sweetness comes first followed by some earthy breadiness then comes the hop bitterness that is quite mild if comparing it to a NW IPA. Medium bodied. Fairly high carbonation. Good lacing. Pretty clean mouthfeel, not much oil to it. The finish is fairly long with the biggest dose of hops, albeit not huge in any way, coming right at the end.
  
  
• oregonbeerlover

  

  Member
   

  March 27, 2009

  Meantime Brewing - Greenwich London England
  Meantime IPA - 7.5% ABV
  
  Love the wine type bottle service of the beer at 750ML. This beer pours out a cloudy orangish amber color, with a fair amount of sediment. Good head retention, but slightly over carbonated. Very little lacing on the glass. Smells quite fruity and bread like. Taste is quite sweet for an IPA, with a very subtle hop presence. More citrus honey like. Just a little overwhelmed by the carbonation, for this beer to be great.
  
  Give this beer a B.
  

  Meantime Brewing - Greenwich London England
  Meantime IPA - 7.5% ABV
  
  Love the wine type bottle service of the beer at 750ML. This beer pours out a cloudy orangish amber color, with a fair amount of sediment. Good head retention, but slightly over carbonated. Very little lacing on the glass. Smells quite fruity and bread like. Taste is quite sweet for an IPA, with a very subtle hop presence. More citrus honey like. Just a little overwhelmed by the carbonation, for this beer to be great.
  
  Give this beer a B.
  
• ilovebeer

  

  Member
   

  March 27, 2009

  
  Samuel Smith
  India Ale
  Serving type: bottle
  
  Pours a copper color and very clean, with a nice dense foamy head that leaves a little lace.
  
  Smells, earthy and floral hops and a lot of malt notes including toast and a little malt.
  
  Taste is... off, somehow. It's very flat for me and a little sour up front, and delivers little in the way of hop flavor. What's there I'd describe as orange/tangerine light fruitiness that helps the light hop flavor.
  
  Finishes with light notes and grainy acridness, and a slight mineral-enhanced bitterness. The flavors are somewhat lacking for me, and a poor interpretation of an India Ale, I would call it an English Pale Ale.
  
  I would give it a C on the high side
  
  Mouthfeel is spritzy and light. I doesn't seem to have a lot of CO2, and little or nor bite to speak off.
  
  It's crisp and refreshing, and not at all unpleasant to drink. Too bad it's nothing like an IPA and I like Samuel Smith overall but this one leaves me puzzled as to what were they thinking
  
  

  
  Samuel Smith
  India Ale
  Serving type: bottle
  
  Pours a copper color and very clean, with a nice dense foamy head that leaves a little lace.
  
  Smells, earthy and floral hops and a lot of malt notes including toast and a little malt.
  
  Taste is... off, somehow. It's very flat for me and a little sour up front, and delivers little in the way of hop flavor. What's there I'd describe as orange/tangerine light fruitiness that helps the light hop flavor.
  
  Finishes with light notes and grainy acridness, and a slight mineral-enhanced bitterness. The flavors are somewhat lacking for me, and a poor interpretation of an India Ale, I would call it an English Pale Ale.
  
  I would give it a C on the high side
  
  Mouthfeel is spritzy and light. I doesn't seem to have a lot of CO2, and little or nor bite to speak off.
  
  It's crisp and refreshing, and not at all unpleasant to drink. Too bad it's nothing like an IPA and I like Samuel Smith overall but this one leaves me puzzled as to what were they thinking
  
  
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  March 28, 2009

  India Ale, 5.00% ABV
  Samuel Smith Old brewery, Tadcaster, England
  
  Samuel Smith's India Ale from the Samuel Smith Old Brewery in Tadcaster, England pours out deep copper in color with nice clarity and a large foamy white head. There is a good amount of toffee and caramel on the nose accompanied by some grapefruit hoppiness. In the mouth I get quite a bit of malt at first, lightly roasted grains, followed by some tart bitterness reminicent of unsweetened tea with slight citrus tones. Light side of medium bodied. Decent carbonation. Some lacing. Good oil to the mouthfeel. Quite dry throughout and especially on the finish.
  
  

  India Ale, 5.00% ABV
  Samuel Smith Old brewery, Tadcaster, England
  
  Samuel Smith's India Ale from the Samuel Smith Old Brewery in Tadcaster, England pours out deep copper in color with nice clarity and a large foamy white head. There is a good amount of toffee and caramel on the nose accompanied by some grapefruit hoppiness. In the mouth I get quite a bit of malt at first, lightly roasted grains, followed by some tart bitterness reminicent of unsweetened tea with slight citrus tones. Light side of medium bodied. Decent carbonation. Some lacing. Good oil to the mouthfeel. Quite dry throughout and especially on the finish.