Beer – #567 – Harrington’s – Brewers’ Selection India Pale Ale
Brewers selection, artiststic interpretation, interpretive numbers, and party interpretations.
“.. a crisp bitterness and the orange marmalade flavour notes..”
This is the brewers standard 500ml bottle, beer that is 7.4% ABV, 222 calories a serve size, 60 IBU things, and 2.9 standard drink units.
Brewed by Harringtons Breweries (Christchurch) In the style this is India Pale Ale (IPA) and they do that in, or course, Christchurch, New Zealand
This brewers’ selection release celebrates none other than then hop.
Posh label lots of little words, my poor old eyes it never ends well
Whilst definitely in fashion at the moment, we normally look towards superbly balanced brews.
However, we decided it was time to put our stamp on the current trend for big hoppy brews and what better style to stretch our legs than an Indian Pale Ale… … At 7.4% it’s a big bold beer, with a crisp bitterness and the orange marmalade flavour notes imparted by our 7 -yes seven- hop additions. This imparts a gorgeous resinous aroma and a finish that hangs around to remind you to take another sip.
So what could go wrong? Break out the posh glass…
It’s a bit ‘old school’ to try an tutor our audience, and I’m a bit at odds with “Brewers’ Selection’ as a thing, the same though as I guess “Special Reserve’ Harrington’s go one further and also have a “Premium” selection. At odds because the ‘Brewers’ Selection’ appear to be all year round beers.
Anyhoo… I’m looking forward to a ‘big’ IPA. Got to sop those ‘ ‘ things too.
My initial take on the aroma is of bready yeast, and somehow passionfruit.
Pour is rich chestnut and a head the size of humpty, noisy beer too you can hear the bubble action. Aroma would be a struggle through the clouds.
It settles, and I still smell bready yeasty thing.
Bitterness level isn’t high. Malt level is. Finish isn’t of much. I’m wanting to like this more than I initially am. The head falls away, slightly and some more of the floral, mostly fruit aroma comes to the fore.
This isn’t a “big hoppy’ beer. Not even. It is more like a polite guest, but one who talks loudly, Big in ABV (relatively) but it’s not big in either bitterness or layers or peaks of flavour.
This is a gentle IPA, it might even be one that someone how wants to venture into IPA’s in general would transition through, for me though it just isn’t big enough, nor does it’s ABV level make up for it.
I’m loathe to be unnecessarily disparaging about a beer, but this is just a bit average. Not awful average, but just not cut to run with the big boys, or the brewers who’ve gone all-in on IPA’s as a style.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. I’m not convinced that the amount of malt sweetness in this justifies the lack of bitter hop peaks that I might have been looking for. It, for me, isn’t a great IPA beer.
The double dip review
- Am I enjoying it? Not really, it promised so much in the tiny writing (that I couldn’t read) that I’m sure I’d be even more miffed if I’ d read it.
- Would I have another? Not of this, except that it is easy drinking, and I could be persuaded. I’d have liked more peaks in flavours.
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I couldn’t hand of heart bring this as a showcase of a beer style. So no.
Note: I was provided this beer by the brewer to try and review, without catches, this is 1 of 12 should wonder about the sudden love of a brewer out of the blue.
In a change of pace I’m listening to ‘Short Movie’ – an album from Laura Marling, you can find it on the Spotify here
Laura Beatrice Marling is a folk singer-songwriter and musician from Eversley, Hampshire, England.
INDIA PALE ALE & IPA
India Pale Ale gets its name and unique style from British brewers who were making beer for export to India. This style has an intense hop flavor which was used to preserve the beer for the long voyage. India Pale Ale has a golden to copper color with a medium maltiness and body. The aroma is moderate to very strong. IPAs work especially well at cutting the heat of chili, vindaloo or Sichuan cuisine.
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