Beer - #396 - Thornbridge - Jaipur (a redux)

Thornbride Jaipur - From the way back when machine I found a place that stocks this now, on the shelf, last time I had this I thought it was  two things.

Firstly it was a special delivery from the UK from a very god friend, Neil, and secondly it was a gosh good beer.

So here we go again - Brewed by Thornbridge in the style that is  India Pale Ale (IPA) and they are in Bakewell, England (which I think has a Tart named after it too). It's been 369 beers between drinks. 

It's a beer of 5.9% ABV, and comes in a 500ml bottle, making it 177 calories a serving, and 2.33 standard drink units in NZ.  This s 55 on the IBU scale, so  middling to bitter is expected.

 

[caption id="attachment_8510" align="alignright" width="300"] Selfie[/caption]

A citrus dominated India Pale Ale, its immediate impression is soft and smooth yet builds to a crescendo of massive hoppiness accentuated by honey. An enduring, bitter finish.

The immediate impression of this wonderful multi award winning India Pale Ale is soft and smooth but this builds around the mouth to a crescendo of massive hoppiness accentuated by honey.

Voted best keg ale in the World at the 2010 Brewing Industry International Awards. 

Can't help but thinking that the world has sped up a bit since 2010 and that that particular crown would be even harder to achieve now. 

So, familiar English beer yeasty aroma. Pours a much paler yellow than I remember.  Lovely soapy looking foamy head.

Faint grassy hoppiness and a hint of citrus notes, last time I thought orange, this time not so much. One thing that I'm getting to grips with though is this might be too cold, so I'm going to give it a moment.

There is a gasping amount of hop flavour in this, and it's really really nice. All fresh and zesty and travels well over the tongue.

in fact, "there's a party going on in my mouth" is a phrase that comes to mind, but not the risqué bit that follows "and you're invited" but if you were coming over I'd get this in, and you could get some in.

For a beer that is 55 IBU and therefore bitter this isn't bitter in any sense of the word and would be a really good beer for an exploration into IPA beers.

As I've noted many times IPA is a go-to beer  for brewers and there are some fantastic ones and some really average ones, some are bitter some aren't. This just is a fine benchmark of a style of beer that is to be admired.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 a of its bizarre things from the thing, and that's not  how I thought of it last time up, although then I was miffed that the hops didn't make the palate and the orange was a  thing, this time I get that the hops are actually integral and really are working, but I also notice that this doesn't have a lot of carry and a lot of body.

Tell you what thought I could get totally done in on this in an evening as it's quaffable, enjoyable and totally entertaining.

And there is was gone.. lights out, words gone!

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes for many reasons, mostly because it is as good as I remember it


2. Would I have another? Oath, I know where they stock it now!


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes I'd share a few and then some.

Background this with the Album"A Different Kind of Fix" from the Bombay Bicycle Club -  This track is "Lights Out, Words Gone"

It's a layers and pleasing talking over music thing, that has engaged my brain in the background and I'm mentally picking tracks to give a second listen to.  Then I noticed that I have doubled up on the tracks on the iPod thingy and I've been double listening, and whilst not noticing I have been enjoying it. I'll fix that later, bit for now in the bit before dinner it's ok.

As of that's not enough dinner tonight is humble sausages and mash with onions and gravy,and the remains of the bread from yesterday.  I was hoping for Fish and Chips but I'm not going to make a fuss as this is more than acceptable.

Oh and I didn't mention that for my recent birthday I got a sausage making machine..... a new project that I'm a bit reluctant about, advice, inspiration and tips welcome, including put it in the cupboard and forget about it :-)

http://vimeo.com/33147684

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.