Much Thanks To Original IPA Innovators

You may want to check out Mitch Steele's (from Stone) new book on IPAs. It's a decent read on the history of IPAs (and some common misconceptions) and a really good read for those that want to make them.

http://www.amazon.com/IPA-Brewing-T..._1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355974253&sr=8-1&keywords=ipa

He's a good guy, by the way.

 

sorry, the creators of IPA's are not reading this. They died. This is like when people pay respects to their dead grandparents on facebook... your grandma is dead, and if she was alive she still wouldn't be reading your facebook.

 

Most likely what other Englishmen think of American IPAs; too bitter and way over the top. Their loss!

 

Subsequently, the British troops stationed in India were the first to taste truly world class barleywines.

 

no, memorials are meant to serve as means to remember someone usually people create a monument, sculpture, etc... that people can use to remind themselves of the person(s). Don't compare your crappy online thread to any of these. I love IPA's too, but paying respect to dead people online? Just drink the IPA, enjoy it, and think of them/ remember them that way. Their legacy is being lived on through the progression and ongoing existence of IPA's not your thread.

 

You seem like a really nice guy.

 

sure am

 

Just drank a Samuel Smith India Ale. No idea if this is closer to the original IPAs, but nowhere near the hop/alcohol bombs (that I love) that dominate American craft brewing these days.

 

You're showing your intelligence by bitching about it in his "crappy" thread online. Just look at the threads you like, enjoy them, and think of them/remember them that way. Cheers!

*EDIT* Yeah, IPAs are awesome.

 

Beer is good. I share your enthusiasm for Hop Forward Beers and the (under)appreciated brewers who pioneered the style, all those years ago.

 

What? I really don't understand what you mean by this.

The British troops in India mostly drank Porter.

 

That's a common misconception. They actually mostly drank India Pale Ales aged in British naval vessels: the first documented barleywine beers.

 

Very probably those old IPAs tasted more bitter than today's American ones. They were very highly attenuated. not of high ABV, aged and probably with Brett. The hops used were mainly for bittering; modern IPAs use most of the hops for aroma and flavour (hoppiness).These factors increase perceived bitterness quite markedly.
As patto1ro says, the troops drank Porter , about twice as much Porter was shipped to India as IPA. And that was very heavily hopped as well.

 

Thank you Bert Grant and cheers.

 

But our hops are more flavorful and potent than fuggles, etc. That was why they didnt like our IPAs.