IPA (the book)

No. Like I said earlier. I do like Black IPAs. I just don't think Back in Black is a good Black IPA. It was relatively fresh. Less than 2 months old from what I recall. Yes. I always check dates.

 

If this were true I'd probably never drink an ipa again. Was this beer brewed with menthol? That's all I got out of it. My first "at the bar" drainpour.

 

Was there much information in the book that you would want to reference before you develop your recipe and strategy for IPAs in the future? I'm really looking for a book with lots of dry information, like an updated Designing Great Beers. I really don't have much interest in another book full of stories with homebrew recipes scattered throughout.

 

It all depends. If you are looking for information and technique how to brew historical IPA's then you will enjoy it and have something to gain. If you just want a straight up Brewing Classic Styles this book is not it. It does have a ton of Historical Recipes and the traditional ways they were brewed though so I guess it all comes down to what interests you.

 

It also has recipes for current AIPAs, DIPAs, and BIPAs.

It does have many tables and infromation that is somewhat like Designing Great Beer, but has historical information and stories from the author, along with side bars from other brewers. It is Mitch Steele's book, so
don't expect Ray Daniels.

Which book are you talking about that was full of stories? Curious.

 

Well I had it at Capones a very well respected craft beer bar in the Philly area (see BA reviews). I thought it was quite good and it had no 'menthol' flavors at all.

 

I actually quite enjoy Beer Here Dark Hops, Stone Sublimely Self Righteous, and Avery New World Porter, even though the latter isn't really considered a black IPA.

 

Founders has a Black IPA that is taproom only, and it is good enough that the wife liked it. She does not like roasty burnt flavors, this one only has a hint, and work well with the hops.

 

Sounds like you got a bad pour, or whatever. That beer is rock solid. I don't think I've ever had a beer with a "menthol" character. Are you talking menthol like Vicks, or cigarattes? Either way, I'm not sure I'd like that either. Try a bottle of it, if you don't mind dropping $6 on a bomber.

 

I wasn't really thinking of anything specific, but I own Microbrewed Adventures by Charlie Papazian and Radical Brewing by Randy Mosher. I enjoyed reading both books quite a bit, but I don't find either one particularly useful when formulating my own recipes. I'll probably check this out eventually. I'm sure there will be plenty in it for me, and I've always enjoyed listening to Mitch on TBN.

 

I made what could be the very worst Black IPA ever created...in the world. i made it with pink peppercorns which are somewhat citrusy...used too many and crushed them which made it worse. f'ing disguisting. it smells like heavily peppered meatloaf. the taste is hard to describe its so bad, although burnt hair is close. i still have some bottles if anyone wants one.

 

I dunno, the rosemary black IPA that I made was pretty horrible. Who would think that 3g of fresh rosemary at FO would completely overpower a beer?

 

I started reading it over the weekend. There is a heavy emphasis, about 2/3 of the book, on a researched historical account of the style, building up to modern versions of it in the US and UK. The last third or so is more about brewing the style and variants.

I find it interesting but hard to digest in one sitting. I find myself skipping around a lot rather than reading cover to cover, which is what I still do with Brew Like a Monk, Farmhouse Ales, Wild Brews, and Brewing with Wheat, several years after they came out. So, at least for me, there's every reason to believe that i will get my money's worth from this book over the next few years. But it makes me want more hops, NOW!