O/T: Which British IPAs should I check out?

by SpunOut on Nov 14, 2011 6:02 AM EST

Alright, this is for all the Brits here on PdC. A friend of mine is off to the UK this weekend to visit family and has offered to pick me up some beer. I'm keen to try some IPAs but haven't a clue outside of Greene King which IPAs I should be trying. Any and all recommendations are welcome. The only requirements I have is that I need these recommendations right away and the beer needs to come in bottles, so no pub only brews. Thanks!

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Deuchars?

Should come in bottles.

by papyrus on Nov 14, 2011 6:28 AM EST reply actions

Deuchars is yum...

…and a damn sight better than Greene King, but neither are historically true IPAs.

Brewdog’s Hardcore IPA and Brewdog’s Punk IPA are often available in tesco. They are yum.

Sharp’s also sometimes have a good IPA available in shops too.

Here’s a Scot, like me, reviewing Deuchars.

by Guinea on Nov 14, 2011 2:04 PM EST up reply actions

Brewdog brews stupid beers

although they taste fine, their main selling point seems to be the alcohol. And I think I’ve (just about) grown out of that target market. Hardcore IPA at 9.2%. And the name. (And Tesco.)

But while we’re at it, I must mention their Tactical Nuclear Penguin.

by papyrus on Nov 14, 2011 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

From what I understand, the Brewdog IPAs are American style IPAs

cranked up hops and alcohol, at least on the part of the Hardcore IPA which is a DIPA, so more alcohol. I love American IPAs but I want to try some authentic British style IPAs.

Focus on easy first. If that's all you get, that ain't half bad - Caballo Blanco

by SpunOut on Nov 14, 2011 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

Leffe is an IPA?

moo

by Willj on Nov 14, 2011 11:02 AM EST reply actions

Ha!

I like to try all kinds of different beers and I love hops, which most of the beer I drink (Belgians) do not have in sufficient quantities. Occasionally I have to venture outside of Belgian beer, the horror!

Focus on easy first. If that's all you get, that ain't half bad - Caballo Blanco

by SpunOut on Nov 14, 2011 12:30 PM EST up reply actions

This is off topic?

The end is nigh.

Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...

by TheFigurehead on Nov 14, 2011 11:57 AM EST reply actions

If I was asking about Belgian beer, no it wouldn't be off topic but these are British IPAs

they don’t quite go with bike racing like Belgian beers do.

Focus on easy first. If that's all you get, that ain't half bad - Caballo Blanco

by SpunOut on Nov 14, 2011 12:33 PM EST up reply actions

Cycling is a global sport now

I was told there'd be no math.

by platypus on Nov 14, 2011 5:11 PM EST up reply actions

I'd second deuchars

Is there a reason you are after IPAs? I’d say it’s not a hugely popular category here and apart from Deuchars and Greene King you don’t see it that much. If he’s in London he might pick up some Bengal Lancer from Fullers which I haven’t had for a while. There are plenty of hoppy, lighter beers though. If you are prepared to step away from just IPAs you might look at some of the following which are reasonably widely available:

Badger First Gold
Hook Norton Hooky Gold
St Peters golden ale
Wychwood scarecrow

by thebongolian on Nov 14, 2011 5:30 PM EST reply actions

the expert has arrived :)

moo

by Willj on Nov 14, 2011 5:32 PM EST up reply actions

i don't buy much bottled british beer

partly because I’m still working my way through the van load of belgian / northern french beer I bought when i went over to watch paris-roubaix in april

by thebongolian on Nov 14, 2011 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

IPAs because I want to see the differences between them and American IPAs

I love American IPAs, party because of the truckload of hops that we have added to our IPAs and figure there must be something to the original IPA style that is worth checking out. I love pale ales so I may give some a try at a later date when I’m there and not my poor friend, who drinks cider not beer.

Focus on easy first. If that's all you get, that ain't half bad - Caballo Blanco

by SpunOut on Nov 14, 2011 11:53 PM EST up reply actions

fair enough

where’s he gonna be? and how much do you trust him? there are a places with very good ranges of beer you could send him to and ask him to pick up every ipa he can see…

by thebongolian on Nov 15, 2011 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

There is only one, Worthington’s White Shield.

“William Worthington’s White Shield is an original India Pale Ale dating back to the 1820s – it is now known as one of the oldest surviving examples of an India Pale Ale. William Worthington began brewing great beer in Burton-on-Trent in 1744.

Worthington’s White Shield is bottle conditioned meaning it continues to ferment after bottling, allowing the beer to mature for up to three years. It is the closest thing to cask ale in a bottle and should be savoured to fully appreciate its great taste.

Worthington’s White Shield is a multi-award winning beer including 7 CAMRA Champion Bottled Beer of Britain awards. To date, no other beer has won this many awards, showing how consistently great tasting this beer is."

I’ve never bought it outside of a pub though.

by Simon A (aka Sid) on Nov 15, 2011 7:43 PM EST up reply actions

Meantime

Meantime’s IPA is nice, but strong. Their London Pale Ale is even nicer. Available in some supermarkets in the south but I’m not sure how easy they would be for your friend to find.

I second thebongolian’s suggestion of looking away from IPAs to other ales and bitters.

Mark

by mpw5 on Nov 14, 2011 5:40 PM EST reply actions

Nope, only interested in IPAs right now

Mostly for comparison. I like strong beers like strong American double IPAs with IBU counts pushing the triple digits so I’ll have to check out the Meantime, thanks.

Focus on easy first. If that's all you get, that ain't half bad - Caballo Blanco

by SpunOut on Nov 14, 2011 11:55 PM EST up reply actions

After reading so much about beers....

I need an aspirin..!

Help PdC Club in STRAVA... Welcome Sebastian Velez from Colombia..!
Who is going to take the 28 spot i n the team?
Who is going to take the 43 in the Club?
New goal..! top 20 in the KOM Challenge..! Are you in?

by pablo777 on Nov 14, 2011 8:32 PM EST reply actions

Kent ones to consider

If your friend is in Kent then he should be able to find these two which are two of my favourites (although mostly in local shops not in supermarkets):

Hopdaemon Skrimshander; and
Gadds No.3 (actually called a “Ramsgate” Pale Ale rather than IPA but similar style) – i’ve generally found that the bottles are better than cask anyway for this beer.

The other one not in Kent that you should try (and available in some supermarkets – Waitrose definitely) is:

Thornbridge Jaipur.

Have fun!

by KentStu on Nov 15, 2011 5:29 AM EST reply actions