India Pale Ale is a style of beer that evolved from the “need” to successfully ship ale via a three- to five-month sea voyage to India in the 18th century. Today, we have a modern English interpretation of the style and an American version, using “American ingredients and attitude.” Consequently, there can be quite a variety of flavour profiles represented by India Pale Ale within a range of 5.0-7.5% ABV and 40-70 International Bitterness Units (IBU).Some IPAs are heavy, malty, and bitter; others are light-tasting and very fruity. The varieties of hops used and their quantities have a major influence, but the amount and types of malt used do not necessarily play an insignificant role. They can balance out what might otherwise be a very bitter beer.
Granville Island’s Brockton IPA is an accessible India Pale Ale for the novice beer drinker. It’s an amber ale of moderate carbonation and medium body. Sweet and malty on the nose, this character comes through in the foretaste, building in the middle, then finishing with a cursory fruity bitterness. It’s a stronger version of GIB’s Pale Ale with a hoppier finish. That said, this is only true when served at the proper temperature. At a cooler serving temperature, typical for here, the bitterness is more pronounced, which may be less agreeable to drinkers than if it were consumed not so cool.
IPAs are commonly paired with spicy foods and sharp cheeses, like aged English cheddars. However, depending on your tolerance for chili, Brockton IPA is unlikely to stand up to the likes of a Vindaloo. It should match more moderately spicy dishes and even salmon.
Brewer: Granville Island Brewing, Kelowna
ABV: 6.0%
Category: India Pale Ale
Appearance: 4
Aroma: 3
Flavour: 3
Mouthfeel: 4
Overall: 3
Score: 17/25
Availability: in government & private liquor stores, either in 6 x 341ml bottles or 6 x 355ml cans.
~ RG
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
As your scoring notes, average at best. A bit of a disappointment from the folks at GIB as they have set their own bar pretty high.
I tried this beer for the first time this week, having walked to Granville Island to pick up a few bottles of their fabulous ginger beer only to find I had missed it by a week and will have to wait another year for it. (Was told to try the Steamworks ginger beer, but not sure if they bottle it?) Any whooo, not normally a fan of GI beers I was walking out when I thought, what the heck, let’s see if there is a beer here I haven’t tried. Asking for the driest, I find most GI beer too sweet, the IPA was suggested. I liked it a lot. Crisp with a nice (quite) bitter fruitiness and dry. I had it cold, as I like my beer that way and, although not a novice beer drinker :) enjoyed it and will buy it again. C.
Steamworks doesn’t bottle, but you can get their beer to go in a 2L growler.
As for drinking beer cold, different beer styles are suited to serving at different temperatures. As you wouldn’t serve a Cab at the same temperature as a Chard, you shouldn’t serve an IPA at the same temperature as a lager. You simply miss out the full flavour of the beer.
If you’re looking for a cool, clean, crisp beer, then a classic Pils would be what you want.
Here’s a guide to beer serving temperatures: http://www.ratebeer.com/Story.asp?StoryID=479.
Thanks for the tip, what’s a growler?
Growlers are 2L refillable, screw top bottles that can be purchased at most Lower Mainland brewpubs. You just bring your growler up to the bar, the bartender will fill it with the beer of your choice and you’ll pay $10, more or less, depending on the brewpub. When you’re done, wash the bottle out and bring it back for a refill.
BTW, Steamworks has a nice Pils, but it’s only on sometimes as a seasonal; has a nice dry finish.