Show #13: Bicoastal IPAs
Prebeer Preamble: Many beer lovers love their India Pale Ales, and who can blame them? Today’s show spotlights this big, hoppy style, with a little twist: the two beers come from opposite sides of the USA. It’s sort of the Tupac Shakur/Notorious B.I.G. of beercasting. I guess.
Beer #1: I’m joined by my brother-in-law, Dave Cavanaugh, for some Shipyard IPA from Portland, ME. Dave’s an admitted hefeweizen/fruit beer fan. Looks like he picked the wrong day to be on the podcast.
Interbeer Interlude: Eat Your Beer. “Bratwurst in Guinness.” In a new recurring segment, I’m joined by beer cuisine enthusiast (and podcaster) Michael R. Mennenga, and we talk about ways to use beer in cooking beyond Beer-Butt Chicken. Mike applies his years of experimentation with using brews in food prepration in giving tips, general principles, and a kick-ass (and easy!) recipe.
Beer #2: Having been pleasantly surprised by the first beer, Dave reaches eagerly for the next, Lagunitas IPA. On a sunny northern Cali day, we sip the beer and discuss the influence California’s largest cash crop may (or may not) have had on the finished brew. Oh, and I go through the whole “why they’re called IPAs” thing.
Beer Geek Moment: “Hop Varieties”. Like most crops, hops come in a number of different strains. Today we look at the influence of different varieties in crafting a beer’s flavor, aroma, and bitterness. Warning: many variety names may or may not be mispronounced in this Moment. Feedback is welcome.
Postbeer Postscript: Dave and I score the beers, factoring in flavor, mouthfeel, and the potential baked-ness of the brewers. Does this east coast/west coast thing end as tragically as the last one?
September 8th, 2006 at 7:54 am
Keep an eye out Charlie for Stone’s 10th Anniversary Beer I found it new on the shelves this week, it kind of reminded me of Dogfishhead 90 Minute IPA, but a bit more bitter, but with a similar high cirtus hoppiness.
September 8th, 2006 at 3:50 pm
Now that I had a listen I think the Shipyard seemed so flat in aroma was due to the only one variety of hop used, Jamil, a prize winning brewer at TBN, he mentioned at one point that with IPAs you need the diversity of hops for good aroma.
As for the Lagunitas I’d bet they probably use Columbus for the bittering.
I suspect alot of the difference is based that Shipyard went more British IPA in formulation, Lagunitas is definately American IPA in style…
How did you come up with your beer scale Charlie? I am used to the BJCP one and I have noticed yours is similar but different.
Good show…but it’s driving me to drink…I am oughta here
September 12th, 2006 at 5:09 am
Hey Charlie -
Great show. My favorite East cost IPA right nowis the Smuttynose IPA. Like the Shipyard, this one is pretty balance, nice and citrusy.
-M