Na Zdravi !: IPA

Saturday, November 14, 2020

IPA

"This California-style IPA is all about juicy hop flavor and aroma with a full body and mild bitterness that combines the new IPA aesthetic with West Coast tradition. Juicy yeast esters and bright and fruity Mosaic and Meridian hops meld perfectly with Cascade hops for what is sure to become a California classic." Full, rich citrus flavors without going too far. A nice bitterness at the finish. If the idea was to make a west coast version of a New England-style IPA, then mission accomplished. Excellent combination of both styles. ABV 6%, 60 IBU Hops: Cascade, Meridian, Mosaic Malt: Pale Barley, Oat Yeast: Barbarian

Na Zdravi!

A 10-second take.
Not really reviews, just my way to keep track of the beers I've tried.

My mother's family is Czech. They emigrated from Bohemia and settled in Nebraska in the mid-1800s.
They were from the region that included the town Pilzen (Pilsen) where a brewery called Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň, now Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj in Czech), started brewing a uniquely Bohemian-style beer we now know as pilsner.
So, as I raise a glass in honor of my Bohemian roots ...

Na Zdravi! (to your health).

Hops?

A "hop" is the cone shaped resinous flower of the female hop plant. It is used in brewing to add bitterness, flavor, aroma, and stability depending on when it is added.

Hops are one of the 4 basic ingredients of beer although they are not esential in the brewing process. The are used simply to add flavor and complexity to the brew.
Double and even triple IPA's feature an extreme amount of hops, and an ABV to match.
Noble Hops - The traditional varieties of hops that were used to make early European beers. Medieval brewers used Hallertau, Saaz, Spalt, and/or Tettnang hops. All are from Germany except Saaz from the Czech Republic (Žatec in Czech). All are still used today.