Beer # 76 Jaipur IPA

Jaipur IPA


Thornbridge Brewery
Bakewell, England, U.K.
Independent
India Pale Ale, Unfiltered 5.9% ABV Brown Glass Bottle 500 ml.
$4.55 (Canadian) At LCBO.


Twitter: @thornbridge


Thornbridge is a young, but already, quite renowned brewery, that has received many awards in their short 7 year history. Started in 2005 on the grounds of Thornbridge Hall in Bakewell, Derbyshire. The brewery has been led by an erudite collaboration of no less than 8 people over the years (as some member have moved on to other projects). The brewers have a diverse history, from microbiologists to chefs, food technologists, brewers distillers, and a New Zealand Homebrewing Champion. From what seems a very chaotic mix of managers, comes a harmonious product. Thornbridge has been awarded over 130 brewing awards and distinctions, and as we will see tonight... they know what they doing. Since they have opened the sales have increased almost exponentially, requiring a move off of the old Hall brewing grounds to a larger purpose built facility, called the Riverside Brewery.


Enough history... onto the beer.


It pours a slightly cloudy, off clear gold. Head is fluffy and white made up of medium sized bubbles. Aroma is floral with hints of honey, lychee, and grapefruit. First sip gives us a burst of aromatic herbal hops, then slides through a sweet malt, and finishes with a tangy grapefruit. Finish is fairly short with a touch of hay and pricks of citrus. Aeration turns the grapefruit up to 11, and brings out a very mineral, flinty, stony flavour. Also present is some yeasty, bready character ( more than likely due to the sediment, as it is unfiltered.)



Impressions: Fail, So-so, Pass, Exceptional   


Cost: 5/6 PASS
Colour: 5/6 PASS
Beer Style: 6/6Exceptional
Re-Order:  6/6 Exceptional
Experience:   6/6 Exceptional


Final Thoughts:

Very interesting, lovely little brew. Quite tasty and not what I would expect from a British Brewery, as it has more of an American craft IPA feel to it. Not a hop bomb, per se, but the hops are very present, and not shy. The balance of the hops is calculated and appreciated, leaving us with a flavourful and well rounded beer. I must note, that when I first brought the bottle home I did not read the label and stored it immediately on it's side in my wine cooler. When I initially took it out to taste, I noticed the sediment. Then I read the warning that the bottle had to be stored upright. Lesson learned, I actually left it for a few days in my refrigerator to completely settle, and I still see a fairly large mass of unfiltered yeast at the bottom of the bottle.(DO NOT FEAR THE SEDIMENT!!) I am not worried at all as sediment can be the sign of a very good beer. Leaving a beer unfiltered can often present us with some flavours that are lost during the filtering and pasteurization process, try it, you may like it.


Cheers


CJT


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