This was the first time the new all-malt beer had been served outside of the brewery and I was lucky enough to be given a sample by the MD himself (William Lees-Jones) and though I didn't meet Marco, I enjoyed the spectacle very much. It has to be said he has incredible presence. The beer, named after a champion greyhound owned by the chef's father, was rather good. Firmly malty in the Lees house style, but with a very good hop finish, it will be widely available from April.
Another beer hit was Holts IPA. Only 3.8% but a delightful hoppy number that you could swoop a lot of pints of. It is a permanent addition to the range.
Apart from being a handsome bugger, Marco also looked as though he'd be pretty useful if a ruck started.
9 comments:
He looks like a grumpy bugger to me...
He was grinning happily but that seems to be his camera face.
Wouldn't fancy crossing him.
Have to agree about the Holt IPA. Tastes a lot better than you might expect from a 3.8% beer. But it's not an IPA whatever they want to call it (same as GK IPA I suppose though).
I went on Tuesday and the hall was only 2/3rds full of exhibitors, it's usually full. Credit crunch hitting the freebies as well?
All malt? Finally a real ale that isn't adjunct piss and as good as a Carsberg Export!
I'm with ShadowHider - what's wrong with calling a 3.8% Pale Ale a "Pale Ale" and having done with it? Why stick the 'I' on the front and mis-lead the folks who've come to expect the 'I' to stand for a particular style..?
Sorry, rant over. Long slog of a week in the marketing department (mutter, grumble, what's wrong with a bit of authenticity in your branding, chunter-chunter...)
It's not misleading anyone. Most British drinkers expect an IPA to be blonde session bitter. It's only beer geeks who've read American beer books who think IPA should be a strong beer.
And of course there was the now-defunct Charrington IPA which was a notably sweet and malty beer.
I'm not sure what the style of IPA should be that drinkers could claim deception. I've had different beers called IPA that, apart from being pale-coloured, had few common characteristics.
I'm no expert, but strength isn't confined to American IPAs ~ I've had strong British IPAs. Besides, I've always thought IPAs brewed in Britain for actual export to India were stronger to help them withstand the journey.
Greene King IPA is one of the most boring beers I've come across.
did you ask him about his steak and ale restaurant that doesnt serve ale?
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