Saturday 9 July 2011

An IPA a Day #2

Day two of my IPA list leading up to the first international IPA day.
Todays offering is Marstons Old Empire. It may be brewed by one of the bigger boys of the UK brewing scene but it was one of those beers that helped shaped my love of beer. I think it was the first really hoppy beer I ever drank and I couldn't get enough of it. Of course I ended up off my tits when ever it was available, the stupidity of youth getting the better of me most of the time back in the day. The reason for this? Well aside from youthful exuberance it is rarely seen in London that you have to make the most of it whenever you can!
Tasting notes for this seminal(snigger) ale include the skunk-like whiff of the famous Burton Snatch which gives way to the nose which comes from the American hop, Cascade. On the palate it's got the richness of the malt coming through and  then gets a really bitter and dry hop finish. Very moreish which I suspect was also part of the problem in my youth!

6 comments:

beersiveknown said...

Wouldn't describe Burton snatch as skunk like! Don't think I've ever tried it on draught

rabidbarfly said...

Draught is amazing.

Sid Boggle said...

Yes, the bottled version struck me as too thin, and in those bloody clear glass bottles. On draught, a totally different beer...

rabidbarfly said...

I know! Clear glass! come on Marstons!

Unknown said...

A decent beer, but one which always seems to sit a little better in the memory than it ever does in the mouth.

rabidbarfly said...

Have to disagree with you there Hearty, it's one that never disappoints me. Still if we all liked the same thing it'd be a pretty dull world.