Here is a really good beer with a really crappy name...

http://www.corrundum.net/post/Legacy-Brewi...imus-Prime.aspx

Do you consider Bass an IPA? Because I've always simply thought of it as a Pale Ale. Mind you, looking at their history, they do mention the extensive importation through the colonies which is how the notion of IPAs came about. That being, traditional English Ales would perish on the trip to India so they jacked up the hops (which are natural preservatives) to help the beers survive the journey.

I only bring this up because you referenced it as your benchmark for considering this beer. I couldn't help but think an American Style IPA would be a better choice as the modern IPA seems to be, largely an American thing. Enough so that even imports, like the Mikkeller guy I mentioned are making "American Style IPA" in Belgium.

At any rate, I totally hear you both with the over the top nature that some of these can have as well as the stupid names. My issue having more to do with cute plays on the word hops than anything else.

None the less, the market is correcting at least enough that reps are now making a point of saying this beer or that is not over-hopped, the same way guys started assuring me not long ago that their Aussie Shiraz wasn't blown out or their Chardonnays weren't huge oak bombs. They must be responding to something and that's likely a good thing. Glad to see that this one seems to have it all in check.

Heh, I wrote up a nice paragraph explaining the history of IPAs and then went back and read your first paragraph.

Still, it says right on the Bass label, India Pale Ale. It has been and will continue to be the benchmark for India Pale Ales since it pretty much defined the style. What we've done with that on this side of the pond, well that's a different story.

I get your point about the American IPA. I do actually have to post a correction. It seems that we categorize things far more heavily these days than I'm used to. Sigh.

ETA: Rather than change the original post, I added a comment to address my lack of proper categorization of this beer. I wonder how many people will actually read it?

I guess I need to check out a bottle of Bass again. Never noticed that.

No, I've completely stepped on my dick here. It does just say Pale Ale on the label. Frak, now I've got to reboot my brain.

Well, if you can actually step on your dick, that pretty much trumps all.

"So you say Bass Ale isn't an IPA? Well I can step on my dick. How 'bout that?"

I would post, but detlef might go apepoopy on me . . .

Bass is an old style British IPA and there aren't many of them that I've tried. The ultra-hopped American IPA thing mainly originated in the Pacific NW and has now become more of a nationwide staple.

Maybe they have changed it, but it used to say India Pale Ale in small letters on the bottom of the label.

don't be a putz

I just thought you were being kind of a puss, but hey that's just me.

That's what I was thinking but the images I could find on the web (I don't have any Bass at the house right now) didn't have that. Only Bass & Co. Pale Ale. Perhaps they've changed the label?

Ok, so I used to drink Bass all the time but now I lean to the higher alcohol beers. Any thoughts on something flavored like Bass that's a bit stronger? I actually like the hoppy beers but thinking some variety would be nice.

Well, maybe I should have read your blog first. Sounds like the Hoptimus may be exactly what I was asking for.

I've been pretty happy with the Sierra Nevada Torpedo this year. Good value IMO.

Sierra Nevada rarely makes anything less than a great beer. Good stuff.

Will have to try that. Like their pale ale.

Hoptimus Prime is a double pale ale. Very strong in all ways. Doubles or Imperials are pretty much the same thing.

Yep, they don't have this one at my beer store. Will remember it though in case I happen upon it in the future.

Bass is indeed a pale ale, not an IPA. The beer that was shipped to India back in the day was not a balanced beer. It was not a tasty beer, but it would arrive in India unspoiled. Some "at home Brits" tried it, and the Pale Ale was born. Most English beers before that were malty, porters and whatnot. The reason American IPAs are so high in alc content is balance... more malt sweetenss to balance the bitterness of the hops means more fermntables... more malt, sweetness for balance. More hops, more malt= higher alc content

The hops used by the American breweries, who basically saved the IPA from extinction are all citrusy flavored hops. Cascades mostly. Traditional English pale ales often use fuggle hops, and they can have a grassy smell when used in volume as the style calls for. There are other english and european hops that work in an IPA recipe, but I don't recall ever seeing one available off the shelf, although I have brewed IPAs with european hops, and it's VERY different from the grape fruity American IPAs. Amarillo hops are a bit more lemony, but still hard core like cascade hops are.

Kent goldings (english) and Czech Saaz hops made for a very different and more subtle IPA. The noble hops (germany, mostly) just don't hold up in an IPA. They rae better used in lagers, like Sam Adams lager. There are other, older american hops, inspired by the european hops that work well too. Cascades, amarillos and that genre are relativley newer varities, but the american micros are in love with them. I'd like to see them push it a bit, and use hops other than the over the top citrus hops. Even american pale ales have gone to the citrus hops.

Bass pale ale uses primarilly kent goldings and some fuggle. I'd like to see Bass try a real IPA based on their pale ale recipe... would make for an interesting brew.

A hometown winner - I was just talking to a friend last night about this and realized I haven't been down to the Canal St Pub where they have it on tap - sounds like a plan for a Friday lunch!

On my third one right now. A very good beer indeed.

As Bert Grant of Grant's brewing refereed to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale when I met him, the "other" good beer.