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"TheBeerNut":r4vvknvk wrote:

"KeeganAles":r4vvknvk wrote: Little resemblance to either English or American IPAs.[/quote:r4vvknvk]Ah, I see you found the can opener, then.
*twist twist twist*
British breweries have been making IPAs like the Greene King one continuously since at least the early 1930s. In what way does it bear little resemblance to English IPA? It [i:r4vvknvk]is[/i:r4vvknvk] English IPA; historically and verifiably[/url:r4vvknvk] so.[/quote:r4vvknvk]

Yes, and porters can't have roasted barley!!!

A perfectly valid point, of course; far be it from me to argue with the research of Mr. Pattinson.

Trouble is, when I hear "IPA" I think "hoppy" and something like Greene King is less hoppy than your average bitter. Then when you've got a rake of British IPAs like those already mentioned (the ones not claiming to be 19th C throwbacks) coming it at 4.9% - 6% ABV while the likes of Deuchars and Greene King are 3.6% - 3.8%, I have to think that these weaker ones were never intended to be similar to Jaipur, Bad Elf, etc.

Which means there's either the range in the definition of English IPA to accommodate some fairly different beers or GK and Deuchars IPA are not "to style".

Assuming style means anything, etc. [insert slam of the BJCP for the triple!]

"KeeganAles":1dxig4em wrote: Trouble is, when I hear "IPA" I think "hoppy" and something like Greene King is less hoppy than your average bitter.[/quote:1dxig4em]Which is fair enough, but you can't then take this perception and project it as a rule onto the real world in contradiction to the evidence. No (reliable) authority says IPA should be hoppy, or strong, and there's plenty of evidence to the contrary.

"KeeganAles":1dxig4em wrote: I have to think that these weaker ones were never intended to be similar to Jaipur, Bad Elf, etc.[/quote:1dxig4em]You are saying that the type of IPA brewed since the 1930s was not designed to be like beers which didn't exist until [i:1dxig4em]decades[/i:1dxig4em] later? I don't know what to say to that one, but I can't deny the truth of it.

"KeeganAles":1dxig4em wrote: Assuming style means anything, etc.[/quote:1dxig4em]Well there you go. I don't think it does. Greene King IPA pre-dates the BJCP too. Saying it's not true to style is not so much moving goalposts as building them in a different field from where the game is happening.

"KeeganAles":w8epm2ja wrote: One of a bunch of bland-ish British bitters (Deuchars is another)[/quote:w8epm2ja]
I have a few bottles of Deuchars in the press. It's 4.4% abv, and I find it reasonably hoppy, tho I could have sworn it was hoppier last year when I had it. I haven't had the weaker version on tap.

"kev2403":1f5i184c wrote: [quote:1f5i184c]Greene King IPA [/quote:1f5i184c]

Very Disappointed with this, flavourless and bland
[/quote:1f5i184c]

Agreed. I wouldn't buy it again.

My favourite IPA is Little Creatures from Australia. Oddbins used to carry it but I have not seen it for a few years. I have also been enjoying Hop-A-Lot-Amus from River Horse, but I think that's an APA.