Drinking this week’s Potosi Snake Hollow IPA has locked it in at 3.5 stars for me. It’s growing on me, but I don’t think it’s going to get rated higher than this for me. Today we’re going to look at this style of beer, from a historical standpoint.
History of India Pale Ale
Hodgson and the Bow Brewery
In the early 1780s, a London brewer named George Hodgson of the Bow Brewery on the Middlesex-Essex border started exporting casks of a strong, amber, highly-hopped October beer. The strength of the beer suited the six-month sea voyage (and the hops didn’t hurt), and it arrived in superb condition. It became popular among East India Company traders and was apparently well received in India. After forty years of success, Hodgson’s sons came into control of the Bow Brewery and they eventually alienated the East India Company, bringing an end to Bow Brewery’s success in the India market.
Allsop Brewery
The Allsop Brewery in Burton-on-Trent was known for strong ales that were possible by the hard local water. They had been doing big business shipping a dark, sweet beer up the Baltic Sea and into Russia until a high tariff in 1822 caused them to lose their European market. In the void left by the failure of Bow Brewery, Allsop and other Burton breweries such as Bass and Salt looked to take advantage of the open Indian market.
The paler, hoppy beer that Bow Brewery had been producer was very different from the dark, sweet Burton beers, so the Burton breweries developed a paler, crisper beer to replace the Bow beers. As it turned out, the hard, gypsum-laden water of Burton was better suited than London water for pale, hoppy beer. Burton India Pale Ale became preferred by merchants and their customers in India.
Popular with the Public
At some point, India Pale Ale caught on with the public, and the new beer’s popularity spread like that of porter before it. By the mid-nineteenth century, Pale Ales and India Pale Ales replaced porter as THE fashionable beer.
Myths
- Myth 1: IPAs were much stronger than other beers of the time.
- Myth 2: IPAs were developed to survive the voyage to India. Porter shipped to India at the same time survived the voyage without a problem.
- Myth 3: Barrels of India Pale Ale were recovered from a foundered ship, and the beer found wild popularity with the English drinking public.
Myth or no myth, I’ll probably perpetuate these just because I think they’re awesome!
Names
According to the ever-reliable Wikipedia, this style of beer was originally known by a variety of names:
- Pale ale as prepared for India
- India Ale
- Pale India Ale
- Pale Export India Ale
- The first known use of the name “India Pale Ale” comes from an advertisement in the Liverpool Mercury newspaper on January 30, 1835.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Hop Day! Potosi 2
Let me start by saying that while drinking this week’s Potosi Snake Hollow IPA, I enjoyed it more than I had last week. I think the problem is that it doesn’t meet my expectations for that style. Aside from that, it’s not a bad beer. I’d consider upgrading its rating - I’m not sure I’m ready to say four stars, but we’ll say I’d seriously consider it.
Today is more about the Potosi Brewing Company itself.
Potosi Brewing Company (http://www.potosibrewery.com/) is located in (Surprise!) Potosi, Wisconsin at 209 South Main Street, Potosi, WI 53820. It is a short 22 minutes from Dubuque, IA. More importantly, for you bored Platteville students with a means of transportation it is a short 17 mile drive to the brewery. If you’re elsewhere in the state of Wisconsin, it is an hour and forty-five minutes from Madison.
It is home to the National Brewery Museum and Research Library and to the Potosi Brewing Company Transportation Museum.
The National Brewery Museum and Research Library was established as a joint venture between the Potosi Brewery Foundation and the American Breweriana Association to preserve the history of American breweries through the preservation of brewery memorabilia.
The Potosi Brewing Company Transportation Museum has exhibits that tell the history of the Potosi Brewery through various modes of transportation, from horse drawn wagons for delivering beer on forward, to show the role transportation played in the brewing. Admission is free.
Potosi Brewing Company advertises having been established in 1852, but like many breweries with a heritage that old, this was not an unbroken history of production. Prohibition aside, the Potosi Brewery was completely closed between 1972 and 1995.
1852 - The Potosi Brewery was founded by Gabriel Hail and John Albrecht
1886 - The brewery was purchased by Adam Schumacher.
1906 - The Potosi Brewing Company was founded by Adam, Nicholas and Henry Schumacher.
1972 - The brewery was closed.
1995 - Gary David bought the Potosi Brewery bottling buildings and began restoration.
1998 - the restoration of the brewery itself began
1999-2000 - a community meeting in 1999 led to the formation of the Potosi Brewery Foundation in February 2000
2004 - The Potosi Brewery Foundation was selected to be the home of the American Breweriana Association’s national museum.
The following are Potosi’s beers and the descriptions provided by the brewery itself. Not all of these beers are available in bottles, and some of them are seasonal. Fortunately, Potosi Brewing Company also sports a Brew Pub where you can get their beers on draft, and maybe take home a half gallon growler!
Potosi Brown Ale
IBU: 30 ABV: 5%
"Medium to high malty flavor (often with caramel, toasty and/or chocolate flavors), with medium to medium-high bitterness. The medium to medium-dry finish provides an aftertaste having both malt and hops. Hop flavor can be light to moderate, and may optionally have a citrusy character."
Potosi ESB
IBU: 35 ABV: 7%
"This brew is Cave Ale's bigger brother. Nice caramel and malty flavors at the beginning and finish with a nice earthy bitterness."
Potosi Fiddler Oatmeal stout
ABV: 8%
"The Potosi Oatmeal Stout is made with 10% oats and tends to be sweeter than other Stouts due to the amount of malt and use of a special yeast strain that doesn’t consume too much of the sugars. What you’re left with is a great balance between the roasted characters of the malts while the oats add a silky smoothness."
Potosi Gandy Dancer Porter
ABV: 6%
"A bit bigger, hoppier, and or roastier than their European predecessors. This dry beer is medium to full bodied, moderately malty, and features a lightly burnt taste with chocolate or coffee flavors."
Good Old Potosi
IBU: 14 ABV: 5%
"This light bodied and refreshing ale is made with traditional brewing Ingredients. This brew will be a cut above the mass market brews having a mild flavor profile and a soft effervescent character. This beer, like the original will appeal to a wide range of palates."
Potosi Czech Style Pilsener
IBU: 27 ABV: 5.75%
"The birth of Pilsener beer can be traced back to its namesake, the ancient city of Pilzen which is situated in the western half of the Czech Republic. The Czech Pilsener is light straw to golden color and crystal clear. Hops are very prevalent with a spicy bitterness and or a spicy floral flavor and aroma, notably one of the defining characteristics of the Saaz hop. Smooth and crisp with a clean malty palate, many are grassy. Some will show some archaic yeast characteristics similar to very mild buttery flavors and aromas."
Potosi Pumpkin Ale
IBU: 15 ABV: 6.5%
"The Potosi Pumpkin Ale is back on tap in the Potosi Brewery Restaurant and Brew Pub. This ale will be spiced with pumpkin pie spices, like: ground ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice. Pumpkin Ales are typically mild, with little to no bitterness, a malty backbone, with some spice often taking the lead."
Potosi Pure Malt Cave Ale
IBU: 10 ABV: 6.5%
"A long time favorite during Potosi’s heyday, this is an amber, pure malt and hop ale that has distinct malt character and a bit more assertive flavor profile, comparable to an English pale ale. This is a medium bodied beer that is not too over the top in any respect."
Potosi Snake Hollow India Pale Ale
IBU: 70 ABV: 7%
"Snake Hollow was the original name of the Potosi Hollow and is a brew with real character. According to tradition, an India Pale Ale requires a plentiful addition of hops during the kettle boil. Subsequently during the aging process, additional hops flavorings are introduced, providing fine aromatic hop character. This sturdy ale will satisfy the many hopheads among the new age of beer aficionados."
Potosi Steamboat Shandy
IBU: 14 ABV: 5%
"This refreshing beer is our Good Old Potosi blended with pure cane sugar and 100% natural lemon juice."
Potosi Tangerine IPA
IBU: 70 ABV: 7%
"This flavorful brew is our Snake Hollow IPA infused with 100% natural Tangerine juice. The addition of the Tangerine juice enhances the citrus flavors of our original Snake Hollow IPA."
Today is more about the Potosi Brewing Company itself.
Potosi Brewing Company (http://www.potosibrewery.com/) is located in (Surprise!) Potosi, Wisconsin at 209 South Main Street, Potosi, WI 53820. It is a short 22 minutes from Dubuque, IA. More importantly, for you bored Platteville students with a means of transportation it is a short 17 mile drive to the brewery. If you’re elsewhere in the state of Wisconsin, it is an hour and forty-five minutes from Madison.
It is home to the National Brewery Museum and Research Library and to the Potosi Brewing Company Transportation Museum.
The National Brewery Museum and Research Library was established as a joint venture between the Potosi Brewery Foundation and the American Breweriana Association to preserve the history of American breweries through the preservation of brewery memorabilia.
The Potosi Brewing Company Transportation Museum has exhibits that tell the history of the Potosi Brewery through various modes of transportation, from horse drawn wagons for delivering beer on forward, to show the role transportation played in the brewing. Admission is free.
Potosi Brewing Company advertises having been established in 1852, but like many breweries with a heritage that old, this was not an unbroken history of production. Prohibition aside, the Potosi Brewery was completely closed between 1972 and 1995.
1852 - The Potosi Brewery was founded by Gabriel Hail and John Albrecht
1886 - The brewery was purchased by Adam Schumacher.
1906 - The Potosi Brewing Company was founded by Adam, Nicholas and Henry Schumacher.
1972 - The brewery was closed.
1995 - Gary David bought the Potosi Brewery bottling buildings and began restoration.
1998 - the restoration of the brewery itself began
1999-2000 - a community meeting in 1999 led to the formation of the Potosi Brewery Foundation in February 2000
2004 - The Potosi Brewery Foundation was selected to be the home of the American Breweriana Association’s national museum.
The following are Potosi’s beers and the descriptions provided by the brewery itself. Not all of these beers are available in bottles, and some of them are seasonal. Fortunately, Potosi Brewing Company also sports a Brew Pub where you can get their beers on draft, and maybe take home a half gallon growler!
Potosi Brown Ale
IBU: 30 ABV: 5%
"Medium to high malty flavor (often with caramel, toasty and/or chocolate flavors), with medium to medium-high bitterness. The medium to medium-dry finish provides an aftertaste having both malt and hops. Hop flavor can be light to moderate, and may optionally have a citrusy character."
Potosi ESB
IBU: 35 ABV: 7%
"This brew is Cave Ale's bigger brother. Nice caramel and malty flavors at the beginning and finish with a nice earthy bitterness."
Potosi Fiddler Oatmeal stout
ABV: 8%
"The Potosi Oatmeal Stout is made with 10% oats and tends to be sweeter than other Stouts due to the amount of malt and use of a special yeast strain that doesn’t consume too much of the sugars. What you’re left with is a great balance between the roasted characters of the malts while the oats add a silky smoothness."
Potosi Gandy Dancer Porter
ABV: 6%
"A bit bigger, hoppier, and or roastier than their European predecessors. This dry beer is medium to full bodied, moderately malty, and features a lightly burnt taste with chocolate or coffee flavors."
Good Old Potosi
IBU: 14 ABV: 5%
"This light bodied and refreshing ale is made with traditional brewing Ingredients. This brew will be a cut above the mass market brews having a mild flavor profile and a soft effervescent character. This beer, like the original will appeal to a wide range of palates."
Potosi Czech Style Pilsener
IBU: 27 ABV: 5.75%
"The birth of Pilsener beer can be traced back to its namesake, the ancient city of Pilzen which is situated in the western half of the Czech Republic. The Czech Pilsener is light straw to golden color and crystal clear. Hops are very prevalent with a spicy bitterness and or a spicy floral flavor and aroma, notably one of the defining characteristics of the Saaz hop. Smooth and crisp with a clean malty palate, many are grassy. Some will show some archaic yeast characteristics similar to very mild buttery flavors and aromas."
Potosi Pumpkin Ale
IBU: 15 ABV: 6.5%
"The Potosi Pumpkin Ale is back on tap in the Potosi Brewery Restaurant and Brew Pub. This ale will be spiced with pumpkin pie spices, like: ground ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice. Pumpkin Ales are typically mild, with little to no bitterness, a malty backbone, with some spice often taking the lead."
Potosi Pure Malt Cave Ale
IBU: 10 ABV: 6.5%
"A long time favorite during Potosi’s heyday, this is an amber, pure malt and hop ale that has distinct malt character and a bit more assertive flavor profile, comparable to an English pale ale. This is a medium bodied beer that is not too over the top in any respect."
Potosi Snake Hollow India Pale Ale
IBU: 70 ABV: 7%
"Snake Hollow was the original name of the Potosi Hollow and is a brew with real character. According to tradition, an India Pale Ale requires a plentiful addition of hops during the kettle boil. Subsequently during the aging process, additional hops flavorings are introduced, providing fine aromatic hop character. This sturdy ale will satisfy the many hopheads among the new age of beer aficionados."
Potosi Steamboat Shandy
IBU: 14 ABV: 5%
"This refreshing beer is our Good Old Potosi blended with pure cane sugar and 100% natural lemon juice."
Potosi Tangerine IPA
IBU: 70 ABV: 7%
"This flavorful brew is our Snake Hollow IPA infused with 100% natural Tangerine juice. The addition of the Tangerine juice enhances the citrus flavors of our original Snake Hollow IPA."
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Screwed
I prefer pry-off caps to screw tops on my beer bottles. There are two reasons, really. The most obvious is that I use pry-off bottles for my home brewed beer. But since I’m only a fledgling home-brewer, this isn’t the primary reason. For me, the main reason that I prefer pry-offs is because there is something that I find extremely pleasant and comforting about prying the cap off of my beer before I drink it. I don’t get that with twist offs. This was brought to my attention yet again because the Potosi Snake Hollow that I recently drank was a twist off. I was disappointed.
I have decided to point out why screw offs are unnecessary (at least in my house)
When am I left without the ability to open a bottle? Never.
When I get home from work, I can use the bottle opener key ring to pop open my favorite brew. Amanda can too, although she typically drinks twist offs.
When I step into the kitchen, I have three ways to open a bottle. We have an opener/pen combo magnet on the fridge. Our rotary can opener has a bottle opener on the side. In the drawer with our utensils, we have a church key
If I go down into the basement (where most of our beer is kept) we have a wall mount bottle opener attached to the end of our “bar.”
If we’re painting the house, our paint can openers can be used to pop the top off of a cold one.
If I’m grilling outside, my grill spatula has a cut-out made for prying off of a bottle opener. If I’ve used it to flip burgers, I have a soft-sided tub cooler with an attached bottle opener.
If I dress appropriately, I have a belt buckle with a bottle opener built in.
At home, I am never without the means to access my beer. Away from home, I will at least have my keys on me. So, do I need a twist off? Like I said - Never.
I have decided to point out why screw offs are unnecessary (at least in my house)
When am I left without the ability to open a bottle? Never.
When I get home from work, I can use the bottle opener key ring to pop open my favorite brew. Amanda can too, although she typically drinks twist offs.
When I step into the kitchen, I have three ways to open a bottle. We have an opener/pen combo magnet on the fridge. Our rotary can opener has a bottle opener on the side. In the drawer with our utensils, we have a church key
If I go down into the basement (where most of our beer is kept) we have a wall mount bottle opener attached to the end of our “bar.”
If we’re painting the house, our paint can openers can be used to pop the top off of a cold one.
If I’m grilling outside, my grill spatula has a cut-out made for prying off of a bottle opener. If I’ve used it to flip burgers, I have a soft-sided tub cooler with an attached bottle opener.
If I dress appropriately, I have a belt buckle with a bottle opener built in.
At home, I am never without the means to access my beer. Away from home, I will at least have my keys on me. So, do I need a twist off? Like I said - Never.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Hop Day!
It has been some time since I blogged, at least regularly. I have decided to try doing a short six-week bit on Wednesdays. Rather than Hump Day, I declare Wednesday to be Hop Day. I am starting with a Potosi Snake Hollow India Pale Ale. My goal is to drink one bottle of this six pack every Wednesday until it’s gone. I think I can manage that!The Potosi Snake Hollow has a pleasant medium golden color and a nice head. The head faded, leaving a nice lace on the glass. It smells like fresh bread and bananas, and the taste is bready, like an English muffin. The hops add a bitterness to the beer without adding either floral or fruity notes. As a fan of hoppy beer, I would say that this one is okay, but not great. I give it three stars, but it is definitely drinkable.
It is a 7% beer with 70 IBU’s
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)