- Bartender's Blog (82)
- 2. February 2012: Named After You
- 25. January 2012: India Pale Ale
- 6. January 2012: Happy Akitu!
- 29. December 2011: Holiday Cheer
- 1. December 2011: Repeal Day Anniversay
- 18. November 2011: Break time
- 4. November 2011: All Hallows Eve '11, part 2
- 4. November 2011: All Hallows Eve '11, part 1
- 20. October 2011: Highball
- 5. October 2011: Depends on what you mean
India Pale Ale
Since American Ales were developed here, and German Ales were developed in Germany, I assumed that India Pale Ales came from, well, India. Here’s the real story…
Ales are beers made with top-fermenting yeast. They tend to be slightly cloudy and full of hop flavor. Pale ales were developed in a particularly hard-water region of England, and as the name implies, are lighter in color. India Pale Ales were developed in England for export to British nationals living in India in the 19th century. Allegedly Indian water was populated with bacteria offensive to the British digestive system, so they generally avoided drinking it or anything made from it. The India Pale sent from their homeland was high in alcohol content and strong in hops, so it survived the journey well. Maybe more importantly than serving as a substitute for the local water supplies, I imagine it eased the burden of living in a foreign and occasionally inhospitable land.
India Pale Ales today are a little softer and lower in alcohol content than their ancestor beers, but they still hold up well to steaks and other hardy foods.
Hope to see you soon.
Your favorite bartender,
-Dan