Sunday Night Suds - Brooklyn Brewery - East India Pale Ale

This week's Sunday Night Suds looks at Brooklyn Brewery's East India Pale Ale.

The Brooklyn Brewery East India Pale Ale is one of the oldest styles produced by Brooklyn Brewery. It has a well earned reputation as a quality English IPA. As it has been a number of years since I posted on the definition of this style of beer, I have reproduced the BA definition below:

First brewed in England and exported for the British troops in India during the late 1700s. To withstand the voyage, IPA's were basically tweaked Pale Ales that were, in comparison, much more malty, boasted a higher alcohol content and were well-hopped, as hops are a natural preservative. Historians believe that an IPA was then watered down for the troops, while officers and the elite would savor the beer at full strength. The English IPA has a lower alcohol due to taxation over the decades. The leaner the brew the less amount of malt there is and less need for a strong hop presence which would easily put the brew out of balance. Some brewers have tried to recreate the original IPA with strengths close to 8-9% abv.

Although Brooklyn sells this beer in multiple forms including 12 oz bottle, draft and cask, I have only tried this brew in 12 oz bottle.

The beer pours a bright amber, almost brass like in color and the hops and malt are equally present and appreciated. The resulting balance is a beer with some dry hoppiness and some notes of pine and a little citrus.

The English IPA is on the high end of the alcohol spectrum with a reported 6.9% abv. The brewers of the East India IPA recommend pairing it with spicy food such as Chinese, Mexican or Thai. I had mine on its own, but I could see how it would stand up nicely to Chinese or other spicy fare.

Brooklyn Brewery East India Pale Ale is under the kosher supervision of the Va'ad of Detroit as are all 12 oz Brooklyn beers which are brewed in the Utica plant.

For the experts' take on the East India Pale Ale please click here http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/45/147.

As always, please remember to drink responsibly and to never waste good beer unless there is no designated driver.If you've tried this beer or any others which have been reviewed on the kosher beers site, please feel free to post your comments (anonymous comments are acceptable).

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