I'm a biased Englishman but my favourite beer style falls across the boundaries of English Bitter and English IPA. 1038 to 1046 ish with bu:gu around 1. 3 to 5 ounces hops in 5 US gallons. Dry finish. English ale yeast but at the cleaner end of that spectrum. I often use American hops like Nugget, Columbus for bittering. Combining UK and US hops gives lots of scope for variation. Using different malts too of course. Dangerously moreish beer if you get it right.
I made an English IPA for my last beer. I didn't care for it right after kegging it. But after letting it sit a few weeks, the flavors really came together for a really nice beer.
Agreed on all accounts here. A little conditioning is needed. I suppose these strains were historical pressured to be cask or bottle finished. So a quick brew process and dumping into a keg probably is skipping some of the nuance that is these yeast strains... I sense the need for a pressure ferment experiment. Cheers! -Mike
Completely agree this is an underappreciated style. I brewed one about a year ago and really enjoyed it. I actually looked at my recipe and it was very similar to John's - just maris otter and touch of crystal. Also my favorite thing about your videos continues to be how John just absolutely crushes his pint inside of 10 min..........and while doing most of the talking since it was his beer being reviewed!
Loved this. The colour under the lights looks like the logo image for your channel 😃. I do agree that it is under-appreciated. It was 'The IPA' before ever there was a '[INSERT TYPE HERE] IPA'. I've prepared a series of recipes for IPA using British origin hops beyond the commonly used ones like Target, EKG or Fuggles. Thinking Admiral, First Gold or Phoenix. Also, should it still be called IPA, if it's not been brewed to be shipped to India?
Very likely going to replicate your recipe with John's suggestion of a little Cascade at flameout. Love the descriptors, and you guys are always great!!!
Nice! Congrats on completing the Jar of Destiny! I wish there were cryo versions of EKG to crank up that aroma without requiring a crazy quantity of vegetal matter. RE: water. I have two five gallon plastic jugs and I fill them up with RO water at Whole Foods for 30 cents per gallon.
Even in UK traditional British styles underappreciated, especially with popularity of US styles. But there are signs traditional styles making a come back as US IPAs etc have become ubiquitous and a little predictable. Also new strains of English hops are being bred which are a bit like trad English varieties but on steroids.
Love the comment. Thanks. I really spent the first 5 years of my all grain learning process brew bitters, browns, stouts and Porters. I just loved the British beer flavor profile and the huge variety of yeast strains for English beers I think speaks volumes. It also allows for plenty of hobby exploration. Cheers! -Mike
@BrewDudes I was brewing a lot of US style beers, for years but have returned for last 12 months to brewing English ales. To be honest my water profile tends to suit bitters, stouts etc and the beers themselves are better made.
Just thinking ....have you guys considered going whole hogg and trying a UK IPA with some Burton Union type mods on your brewing system, challenge accepted?
It is not. But the spring water we've been buying is extremely low in mineral content such that the same additions would need to be made if it were RO to get the mash chemistry and water profile we target from beer to beer. Many of the big brand spring waters post their "water report" on-line. So I'd suggest doing some research and you might have a source that is like ours mineral content wise. And it might save you a some money per gallon to go Spring vs. RO. Cheers! -Mike
My last brew was an English style,ish IPA and not overly hopped with a nice malt balance. I have a winter spic brown in the fermenter now with centennial at the start and a generous helping of Willamette at flam out. Cheers🥂
English IPA or ANY english beers (milds and bitters) for that matter are under appreciated I reckon just like you guys! cheers
I think it's a under appreciated style, have been trying to brew a good one for years
I'm a biased Englishman but my favourite beer style falls across the boundaries of English Bitter and English IPA. 1038 to 1046 ish with bu:gu around 1. 3 to 5 ounces hops in 5 US gallons. Dry finish. English ale yeast but at the cleaner end of that spectrum. I often use American hops like Nugget, Columbus for bittering. Combining UK and US hops gives lots of scope for variation. Using different malts too of course. Dangerously moreish beer if you get it right.
The jar of destiny is such a great concept! I want to do something similar with a couple of my neighbors who brew.
I made an English IPA for my last beer. I didn't care for it right after kegging it. But after letting it sit a few weeks, the flavors really came together for a really nice beer.
English styles do improve with a bit more conditioning. Take on some marmalade on rye like qualities.
Agreed on all accounts here. A little conditioning is needed. I suppose these strains were historical pressured to be cask or bottle finished. So a quick brew process and dumping into a keg probably is skipping some of the nuance that is these yeast strains... I sense the need for a pressure ferment experiment. Cheers! -Mike
Great vid guys. Maybe low carb, higher temp and a beer engine to get the full english expierience in the future :D
Completely agree this is an underappreciated style. I brewed one about a year ago and really enjoyed it. I actually looked at my recipe and it was very similar to John's - just maris otter and touch of crystal. Also my favorite thing about your videos continues to be how John just absolutely crushes his pint inside of 10 min..........and while doing most of the talking since it was his beer being reviewed!
I notice that too. And this was part of a longer night of doing shoots so... We're feeling good by the end of nights like that. Cheers! -Mike
Great vid, thanks for posting.
Loved this. The colour under the lights looks like the logo image for your channel 😃. I do agree that it is under-appreciated. It was 'The IPA' before ever there was a '[INSERT TYPE HERE] IPA'. I've prepared a series of recipes for IPA using British origin hops beyond the commonly used ones like Target, EKG or Fuggles. Thinking Admiral, First Gold or Phoenix. Also, should it still be called IPA, if it's not been brewed to be shipped to India?
Biscuit note is the best in English ales.
Been waiting for this, didn’t disappoint! You could have pushed the limits but nothing beats tradition
Very likely going to replicate your recipe with John's suggestion of a little Cascade at flameout. Love the descriptors, and you guys are always great!!!
Great job as always guys!
Sounds like you hit the English IPA on the money. Nice work I enjoyed the video and jar of destiny series!
Nice! Congrats on completing the Jar of Destiny!
I wish there were cryo versions of EKG to crank up that aroma without requiring a crazy quantity of vegetal matter.
RE: water. I have two five gallon plastic jugs and I fill them up with RO water at Whole Foods for 30 cents per gallon.
I have 4 of the same and go fill to have RO on hand for brew days.
Loved all of it keep going
Great video! How about an update in a couple weeks?
Have you seen what the CBC craft beer channel did with their recent English IPA episode/documentary ?
Even in UK traditional British styles underappreciated, especially with popularity of US styles. But there are signs traditional styles making a come back as US IPAs etc have become ubiquitous and a little predictable. Also new strains of English hops are being bred which are a bit like trad English varieties but on steroids.
Love the comment. Thanks. I really spent the first 5 years of my all grain learning process brew bitters, browns, stouts and Porters. I just loved the British beer flavor profile and the huge variety of yeast strains for English beers I think speaks volumes. It also allows for plenty of hobby exploration. Cheers! -Mike
@BrewDudes I was brewing a lot of US style beers, for years but have returned for last 12 months to brewing English ales. To be honest my water profile tends to suit bitters, stouts etc and the beers themselves are better made.
Just thinking ....have you guys considered going whole hogg and trying a UK IPA with some Burton Union type mods on your brewing system, challenge accepted?
Any thoughts on serving the English IPA on N2?
Is your spring water also RO water?
It is not. But the spring water we've been buying is extremely low in mineral content such that the same additions would need to be made if it were RO to get the mash chemistry and water profile we target from beer to beer. Many of the big brand spring waters post their "water report" on-line. So I'd suggest doing some research and you might have a source that is like ours mineral content wise. And it might save you a some money per gallon to go Spring vs. RO. Cheers! -Mike
That room looks orderly, what happened? (wife?)
Cleaning up for year end and perhaps some studio changes coming... Stay tuned. Cheers! -Mike
My last brew was an English style,ish IPA and not overly hopped with a nice malt balance. I have a winter spic brown in the fermenter now with centennial at the start and a generous helping of Willamette at flam out.
Cheers🥂