More Than Just a Whim! (Hartington IPA)

Member Name: tange

Product:	Hartington IPA
Date:	10/12/03 (423 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well rounded beer., Tasty and good quality., Can support my local brewer.

Disadvantages: Hard to get hold of away from the brewery area.

They always say that you should encourage local producers and buy locally produced goods. If I can support a Derbyshire brewer AND have a good beer too then I don't mind following this advice. We have a few breweries in Derbyshire; one of the best ones is the Whim brewery and one of their best beers is Hartington IPA.

Whim Brewery is based in Hartington, which isn't too far away from Buxton in Derbyshire. They began brewing back in 1993 at Whim Farm (in the old outbuildings) and also own Broughton Brewery, which is based in Scotland (although they do operate independently of each other). Whim own one pub of their own (The Wilkes Head in Leek Staffordshire) but their beers can be found in a number of local outlets (we drink them at The Thorn Tree in Matlock and The Boat at Cromford). The brewery uses some equipment that originally came from the Springhead Brewery in Sutton-on-Trent, but the majority was purpose built by the owners.

Some Whim beers you may have the good fortune to meet include Arbor Light (a light beer at 3.6% ABV), Magic Mushroom Mild (one of my favourite dark beers at 3.8% ABV) and Hartington Bitter (a classic hoppy number at 4.0% ABV). Whim seem to be committed to providing Cask ales and have a varied range of strengths and styles.

Hartington IPA is a beer brewed in a style known as an IPA (obviously, from the name). This is the title given to a lighter coloured beer, originally brewed in London during the nineteenth century, which was intended to be exported to India (which was then part of the British Commonwealth).

IPA beers were produced using a lighter coloured malt, which could now be produced using "modern" coke fired kilns (before this period wood fires would often burn the dark malts). Beer was also now served in glass tankards, (rather than pewter,) so it was hoped that golden beers would look nicer. IPAs are usually quite strong ~ the higher alcohol content would help to preserve be
ers during the long boat trip to India. You will also find that IPAs are also pretty hoppy ~ hops are used to preserve the beer too!


Hartington IPA weighs in at 4.5% ABV (quite low in strength when compared to an IPA like Old Empire at 5.7%) and is brewed using German lager hops, to give it a pale colour, and water from Biggin (a lovely place not far from Hartington). Looks wise, Hartington IPA is very pale light golden colour; lovely and clear, with a light slightly frothy head. The aroma is delicate ~ slightly malty, with an element of sweetness and hoppiness, as is characteristic of IPAs. Hartington is quite smooth in the mouth and pretty full bodied for such a pale brew.

Taste wise Hartington IPA begins with a soft malty flavour, combined with a slight citrus taste (which reminded me of grapefruit). As the pint progresses the tastes begin to develop, leading to a finish that is sweet with a bitter hoppiness that is crisp and light. The aftertaste leaves the fruit and bitter flavour in your mouth ~ it?s a well rounded beer that is a pleasure to drink.

We are lucky because we are quite near to the brewery and get to sample Hartington beers quite regularly ~ not as regularly as we would ideally like, but more than some people can! You will find Hartington IPA at a number of pubs around Derbyshire, Staffordshire and parts of Yorkshire. It also crops up at Beer Festivals around the country; where it seems to be well received ~ they have won a number of awards too. A pint of IPA costs anything from £1.60 to £2.00 a pint. If you ever see the members of Chesterfield & District CAMRA on a night out, you will see how thrilled we are when we see it ~ that should indicate how much I rate it as a beer!

Go on...support the Independent brewer and give Hartington IPA a try!

Brewery Details;

Whim Ales
Whim Farm
Hartington
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 0AX
01298 84991

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