Handy for Gandhi! (Thornbridge Jaipur IPA)

Member Name: tange

Product:	Thornbridge Jaipur IPA
Date:	18/02/06 (1906 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: One of the best IPAs around at the moment

Disadvantages: Far too easy to drink

I always like to support my local breweries. Especially when they produce such excellent beers as Thornbridge Hall Brewery! I am lucky enough to be able to sample their beers very regularly in a variety of my local pubs. My job as Tasting Panel Chairman for my local branch of CAMRA (CAMpaign for Real Ale) also means that I got a chance to go to the Hall to do tasting notes for their beers.

~~~THE BREWERY.

Thornbridge Hall Brewery is a relatively new business which can be found in some former derelict buildings, attached to Thornbridge Hall, in Ashford in the Water in Derbyshire. The "Baby Brewery", as it is called (by its "parents" at Kelham Island Brewery), uses both new equipment and some adapted kit from the old Malton Brewery. As well as brewing some beers for Kelham Island Brewery, Thornbridge now brew a range of interesting and tasty beers. These include Blackthorn Ale (a moreish Pale Ale at 4.4% ABV), Lord Marples (an easy drinking session beer at 4% ABV) and Brock (a smooth, dark stout at 4.1% ABV). You will find their beers at selected pubs in the surrounding area and appearing at Beer Festivals nationwide.

~~~THE BEER.

***A bit of Background***

Jaipur IPA is one of my favourite beers from Thornbridge. The name Jaipur comes from the place in India ~ the capital city of the Rajasthan state, commonly known as the Pink City because of the colour of some of the houses in the old town. The name suits the style of the beer, what better name could you give an India Pale Ale than somewhere IN India? Jaipur also has great significance for some of the owners of Thornbridge ~ it was the city where they got married!

***Vital Stats***

Jaipur weighs in at 5.9% ABV and is brewed in the style of an India Pale Ale. An India Pale Ale (or IPA as they are usually abbreviated to) refers to a style of beer that was originally brewed for export from England to India. They were made to be strong, and more hops were added to them, to protect them on the very long journey by ship.


***Look, Aroma & Texture***

Looks wise it is a pale golden coloured beer with a light long lasting head. The beer is crisp, clear and almost sparkles! Aroma is predominantly hoppy with a lemon and fruit citrus edge and a slight hint of freshly cut grass. There is also a slightly sweet aroma, like the candied peel you can get. Texture is slightly syrupy, but generally smooth and very pleasant to drink. It is a complex and well balanced beer too.

***Tange's Taste Test***

Taste wise, it has a blend of fruit (tropical fruits) and citrus hop flavours, giving it a lemony freshness. There is also a pleasant honey sweetness that doesn't overpower, but balances out the citrus nicely. The flavours develop and become increasingly bitter, leading to a long, dry and bitter aftertaste.

~~~WHAT TANGE THINKS.

Jaipur is a tasty and well crafted IPA that has quickly made its mark with beer drinkers. It has been featured at a good few beer festivals and has already won Champion Overall Beer at Sheffield CAMRA beer Festival, and was named Gold Medal Strong Ale at the Midland beer festival, in 2005. It is complex and far too easy to drink. I always find that one pint is never enough and that seems to be the case with other Real Ale drinkers too.

My last pint of Jaipur was at The Sheaf View ~ a pub in the Heeley Bridge area of Sheffield. It cost me a very reasonable £2.20…not a bad price for a beer of this strength. I have paid anything between free (my favourite price) to £2.50 a pint at various pubs and beer festivals.

I thoroughly recommend Jaipur as a good quality, highly (yet dangerously) drinkable pale beer. It is strong enough to warm you on a cold day and refreshing enough for a hot summer's evening ~ versatile AND tasty!

~~~BREWERY DETAILS.

Thornbridge Hall
Ashford in the Water
Derbyshire
DE45 1NZ
Tel: 01629 640 617
http://www.thornbridgehall.co.uk/

Summary: A stunning IPA from a brand new brewery.