LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2016

BEER  SUMMER OF PALE ALE

One cannot talk about the origin of IPA without refer­ encing the East India Trading Company. The British company gained fortune in the 1600s partly by ship­ ping beer and other goods to troops and civilians in the colonies of India and Southeast Asia. Initially the ales were arriving at their destinations in a spoiled state because of the turbulent journey at sea. Brewers quick­ ly realized they needed to “fortify” the beer if it was going to survive the voyage. They brewed the beer with higher alcohol levels. They also added extra dry hops into the barrels before the ships set sail since both alco­ hol and hops act as natural preservatives. The beers were eventually referred to as East India Pale Ales, and over time this became shortened to what we know them as today, India Pale Ales. WHERE DID IPA GET ITS NAME? What is a Classic IPA? The British-style IPA of today is not the same beer as was created back in the 1600s; it has evolved and changed through the years. Nevertheless, today’s version still retains some of its original characteristics. The levels of hopping are relatively high, ranging from 40 to 60 on the IBU scale, it has a detectable maltiness and an ABV (alcohol by volume) that ranges from 5 to 7.5%. One of the key characteristics of a classic IPA is that it should be balanced, a well-integrated harmony between malt and hops. The term IBU refers to International Bitterness Units, a quantifier of the bittering compounds found in a beer. IBU levels are determined by the amount of hops in a beer, so logically an IPA would have a higher number of IBUs than less hoppy beer styles such as light lagers or wheat beers. WHAT ARE IBU’S?

CLASSIC STYLE IPA S

A classic style IPA doesn’t necessarily have to be from Britain; in fact IPAs are brewed in many different countries. Here’s a sampling of versions from the U.K. and both coasts of North America. Anchor Brewing Co. Liberty Ale LCBO 270454, 6 pk, $15.20 Lovely aromas of brioche and caramel with some candied orange peel. Evident but well-integrated hops make for a refreshing and very drinkable beer. Propeller Brewing IPA LCBO 317222, 6 pk, $13.35 Luscious aromas of caramel and candied citrus. The palate is toast with butter and honey and a cleansing dried herb finish. Propeller sits somewhere between the British and Slight nuttiness on the nose with a hint of caramel. Grapefruit is revealed on the palate through to the cleansing finish. Wells IPA LCBO 439828, 500 mL, $2.20 Offers up notes of toasted whole wheat bread and a mildly mineral nose. Earthy and lightly carbonated in the British style with a pleasantly bitter finish. the American styles, like a true Canadian. Goose Island IPA LCBO 434084, 473 mL, $2.95

Classic IPA Food Matches

Classic IPA’s are great pairings for earthy flavoured foods such as a whole chicken with roasted garlic, sweet potato quesadillas or try something nutty like almond-crusted halibut or salmon.

120  FOOD & DRI NK SUMMER 2016