LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2016

BEER  SUMMER OF PALE ALE

AMERICAN-STYLE IPA; FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA Though IPA may have originated in England, it is a style that has been strongly embraced by American craft brewers. During the 1980s there was a huge resurgence of microbreweries along the West Coast, most specifi- cally in California. These brewers gave IPA new life and never looked back. It has become so popular that it almost seems more American than British, and even brewers in the U.K. are now creating bolder American-style versions. Categorizing beers as either West Coast-style or East Coast-style is in reference to its personality and flavour profile, not necessarily to its geographical origins, which can at times be confusing. Therefore, you can have a West Coast-style beer coming from the East Coast, or from Japan or Sweden for that matter.

West Coast-style IPAs Within the category of American IPAs there are two distinct styles: West Coast and East Coast. Though a simple gener- alization, the West Coast-style beers are bold, hop-forward and full of explosive citrus and pine aroma. Which would make sense as the hop varieties that deliver these aromas—Cascade, Citra, Centen- nial, Chinook and Amarillo—are primarily grown on the West Coast in Oregon and Washington. You’ll find more breweries brewing this style in comparison to the more subdued East Coast style. Flip to the east side of the country and you’ll find that hops are more sparingly used. Typically, East Coast-style beers will showcase malt flavours, such as caramel and toasted bread, and have a milder sense of hop boldness. This less “flashy” style is perhaps the result of the strong British influence there, which translates into more reserved brewing. But these American IPAs can’t be categorized simply by these two coastlines, because brewers on both coasts are making beers in styles typical of the other coasts. So even though there are efforts made to group and categorize IPA beers, some- times that can be a fruitless endeavour. East Coast-style IPAs

West Coast-style IPA Food Matches

The bold aromas and flavours of West Coast-style IPA call for similar char- acteristics in food: bright fresh herbs, smoky dried peppers and citrus-based marinades and sauces. Of course, anything barbecued will also make a whole lot of sense.

Amsterdam Boneshaker Unfiltered India Pale Ale LCBO 351429, 473 mL, $3.10 The Boneshaker shows signs of both British and American DNA. The first notes out of the glass are all about pine and resin, but there is also a sweet pipe tobacco maltiness that screams “I’m an Englishman!” Dark honey and refreshing hop astringency make this a really well-structured beer. Brewdog Punk IPA LCBO 414946, 500 mL, $3.45 A juicy, sessionable IPA with aromas of mandarin and tropical fruit. Orange zest and a bright grapefruit-pith bitterness are layered onto a lightly toasted maltiness. Its great balance makes it really easy to drink. Samuel Adams Rebel IPA LCBO 411686, 6 pk, $13.85 Delicious aromas of bright orange zest and floral. There are also refreshing notes of pine that continue to the palate. Well balanced with a clean bitter finish reminiscent of dried basil. Kensington Brewing Company Fish•Eye IPA LCBO 336990, 473 mL, $2.95 Toasty caramel and candied tangerine pull you right into the glass. A good dose of piney hop flavour is balanced out by sweet malt that is once again reminiscent of caramel. SOME WEST COAST-STYLE IPA S

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