GREENE KING IPA
Greene King
UK, 3.6-5% ABV
Greene King call this is the UK’s number one award-winning cask ale. Benjamin Greene, grandfather of Brighton Rock writer Graham Greene, established the Greene King’s Westgate brewery in 1799, and India Pale Ale found its way to British drinkers via a shipwrecked cargo en route to India in 1827. If you’re a seasoned lager man, then the chances are that you’ll not like this because it isn’t fizzy, and, well… it doesn’t taste of lager either. I don’t really know what ‘a hoppy taste’ actually tastes of, nor can I adequately describe it, but IPA certainly isn’t unpleasant, and, like Brown Ale, I can neck a couple if they are freezing cold and not feel like I’ve been unfaithful to my beloved lager. It’s not as dark as Brown Ale (paler, in fact), and being quite a strong one, you certainly do feel the effects while deciding whether you like it or not. I don’t know if it is a cunning plan or not, but the bitter aftertaste made me thirsty and unable to stop drinking it; and not because I want more of it, either – just because I don’t happen to have any lager in my fridge. I assume this is what’s known as an acquired taste. As far as I see it, I don’t want to taste anything bitter. Sweet is fine, even dry, but bitter to me is just wrong. Bitter is not enjoyable. But IPA has been around for yonks, so there must be plenty of people who like it. SW
