Friday 6 November 2009

Table - the new Imperial?

In these days of continual upsizing, what about some thinking around the corner? Pushing the box. Opening the envelope.

Imperial barrel tooth-dissolver this. Grand Reserva infected that ("It's supposed to be sour, sir."). Tastebud-scourer the other. Sextuple Bock, Belgian Dodecahedron, Infinity IPA, Tharg Grand Master of the Universe (and any of other Universes not yet discovered or theoretically possible) Stout, Alcoholic's Breakfast Brown ("We throw the Bourbon in for you!").

Table IPA. What about that? I've some great Whitbread, low-gravity IPA recipes. Table Porter. Barclay Perkins made one in the 19th century. You're welcome to its details. Family Ale - no problem.

Beer isn't just a sledgehammer. It can be a toy hammer. Aaah. Tetley's Mild.

Low-alcohol beers that aren't just stunts. Stuff from - let's think - 1.5% to 3.5% ABV. Proper beers, to be drunk appropriately.

Here's some possibilities:

  • LIPA - the light, bottled IPA brewed in the South of England, specifically designed to annoy future generations of style nazis
  • GA - Government Ale - what could taste nicer that that?
  • MA - when WW I drinkers looked back on watery GA with fondness
  • 1850's Table Porter - stronger than 1930's standard Porter
  • 1950's Mild and Best Mild - could either get you pissed?

Things that, I believe, are a challenge to brew. If you want to get people to drink them. As harvesters, glass-blowers, furnace men and coal heavers once did. OK, the poor probably weren't always that fussy. You get my drift.

4 comments:

Oblivious said...

"OK, the poor probably weren't always that fussy"

The poor where probably just poor

It would be interesting to find out on the average industrial wage what choice the working man really had?

mrbowenz said...

Imperial barrel tooth-dissolver this. Grand Reserva infected that ("It's supposed to be sour, sir."). Tastebud-scourer the other. Sextuple Bock, Belgian Dodecahedron, Infinity IPA, Tharg Grand Master of the Universe (and any of other Universes not yet discovered or theoretically possible) Stout, Alcoholic's Breakfast Brown ("We throw the Bourbon in for you!").

Ron, you've come undone ....

rod said...

What brewers who want to max out in every direction don't want people to realise is that it is actually much more difficult to brew a low gravity beer with real character. Brewing a beer under 4% ABV that really tastes is a proper challenge - any fool can make a 10% beer with stupid IBU levels taste of something (even if it's not very pleasant or drinkable - Flying Dog's Imperial Porter anyone?)
One of my favourite beers is from my (original) neck of the woods - Ringwood Best Bitter. This practically defines "session beer" in my little world. Difficult to get in London, though :-[

Brian Wightman said...

Ron,
yes, it wold be great if you would share these recipes.
These are truly gems.