Contemptuous Bastard
India Pale Ale · 5.5% ABV
Bold • Hoppy forward • Distinctive
The Beer
Every family has one, and we are not proud, merely thirsty. This is the biggest, brashest beer we make: a proper India Pale Ale loaded with American hops, dry-hopped twice, and bittered to a degree that would make a Victorian dock master wince. At 5.5% it has the muscle to carry a mountain of resin, pine and tropical fruit, and the manners of a beer that was raised in a shipyard. Faint of heart, drink the pale ale.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance
- Burnished amber-orange with a slight hop haze, under a dense, mousse-like off-white head that stands its ground to the last drop. It looks like it has things to say and no time to say them politely.
- Aroma
- A wall of hops: resin and pine sap first, then mango, passionfruit and a squall of citrus pith. There is a faint catty musk from the Columbus and a ghost of caramel beneath it all, mostly there to keep the peace.
- Flavour
- Bold and unapologetic. Grapefruit peel and pine resin hit first, followed by tropical fruit and a bitterness that plants its flag at 70 IBUs and refuses to leave. The malt shows up briefly with a dry toasty note, then sensibly gets out of the way.
- Mouthfeel
- Medium bodied with a firm, drying grip from the double dry-hop. Carbonation is brisk but not aggressive, carrying the resin across the palate and scouring it clean on the way out.
- Finish
- Long, dry and impressively bitter. Pine and citrus pith linger for ages, daring you to take another sip. Most people do. We like most people.
Vital Statistics
| Style | India Pale Ale |
|---|---|
| ABV | 5.5% |
| Serving temperature | 8-10°C, cold enough to keep the bitterness sharp and the attitude sharper |
| Format | 500ml bottle and keg |
| Best enjoyed with | A vindaloo you will regret, blue cheese on a board, or barbecued brisket with the windows shut |
Good Beer. Bad Attitude.
Apologies issued: none to date