Brewer Q & A (Issue 22)

92 Rating – AleSmith Brewing Co. – AleSmith IPA

Responses from AleSmith brewmaster Peter Zien.

What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)? 
The balance between malt and hops. We believe in creating a big malt base to support the load of hops that make our IPA memorable.

Where does this beer’s name come from?   
IPA stands for India Pale Ale, in reference to the Brits’ habit of sending hoppy beers to their soldiers in India back in the day. The extra hops ensured the beer’s drinkability after long sea voyages.

Is this your "desert island beer?"
For many it would be, and I would be quite happy to drink this beer for the rest of my days!

Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less? 
A firm malt character supports a whole lotta hop goodness.

Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?  
This is one of the beer styles that I brewed frequently as a homebrewer. In fact, the base of this beer in both the malt and hop bills was fashioned from my award-winning homebrewed IPA from the mid-1990s. Over the years, we’ve made some slight alterations to include new malt and hop varieties, but the core remains very similar to my original recipe.