2 Cracking IPAs, cheers to the Beer Wench!

When I celebrated IPA Day a couple of weeks ago, I gave thanks to Ashley Routson, the creator of that celebratory day, and said I had ordered a copy of her book (blog). I'm halfway through reading her book now, and she says an IPA started her "obsession with hops" and I had a couple of excellent IPAs today, so I thought I should share the experience! The first being from Kent Brewery (website), another single hopped ale from them, their 4.5% Huell Melon.

Huell Melon is a German hop which came out 10 years ago and is descended from Cascade, "noted to be intensely fruity with flavours and aromas of honeydew melon and strawberry" (Hopslist), and it's pretty damn good, if you like pale dry bitter ales as I do. On drinking the ale, I expected more to the aroma, however, I didn't really notice that much fruit, and it was subtle to the taste too, but a pale golden ale with a very dry and bitter finish, I loved it!

The second is a stronger IPA from East Sussex Three Acre Brewery (website), and their 5.0% India Pale Ale, which they state is "packed full of New World hops" and the aroma and taste are testament to that claim! This is another pale golden ale, but this time with a big fruity aroma and tropical and citrus fruits to the taste, plenty of body with a dry bitter finish, quality, although I admit to the Kent ale having the slight edge for me personally, both excellent ales though!

Now, before anyone accuses me of sexism because of the title of this blog, Ms Ashley Routson, who hails from the U.S. of A., calls herself "The" Beer Wench, that is, her book is called The Beer Wench's Guide to Beer, subtitled An Unpretentious Guide to Craft Beer, Quarto Publishing Group, 2015. "Wench" a term I only heard before when I lived in the West Country. Although only halfway through her book so far, her taste in beers, and knowledge, and some of her language for that matter (despite being from the other side of The Pond), have convinced me that we'd likely be good friends if we met, only good friends though, unless I was 20-30 years younger! 😉

Anyway, I look forward to reading the rest of her book, cheers to Ashley!

The ales I drank above were imbibed at the Dolphin Inn, 11-12 Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3DW (website).