It must be an omen that IPA Day falls on Friday this
year. If you’re into craft brews, you
know what an IPA is all about. For those
into other types of drinks, here’s a quick explanation of an IPA. The important letter is the ‘A’ – for ale. No,
wait, it’s the ‘I’. I guess they’re all important now that I think about it.
Way back, the 18th Century to be exact, Britain
ruled the waves. Sailors found that beer
didn’t quite survive the long trips o’er the seas so a London brewer
(attributed largely to George Hodgson) developed a highly hopped, pale in color
ale that could survive the voyage. (Sailors often drank the darker porters of
the time.) Of course, the trip to India was a long one (6 months), and there
many voyages there, so the new beer was coined India Pale Ale. (For an
interesting read on this topic, check out this article on the Smithsonian
site.)
Today, most local micro- and craft-breweries have at least a
few versions of IPA on their list, as well as it’s cousin the American Pale Ale.
And there’s no shortage of local or regional brewed and bottled IPA’s either.
Most supermarkets have a pretty decent selection of craft beers from which to
choose.
If you’re in the Livingston County area, a couple of my
favorites are the D.I.P.A. (double IPA) at Brewery Becker, in DowntownBrighton, and the Torn In 2 IPA at Eternity Brewing in Genoa Township (Howell
zip code). Not to leave out a local brewery, if you stop in at Block Brewing in
Howell, their Hop Genius IPA is first rate, too! If you celebrate #IPAday, please drink
responsibly. Most craft brews are higher in alcohol content than production
beers, so they often pack more of a punch. Breweries usually list the ABV
figures on their menu for reference.
This is a great way to unwind after a long day of viewing
homes, too. And if I can help you with
real estate questions, feel free to contact me.
Photo credit Bob Smith, Torn in 2 IPA, Eternity Brewing,
Howell, MI
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