It's rare these days to see the words India pale ale written out in full, rather than just the abbreviation IPA. And you have to wonder if it was a deliberate move by the team at Fixation for this Freshly Hatched release – and not just because of the manner in which much of the symbolism, spirituality and colour of India seeped into the era that gave this beer its name, but also because of the way it drinks.
The quartet of hops – a familiar Fixation blend of Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe and Amarillo – suggest a very modern American IPA yet the adjuncts that gave the beer its name have something else in mind. The chamomile flowers, in particular – added to the whirlpool alongside coriander seed and orange peel (more commonly found flavouring Belgian witbiers) – moderate the punch of said hops.
The floral, herbaceous, tea leaf qualities prove equal to the more obvious fruit 'n' juice onslaught of US-style IPAs and, to this old British fart at least, bring to mind more traditional English IPAs. And, given it lands at a time when older, seemingly forgotten styles, are gaining traction in beer cultures around the world, why the hell not?
James Smith
Published June 11, 2024 2024-06-11 00:00:00
