Brodie's - Hackney Red IPA

Having already sampled an absolute monster by Brodie's in the form of Big Mofo Stout, I was intrigued to see where their craft could take them and, so it was, to that end I went on the search for the rest of their range, the first to be stumbled upon was the Hackney Red IPA. It is, inevitably, a disadvantage for Brodie's to have had their big, beasty, stout reviewed before this one as my expectations are now so high that they can, logically, not be met.

Hackney Red IPA is a beautifully dark IPA with a strong, clean, hop burst on the nose and a gorgeous, rich, almost light compared to the big mofo, body that it has hints of bitterness that appear in the wings and a smooth cereal core with little flecks of red fruits popping their heads up. It's almost like one of the brewers had made a rich, hoppy, IPA and accidentally spilt their breakfast into it. At 6.1% it is strong enough to keep you in check but not strong enough as to not be sessionable if you've got your wits about you.

This is a good IPA made by a company who really know what they're doing and it's breweries like Brodie's who should be at the forefront of English beer alongside the likes of Thornbridge because, unlike some people, when Brodie's say their beer is bottle conditioned, it means THEIR BEER IS BOTTLE CONDITIONED. Brodie's don't need to tell people that they follow the Bavarian Purity Law because THEY HAVE NO NEED FOR AN INGREDIENTS LIST! This IPA is as satisfying as a cup of earl grey or a home made soup when it starts to snow, it's as comforting as knowing that the annoying children who scream in supermarkets will grow up to be disillusioned adults with crippling debts and it's as balanced as 2 gorillas, sitting on a see-saw, eyeing each other with contempt. This beer was poured and then it was gone in a matter of minutes. I love IPA's... Yes, in a weird way, and this is the way I like them, with hints of power and a taste like a coquettish transvestite, partially convincing but there's no hiding that stubble... Or those MASSIVE HANDS!

Food Suggestion: If you can't stop stuffing your face long enough to enjoy this on it's own, which you should do because it's delicious, then I guess this would go well some sort of fried fish, though I'm really liking the idea of this with some fish and chips. Buy this, go to your favourite chippy, drown those chips in salt and vinegar and then thank me when you wake up.

Drink this if you like: A bloody good IPA that is interesting, tasty and is in that lovely ground between average strength beer and beer you can embalm small mammals in.