Anderson Valley Hop Ottin' IPA

ANDERSON VALLEY HOP OTTIN' IPA

Origin: USA
Type: American-style IPA
Color: Copper-cinnamon
Alcohol content: 7,0%
Recommended serving temperature: 10ºC/50ºF
Brewery: Williams Bros. Brewing Company
Webpage: http://www.avbc.com/main/our-beers/hop-ottin-ipa/


In order to shoo away the euro-centric image this blog is crafting (no pun intended) itself, I think it is high-time I wrote a post on something from across the pond. 

Once that decision has been made, it comes rather naturally, at least to me, to write on an American-style India Pale Ale (or IPA). There are two main reasons for this. 

The first is the sheer amount of different American-style IPAs, making it almost imposible to ignore them in a blog on beer. 

But the second and most important one, is that this style of beer has become a personal favorite of mine through time, and I can now hardly go a few weeks without having one, so it is only natural I not only rave, but write about them as well. 

Among the different American-style IPAs, I have chosen to write about the Anderson Valley Hop Ottin' IPA because it is very evocative of what this type of beer should be. To put it in other words, it is the perfect example of an American-style IPA. 

American-style IPAs are (to speak generally and without getting into details and different variations) beers with a floral, fruity and citrusy smell and taste, but also with a strong bitterness and an above average alcohol content.

The Anderson Valley Hop Ottin' IPA, specifically, is copper colored and has a dense, soft and long lasting head of foam which is also very aromatic. 

It gives out a nicely fruity and citrusy smell, which is highly inviting. The brewery describes this smell more precisely as grapefruit, pine needles, citron, roses and bergamot.

However, when you give in to its smell and sip from it, the fruityness and citrusy smell are joined by a somewhat strong bitter taste, which makes it dry at the outcome.

This may take some getting used to, especially for those who are accustomed to the less zingy taste in beers, but with enough practice (not necessarily all in the same day, although that also helps), it becomes an almost addictive taste. It is not unlike the first time you try lemonade or grapefruit juice. You appreciate the fruity citrus in it, you enjoy the sweetness, you hardly ever feel comfortable with the bitterness and the acidity. Nevertheless, as time goes by, you are willing to try it again and then, strange thing, you no longer feel as bothered by the acid and bitter and may very well find yourself craving it a third time.

Now take those thoughts and feelings you had on lemonade, and add 7% alcohol. Let's face it, if you gave fruit a chance, there's much more of a reason to try to acquire a taste for a good old American-style India Pale Ale such as this one.