The
temperatures rise as we push nearer to August.
The rain storms of June have stopped, but the humidity has not.
Now is the season for lawn mower beers.
Today we will talk about what is arguably the
most popular lawn mower beer in the craft beer industry:
The American India Pale Ale (IPA).
As beers go
this beer is relatively new on scene, but it parent beers the American Pale
Ale, and the India Pale Ale have roots that date back hundreds of years. The India Pale Ale dates back to the 18th
century at the peak of British Colonization.
Pale ales were very popular at the time.
Now contrary to the name, the “Pale” in pale ales only means that is
lighter than a porter (a heavy dark brown or red), and it covered a wide
variety of beers we now call by different names. As Britain colonized east including India
there was a growing demand for British made beers, but there was a problem with
the delivery service. It took months for
the wind powered ships of the days to make the voyage. Now it is greatly disputed who was
responsible for this, but someone figured out that if you put an abundance of
hops in the beer that it would survive the voyage. Thus IPAs were born.
American
Pale Ales was the beer that launched the craft brewery industry. New Albion Brewery, started by Jack McAuliffe
, was looking to brew something the big national brewers were not. He started with heavily hopped (at least at
the time, compared to today’s standards it’s pretty mild) pale ale. While the brewery did not last for very long,
it started the trend of craft brewing in the US, and it would have an early
influence on Sierra Nevada Brewing, a brewery known for its hoppiness.
The trend of
hoppy beers became very popular in the craft brewing scene, creating a sub
culture of beer drinkers called “hop heads”.
This lead to extreme breweries like Surly and Stone creating hoppier and
hoppier beers. Thus the American India
Pale Ale was born.
American
IPAs generally start out with a caramelish or raisin like base malt. They are then given a fruity or citrus like
aroma hops, usually Cascade. IPAs tend
to be stronger and lighter in color then Pale Ales, but this is not always the
case. IPAs can range from straw gold, to
a mid-range red. Flavor wise, it is
usually a characteristically citrus like hops, usually accompanied with a
sweeter maltiness. (Mosher, 2009)
Just about
every brewery these days makes some version of an IPA.
So finding a local version of an IPA should
not be very difficult.
Minnesota:
Wisconsin:
Works Cited
Mosher, T. (2009). Tasting Beer: An Insider's
Guide To The World's Greatest Drink. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing.
Oliver, G. (2012). The Oxford Companion to Beer.
New York: Oxford University Press.
Let's start with the beers. In the interest of research, I tried samples of everything that they currently had on tap. The first flight that I got included the Ponyboy Gold, Take 6 IPA, Rubbish Oat Amber Ale, Yea-Yea Pale Ale. Then I moved on to samples of their Take 6 IPA cask with Cascade hops, the Y2K 2014 Hoppy Dark Ale, and the Sideburns Milk Stout. One thing is for sure, they are right about bold favors and aromas. None of these were run-of-the-mill style representations. I also appreciated the unique titles for their beers, as they will go a long way in helping them build and grow their brand. The Ponyboy Gold is a very approachable and drinkable offering. This will probably be a gateway beer for a lot of people. The Take 6 had a very pleasing piney and resinous quality that comes from a very nice hop presence. I liked how the Rubbish Oat Amber Ale had nice touch of roast and caramel to the malty sweetness.
My favorite offering, by far, was the Sideburns Milk Stout. This beer showcases dynamic flavor and mouthfeel. When you sip this beer, it feels like your tongue is spooning with greatness. I love how velvety and smooth the mouthfeel is on this beer. There are so many stouts on the market that neglect this element of the sensory experience, and I am so grateful to the brewer that the Sideburns hit this nail on the head. I ordered another pint of this beer and my companion, who doesn't usually like stouts, tasted it, and declared it a win because it didn't taste too much like coffee. 
The atmosphere of this place is extremely relaxed and friendly. The beer-tenders are cordial and willing to chat and answer questions about the beers. The brewing equipment is visible from anywhere in the main bar. There are Edison light fixtures hanging from the ceiling casting a warm glow on patrons as they enjoy their craft beers. The presence of the old theatre is still there as one can see the moldings up on the high ceilings and I thought this was very cool. As I sat at the bar, I saw patrons heading up the stairs to the rooftop and I immediately began looking forward to next spring, when I could enjoy a delicious pint out in the sun for happy hour. This neighborhood already has tremendous offerings for food and drink, and LynLake is going to fit in tremendously. So, get out there and try some of their wonderfully unique beers that will make you think and smile. Go there to meet up with a friend or coworker, or simply fly solo and chat up one of the beer-tenders or a complete stranger next to you; either way you will walk away already looking forward to your next visit.
