Redhook IPA (Ballard's Best Bitter)

Review Date 8/12/2000 By John Staradumsky

  Style: India Pale Ale   Brewery: Redhook   Country: USA   State: Washington   $ Per OZ: N/A   ABV: 6.5%

Ya sure, ya betcha. That is the slogan you'll find on a bottle of Redhook's India Pale Ale, aka Ballard Bitter, after the neighborhood in Seattle where Redhook first operated a brewery. Actually, the beer would be better described as a bitter or pale ale than IPA. Perhaps it could be called an English style IPA. It's a tasty brew, and I laud Redhook for always getting it to me fresh (the bottling date is imprinted onto the label; this bottle was born on April 25, 2000).

The label says "Redhook India Pale Ale is a beer that celebrates hoppiness". Seems to me it must have been a short celebration. There are hops here to be sure, but not as many as I expect in an India Pale Ale, at least not an American one. We beer enthusiasts are getting spoiled these days. The beer weighs in at 37.5 IBUs of bitterness, I'm looking for at least 45 in an IPA. Alcohol content is 6.5% by volume, about right for the style.

On April 16th of 1999 I wrote the following about Ballard's Best Bitter:

Bottled on 02/24/99. The label says this beer is "crisp and dry, extra hoppy", "celebrates hoppiness". I found this beer to be as hoppy as the average pale ale. It's golden in color with light carbonation, a vigorous pour produced minimal head production. Nose has a touch of diacetyl. Palate is smooth and does have some good crisp biscuit-like malt body to it and a touch of fruit. There's a subtle peppery hoppiness and a very light bitterness more appropriate to a pale ale than an IPA. Indeed, as a pale ale this beer would be commendable for it's outstanding balance. With that in mind, I enjoyed the beer a lot.

The beer is a light orange in color and forms a generous head on the pour. The nose is fruity with Cascades, Northern brewer and Willamettes are used too. The body is crisp malty but thin for an IPA, there are slight notes of butter and citrus fruit. A mild hop bitterness develops in the finish and lingers on the tongue after sipping.

Though the beer falls on the mild side for an IPA, it is still an enjoyable brew. I recommend it with salads or seafood. This would make a good entry level beer to introduce a budding beer enthusiast to hops.