Saturday, February 11, 2012

Boulder Beer – Cold Hop


Boulder Beer Company is the oldest microbrewery in Colorado and they were established in 1979.  I had not tried Cold Hop (6.3% ABV and 46 IBU) that is an English-Style IPA and when I saw it at the local store, I picked up a bottle to add to a mixed 6-pack.  

English IPA – ">First brewed in England and exported for the British troops in India during the late 1700s. To withstand the voyage, IPA's were basically tweaked Pale Ales that were, in comparison, much more malty, boasted a higher alcohol content and were well-hopped, as hops are a natural preservative. Historians believe that an IPA was then watered down for the troops, while officers and the elite would savor the beer at full strength. The English IPA has a lower alcohol due to taxation over the decades. The leaner the brew the less amount of malt there is and less need for a strong hop presence which would easily put the brew out of balance. Some brewers have tried to recreate the original IPA with strengths close to 8-9% abv.”  BeerAdvocate
Appearance – Orange/gold with a lacy two-finger head and it is cloudy.
Aroma – You smell malt sweetness and grassy and citrus from the hops.
Taste – One can easily taste the sweetness from the British Malt and then the citrus/grass notes from the hops.  This beer has a firm bitterness, but it is not over the top bitter.  A nice English-style IPA. 
Overall – B – A nice English-style IPA.  Boulder Beer Co. brews solid beers and Cold Hop is another nice one from them. 

Website description – “A unique beer with a rich golden hue.  It’s pleasantly fruity.  Floral hop aroma perfectly balance the mile sweetness of the British grains, for a refreshing yet high-gravity British-style ale.  Limited release available July through fall.
Grains: Maris Otter Pale Malt, Honey Malt, 10-15 Crystal Malt
Kettle Hops: Willamette, Czech Saaz, Hallertau, and Hercules
Dry Hop: Nelson Sauvin from New Zealand”


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