Common lore attributes the genesis of the India Pale Ale to the days when England ruled India as a colony.
Because the hop flower not only provides bitterness and aroma to beer, but also helps to preserve it longer, heavily hopped brews made an ideal beverage for British brewers to put on the long sea voyage to India.
So, the story goes, the brewers in England added more hops to their pale ales so they would not spoil before reaching their destination.
How much, if any, truth is in this story remains unclear. It happened a few centuries ago and like most tales associated with alcoholic beverages, details become fuzzier as the years go by. Regardless, the style sailed over the pond to America in the 20th century and was embraced by the brewers of the modern craft beer movement. By integrating newer hops varietals, upping the alcohol by volume percentage, and applying techniques such as wood- and barrel-aging, U.S. craft brewers took the style and made it their own.
Back across the pond, Innis & Gunn in Edinburgh, Scotland, have recently added an IPA to its core repertoire of wood-aged beers that hews to the traditional while giving a nod to the innovators.
Toasted Oak IPA is matured for 41 days over specially toasted American oak heartwood chips after being brewed using three charges of the British hop varieties Styrian Goldings and Goldings.
The beer pours a light tan with a creamy head that does not dissipate much during the drinking. The hops give the Toasted Oak IPA a citrus fruit and pine tree aroma and flavor. The very noticeable oak presence offers both sweet vanilla notes and woody bitterness. The combined bitterness of the wood and hops brings a dryness to the tongue after each sip.
Perhaps this would go well with traditional Scottish haggis; I wouldn’t know because I’ve never had the dish. But Innis & Gunn recommends pairing it with foods such as spicy curries, salty pork crackling, or fried chicken. Those seem to be ideal suggestions.
Brewery: Innis & Gunn
City: Edinburgh, Scotland
Style: IPA
ABV: 5.6%
Availability: Draft and 4-pack bottles