Beer of the Month - Amnesia Desolation IPA [April 2007]

Amnesia Desolation IPA [April 2007]

India Pale Ales are the big brothers of Pale Ales, and a favorite of Portlanders. Because colonization is a thirst provoking task, the English fortified their Pale Ales with more malt and hops to preserve the beer for long trips from Britain to India. This task not only upped the flavor, but also the alcohol, creating a more robust Pale Ale, dubbed India Pale Ale. We are situated in the Hop Belt here in Portland and you don't have to travel very far to find a great variety of native hops. Because of this, many Northwest beers of all styles are very hoppy. However, taking a great beer and just adding more hops doesn't necessarily make a great beer. As Laurelwood's Chad Kennedy said, "can you balance that big bitterness and aroma or is it simply one dimensional hop bomb?"

The key to great beer is balance. The addition of more malt to a beer will usually result in a sweeter beer with a higher alcohol content. When you increase the hops, you not only increase the bitterness, but also the hop taste and aroma, depending on what time they are added to the boil. A great IPA recipe needs to make sure that all of these elements not only end up in line with the beer style, but are also in harmony with each other.

Our first award for Beer of the Month, Amnesia's Desolation IPA, was picked for this very reason. Not only is the balance between the malt and hops perfect for this style, but the choice of malt and hop varieties creates a final beer that is completely unified and is as delicious as it is complex. These complexities make Desolation IPA a great example of where an IPA can be pushed and still remain within the confines of the style. Brewer Kevin King's history with Rogue Ales is evident as he continues to push the boundaries with all of the beers in Amnesia's lineup.