Long Hammer India Pale Ale

I should preface this with the disclaimer that I have historically not liked IPA beers. However, it has been years since I've tried one (and the fact that many beer aficionado's rave about them) -- so I decided it was a time to try again. Time changes many things, and one's tastes in beer is included with this. I'm much more tolerant and sophisticated in my beer enjoyment now than I was then.

However, rather than diving into the deep end with a more esoteric IPA or a high-powered variant like Hop Stoopid, I thought maybe a more "Americanized" version might be a nice re-introduction. So I picked up a 6-pack of Long Hammer IPA at Target.

LH IPA pours to a medium-golden color and produces a moderate, lacey head that adheres nicely to the side of a glass. The aroma is not powerful, but does have noticeable hops overtones. For an IPA, the level of hop aroma is decidedly light. I also picked up some citrus of some sort in the aroma.

Aside -- India Pale Ales were traditionally brewed at sea en-route between Britain and India. The ultra-high hops content was to take advantage of the preservative properties of hops. Upon arrival in India, the brew was ready -- and strong! Rumor has it that the majority of the brew was watered-down and served to the crew, while the officers enjoyed the higher-alcohol, undiluted ale. So -- one expects a fairly noticeably hops content from an IPA.

LH IPA would be, at best, a "light" IPA. It is far less bitter than I expected it to be. While the hops are present and noticeable, they are far more subtle than I'd expect from a "true" IPA.

This is not to say that LH IPA isn't an enjoyable beer. It is a very good beer to drink. Smooth, tasty, and refreshing. But probably not a true IPA in the purest sense of the word. However, it has enough identifiable hops characteristics to be a nice "stepping stone" for one who is looking to move away from the center point of beers (basic adjunct lagers, american BMCs etc.). LH IPA has far more "real" hop characteristic that Budweiser American Lager (which speaks of hops, but only really hints at them). It has less hop "drive" than Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

So -- is it a "good IPA" -- probably not in the traditional sense. Too sweet, not enough hops.

Is it a good beer? Certainly. It is a smooth, refreshing beer that isn't the "same old, same old".

Oh -- and the 6.5% ABV isn't too shabby either!