BEER TALK Jaipur Pale Ale About the beer: From Humes Brewing Co., Glen Ellen, CA. An India pale ale from the world's first certified organic brewery, using organically grown grains from Canada and Scotland and organically grown hops from Germany, New Zealand and Tasmania. Just the facts: 5.6 percent alcohol by weight, 57 IBUs, available in AZ, CA, CT, IL, MA, MN, NC, NJ and NY.
Exotic is good. From the handsome champagne-like bottle etched with the name Jaipur, (pronounce JI POOR) to the care in choosing organic ingredients, it is obvious that this is no me-too beer. Itâs not! It has a deep golden color, still slightly turbid from bottle conditioning. The fullness of the color is little hint of whatâs to come. What comes are hops, pure and simple! Jaipur screams of them. Dry, spicy, spring like, floral, herbaceous, humulus and lupulus-hops. We enjoyed a bottle with friends and spicy Indian take-out late one evening. Take me back to Bombay, baby!	Light amber with a rich head and a healthy hazy, unfiltered appearance. Relatively neutral aroma with a hint of grassy hop-like character. Bitterness is assertive in the neo- classic tradition of American pale ales. Malt character is a bit subdued with hop bitterness lending lingering aftertaste. A clean, rather neutral, straightforward pale ale. Foam and head retention is memorable.	An organic India pale ale that is krausened -- not something the Brits are famous for! Hazy gold color, a trifle over- carbonated for my taste. Yeasty, grassy aroma becomes lemon- citric after a good swirl of the glass. Tart hops dominate the palate with a hint of biscuity malt. Finish has an intense bitterness that becomes iron-like: slightly uncomfortable at the back of the throat. Lacks malt balance. Those who recreate IPAs should note that a 19th-century original would have softened considerably during a three- month sea voyage.
This beer was reviewed for the July 1997 issue of All About Beer Magazine. © 1997 Chautauqua Inc.