Earth Day IPA

By the 1790’s the British were established in India and needed beer, which was considered a staple in every household. India, however, presented serious problems for brewers. Hot temperatures, poor water and short supplies of basic ingredients made it impossible to brew beer. Attempts to ship beer out of Britain to Calcutta failed. 

George Hodgson of London produced a pale ale of greater strength and bitterness than those he sold in London. The hops helped protect the beer from spoilage, as did the increased alcohol content. Hodgson’s India Ale arrived in Calcutta in fine shape-clear, strong, and bitter, with a big, resinous hop aroma.  The word spread of India Pale Ale and people throughout England and the United States were clamoring for this wonderful new beer. The rage lasted through 1970’s, but lost steam in the 1980’s and became just another name for low alcohol bitters. 

As craft beer has emerged and grown, so has IPA! IPA has helped grow Craft Beer to what it is currently today. There are now many shapes and forms of IPA, but they all share bright aromatic hop aroma of citrus, tropical fruit, and pine.

Earth Day IPA is an IPA that we brewed to celebrate sustainability in our supply chain and the agricultural producers who produce raw materials. We combine Salmon Safe Mosaic Cryo, Citra, and Krush from Loftus and Perrault farms and Salmon-Safe malted barley from Goschie Farms in Silverton, OR. The malt is unique in that Goschie Farms (a famed OR hop grower) has diversified their farm to include malting barley. They planted a number of acres of Oregon Promise, a spring barley variety developed at Oregon State University, and partnered with Admiral Maltings to produce a truly unique Oregon produce. Grown under Salmon Safe conditions this barley is a key rotational crop that helps maintain the health of the farm. We have a long history of working with Admiral and supporting their mission - it helps that they also make killer malt. 

The result of the combination of these Salmon Safe ingredients is a modern West Coast IPA. Proceeds from this beer are donated to the Native Fish Society, whose work supports the conservation of free-flowing rivers and wild fish populations throughout the Pacific Northwest and California. Proof you can be sustainable and flavorful. Cheers to Mother Earth!