International IPA Day 2019 Stockists

Parochially referred to by some beer nerds as the ‘King of Beers’, India Pale Ale has, arguably, become synonymous with the craft beer movement due to its simple dedication to flavour. More specially, hop flavour. All the other beer ingredients merely allow the desired hop flavour to take full effect.

It’s why we get up in the morning, it’s what we talk about as we fall asleep. And now, it’s time to celebrate all things IPA.

While the exact origins of the IPA are somewhat dubious, the story goes that in the mid 18th century George Hodgson was shipping beer to the Indian colony, from Britain. Of all the styles successfully shipped, including Porter, George’s well-hopped and well-attenuated Pale Ale became a favourite of the locals. Fill in some economic, water profile and market coincidences and by the early 19th century the style had taken root in Britain as well. Fast forward to the home brewing revolution in the 1970s in the USA; the Americans did what Americans do best and exacerbated the English IPA. American IPA was loaded with new US hop varieties such as Cascade and Super Cascade (Centennial) and the IPA that we know and love today was born.

Today, IPA subcategories are extensive; West Coast, East Coast, New England, Belgian, Red, Black, White, Brut, Session, Double… the list is exhausting and exemplifies our love and dedication to IPA.

Founded by Ashely Routson and Ryan Ross back in 2011, #IPADay is championed annually on the first Thursday in August and has become a global phenomenon dedicated to celebrating this posterchild of the craft beer movement. To this end, eight years in, we are thrilled to present two beers that showcase the modern development of hop technology. Two IPAs made for pleasure on Thursday 1st August 2019 (or whenever really) from exactly the same recipe, same malts, same alcohol content, same fermentation characteristics, where the only difference is the source of hops. Same, same but not the same…

Hoptopia utilises hops in their most native state. This IPA was made with whole hop cones (no pellets) from New Zealand; Nelson Sauvin, Motueka and Taiheke. We used these cones in the boil, in the hop back and also in dry-hopping. This beer showcases punchy tropical flavours of melon, mango, blackcurrant and gooseberry.

Mechopolis looks to 100% hop derived products to deliver that hoppy goodness; CO2-extracts, oil extracts and chemically modified hop components. Not a single hop pellet or hop cone in sight. It really showcases just how far technology into hops has come. It has all those familiar flavours of citrus, melon and pine.

Natural or synthetic? Rustic simplicity or evolving technology? Keep it old school or get with the times?

Which do you prefer?

Find it on tap…

Breakfast Creek Hotel – Albion

Crow & Arrow – Lawnton

Dirty Moes – Mooloolaba

Flux Restaurant Lounge – Noosaville

Frank & Lotti – Mooloolaba

John Mills Himself – Brisbane CBD

Miss Kay’s – Mitchelton

Netherworld – Fortitude Valley

Newstead Brewing Co – Milton

Newstead Brewing Co – Newstead

Suburban Social – Chapel Hill

The Alliance Hotel – Spring Hill

The Scratch Bar – Milton

The Taphouse – Townsville

Tippler’s Tap – Fortitude Valley

Tippler’s Tap – South Bank

Find it in cans…

Black Sheep – Everton Hills

Black Sheep – Newmarket

Black Sheep – St Lucia

Cellarbrations – Birtinya

Cellarbrations – Brightwater

Cellarbrations – Buderim

Cellarbrations – Camp Hill

Cellarbrations – Coomera (Boathouse Tavern)

Cellarbrations – Currumbin

Cellarbrations – Gumdale

Cellarbrations – Hope Island

Cellarbrations – Nambour

Cellarbrations – North Ipswich

Cellarbrations – Wynnum (Waterloo Bay Hotel)

Cellarbrations – Yandina Hotel

Cooly Liquor – Coolangatta

Dan Murphy’s – All Queensland stores (Hoptopia only)

James Street Cellars – Fortitude Valley

Kingscliff Taphouse Cellars – Kingscliff

Laneway Green – Westcourt, Cairns

Liquor Legends – Stafford

Newstead Brewing Co – Milton

Newstead Brewing Co – Newstead

Prince Alfred Hotel – Ipswich

Quench Liquor Cellars – Broadbeach

Quench Liquor Warehouse – Ashmore

Sense of Taste – Portside

Star Liquor – Maroochydore

Star Liquor – Raceview

Star Liquor – Runcorn

Super Cellars – Murwillumbah

The Sun Bistro – Byron Bay

The Transcontinental Hotel – Brisbane CBD

The Wine Emporium – Newstead

XO Cellars – Noosa Fair

XO Cellars – Sunshine Beach