Brewer Q & A (Issue 21)

93 Rating – Motorworks Brewing – INDY

Responses from Motorworks head brewer Bob Haa.

Who came up with this beer's recipe?
I did.

What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)? 
The balance between the malt and hops.

Where does this beer’s name come from?
INDY IPA’s name is derived from 3 things:
1)      It’s an India Pale Ale.

2)      The joy of Indy car racing.

3)      We take pride in being a completely independently owned brewery

Is this your "desert island beer?"
Although I really love INDY IPA, I would most likely choose a farmhouse style for my “DIB."

Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Balanced between pale Munich malts and American citrus hop flavor.

Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?
I describe this beer as an East Coast Style IPA, opposed to West Coast Style. East Coast Style IPAs tend to have more of a malt backbone, whereas West Coast IPAs are often bone dry. I prefer the sweet malts to mingle with the strong bitterness and hop flavor.

​93 Rating – Fremont Brewing – The Brother Imperial IPA

Responses from Fremont Director of Brewing Operations Matt Lincoln.

Who came up with this beer's recipe?
It was a collaboration between myself, Matt Lincecum (Founder/Owner of Fremont) and James McDermet (Fremont Head Brewer).

What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)? 
​The hop flavor. It’s really interesting to me that The Brother and The Sister [twin beer by Fremont] are made with the same malt and have the same ABV, but they taste so different, showcasing the distinctiveness of the different hops we use in each.

Where does this beer’s name come from?
We were all just sitting around talking about making an Imperial IPA and the name grew from the phrase, “hook a brother up.” We had a lot of fun making it, and people loved it, so we decided to make another and call it “The Sister” – as in "all in the family.” The Brother comes out in July and runs through October and The Sister runs April through June. They have the same malt backbone but have completely different flavor profiles due to the hops.

Is this your “desert island beer?”
No. In terms of Fremont brews, my desert island beer would be Cowiche Fresh Hop Ale.

Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Aggressively hopped, big tropical fruit, kind of balanced.

93 Rating – Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits – Dorado Double IPA

Responses from Ballast Point VP and specialty brewer Colby Chandler.

Who came up with this beer's recipe?
I first brewed this recipe back in 1998, before there was a Double India Pale Ale style. We called it a hoppy strong ale for the first brew. Since Dorado’s inception, it has taken a village to raise the beer. Our talented team has not only been able to keep the beer alive with procuring raw ingredients and continuing to improve its quality, but also helped define the style in San Diego.
 
What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
The use of Crystal hops for both aroma and flavor. Inspired by Rouge’s Brutal Bitter Ale and brewer John Maier’s mutual love of that hop varietal. It’s also scary how hidden the 10% ABV is and how soft the bitterness can be in a big beer. I've had quite a few heated conversations with my wife after drinking too many!
 
Where does this beer’s name come from?
Dorado (Spanish for golden), in this case, refers to the beautiful common dolphinfish or Mahi Mahi (Hawaiian for very strong). With unmatched variations in color, the vivid Dorado astounds San Diego anglers with its strong aerial fighting ability. Its prized fillets make for some of the finest fish tacos in the world! Two Dorado fish, painted by local artist Paul Elder, grace the label to remind you of the double punch of flavor.
 
Is this your “desert island beer?”
I get this question all the time. Conveniently, yes, this is my desert island beer. There are many customizable options for this beer on a desert island. I figured I could cut it down with water from the island spring for a “Pale Ale”. What about toasting some local wood for a “barrel version?" Maybe I could char the same wood for a porter version, or harvest some coconut and preserve it in the beer for a Coconut IPA, or just drink it the way we all like to do: straight up!
 
Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Amazingly drinkable, award-winning beer that’s beautifully balanced and big.
 
Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?
First served outside the brewery tasting room for the 2nd Annual Pizza Port Strong Ale Festival in 1999, the beer tapped out in 2 hours and most of it was drunk by the White Lab’s crew. Luckily, the next year I got to try Alpine’s Pure Hoppiness and Pliny the Elder for the first time and found my compatriots in this emerging style. Fast forward to 2006, I was proud to represent the great team at Ballast Point Brewing and accept the bronze medal in the Double IPA category for Dorado at the World Beer Cup alongside Vinnie [Cilurzo] from Russian River, who received the gold for Pliny, and Pat [McIlhenney] from Alpine, who received the silver for Pure Hoppiness. Pretty cool moment!