Name: A New Chapter
Brewers: Cloudwater Brew Co. (UK) x Notch Brewing (USA) x The Pink Boots Society
Style: Specialty IPA: India Pale Lager
ABV: 6.5%
Review Year: 2019
We adore the Manchester-based brewery, Cloudwater for their hazy, pillowy, and juicy New England India Pale Ales (NEIPAs). Meanwhile, we respect the Massachusetts-based brewery, Notch for pushing forward flavorful session lagers in a landscape dominated by ales. Despite the differences in direction, the two breweries remain important players in the booming craft beer scene both in the UK and in the US. This collaboration brew, A New Chapter just shows how exciting hybrid styles such as the India Pale Lager (IPL) can be pushed from creative differences. This beer was brewed in support of The Pink Boots Society, a nonprofit organization supporting women in the brewing scene. A share of the profits from A New Chapter will go to the formation of the UK chapter.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as an India Pale Lager (IPL). As of this writing, the IPL is not yet an official/ explicit style and, thus, lacks a comprehensive set of guidelines by the BJCP.
However, in Specialty IPA Clarifications and Q&A published in 2017, the BJCP noted that the IPL often describes a distinct variant of the IPA that has seen some commercial and homebrew popularity. In particular, this variant may be described as (1) a pale lager brewed to IPA strength and hopping rates or (2) an American IPA brewed with lager yeast. These beers can be entered as a Specialty IPA with the entrant providing a brief description of the style to the judges.
Recommended Reading: Specialty IPA Clarifications and Q&A (BJCP, 2017)
TASTING NOTES
A New Chapter dazzles in the glass with a clear, dark orange color. It was a slow and mellow start for the beer to introduce itself as mild notes of tamarinds greeted our olfactory senses. As expected, this India Pale Lager has a light body with a crisp mouthfeel. Light flavors of marmalade, apricot, and hop bitterness composed the palate, while a dry finish of apple-like notes followed suit.
THE VERDICT
A New Chapter is a crisp, flavorful, and drinkable lager. While hazy and juice-like ales have been dominating the market lately, this American-Style India Pale Lager is a statement that lager may make its comeback in the craft beer world.
