One of the few beers we repeat every year and it’s one of our most intense and challenging: Original IPA circa 1840 (for Wally Funk). This is what IPA tasted like back when it was actually shipped to India.
Brewed with 100% Maris Otter malt and a calculated 160 IBUs of traditional East Kent Goldings hops. Aged in oak barrels with Brettanomyces for a full year then dry hopped with more EKGs.
Aroma is very funky with notes of sandalwood and gingerbread, the flavor is a battle between gorgeous mouth coating hop resin and Brett funk. The bitterness has mellowed considerably from the year in barrels and the flavor ends with a burst of dried apricot character from the EKG dry hop.
While this is the furthest thing imaginable from a modern hazy it will be bring joy to fans of Orval and should be tried by everyone in order to understand where the style originated and how far we have strayed.