What’s brewing: BrewDog Punk IPA

Brewers are the new rock stars it seems – but hey, at least they’re not the new Kardashians. And the JayZ and Beyonce of the beer world are a couple of geezers from Scotland named James Watt and Martin Dickie. They’re the founders of BrewDog, one of the real go-getters of the craft beer scene in the UK. Their empire has expanded to the point where they even have a TV show in America – how Ozzy Osbourne is that? Anyway, the thing about BrewDog is that they love their IPAs – that’s India Pale Ales for the novices out there – a robust, hop-driven style that’s the subject of a lot of both refinement and experimentation. One of their more accessible releases here is Punk IPA, which is (unlike a lot of BrewDog’s stuff) not some weird-ass experimental brew, but rather one of their very first offerings and now a classic of the style. This beer is all about the hops (6 different New World varieties have been used) to produce both a ton of tropical fruit backed up with a firm grapefruit zest and pine resin bitterness. BrewDog know how to make a good beer, and despite its intensity, this is remarkably drinkable. It’ll probably be a bit too intense for beginners, but experienced drinkers will be back for more. Beer: BrewDog Punk Style: IPA ABV: 5.6% Retail Price: Around $18 – $24 per 6-pack in bottleshops Food match: We know it’s a cliche, but it really does go down well with a pizza Words by David Edwards, Drink Less, Drink Better