Greene King IPA

[mrobinson]

Hi,

I was drinking Greene King IPA in the pub last week and I was wondering how it manages to be so smooth, yet so light at the same time.

Does anybody have any ideas? I was wondering if it's served using 70/30 nitrogen rather than 100% co2.

I'd love to replicate something like it at home.

 

[MyQul]

GK IPA has got a bit of a bad rep as an IPA as its seen as quite poor an example of an IPA and I can see why as it's probably the ony IPA I can drink. I would suggest this is because the IBU is so low, I don't know what th IBU is but I dont like anything more than about 40 IBU.

 

[mrobinson]

I know it's got a bad rep, and I know it's not a good example of an IPA, but as a beer I think it's a great session ale. Really light but creamy with a decent flavour.

Anyway, I'm not trying to convert anybody to it - I'm just wondering if anybody knows what makes it both light and creamy - other beers I've had that are creamy are heavy ( think Worthingtons, etc ).

I'm wondering if it's the nitrogen, because if it is, that's something I can do to my own beers without changing recipies. I'm lazy and cheap, so I prefer the £15 kits where possible - if I can get a hop-infused kit that can resemble Greene King IPA as drank in a pub, I'll be a very happy man.

 

[MyQul]

Sorry mate didn't make myself clear enough The reason it's light is because it's so lightly hopped (low IBU's) and of course its only about 4%. Haven't had it for a v. long time and have only drank it once or twice but don't remember it being creamy but if it's like worthingtons/john smith/guienness etc it's because of nitrogen.

I just remeber it being like a English summer ale, very light and sessionable. Try the coopers Australian Pale ale kit that's very a lightly hopped pale ale

Edit: It's actually even lighter than 4% at 3.6% isn't it

 

[mrobinson]

Ah sorry, I misunderstood.

Thanks - I was hoping somebody would say that.

 

[MyQul]

If you like this light style of pale ale try thwaites wainrights, also a low ABV (think it's about 4%) and low IBU (about 28) pale ale . I usually have a pint if I see it on draught. Tried making it a couple of times with not so good results

 

[mrobinson]

i like Wainrights too - it tends to be on tap in all the same pubs as Greene King IPA, near me at least.

 

[MyQul]

I think thery're similar styles. I think Green Kiing have done themselves a diservice trying to call that particular beer an IPA. Don't get me wrong I seem to remember liking it, but it's not an IPA

 

[Covrich]

If you like this light style of pale ale try thwaites wainrights, also a low ABV (think it's about 4%) and low IBU (about 28) pale ale . I usually have a pint if I see it on draught. Tried making it a couple of times with not so good results

I am sure I read someone once say they gave up trying to replicate commercial beers they really really like as no matter how good their efforts were or the results, the will always draw comparison and can often feel a bit disappointed.

I did a few clones and whilst they have been given good reviews by people not knowing what the clone was, I was a bit disappointed they were not quite the same.

Edit I also agree it is not really an IPA..

 

[MyQul]

I am sure I read someone once say they gave up trying to replicate commercial beers they really really like as no matter how good their efforts were or the results, the will always draw comparison and can often feel a bit disappointed.

I did a few clones and whilst they have been given good reviews by people not knowing what the clone was, I was a bit disappointed they were not quite the same.

Edit I also agree it is not really an IPA..

Totally agree here, clones are really a tribute to the original. Even if you have the all the same ingredients there's still things that the brewers of the original do that you may not know about or be able to replicate because you need a particular bit of kit which might be out of the HB price range

When I say "not good results", the first one was too dry as I used notty yeast although it had a similar taste to the original. The second one got infected and now curously enough tastes like cider.

 

[cheshirehomebrew]

I do like my beers both light and very hoppy hence my tendancy to brew IPA's, but I do love both the greene king ipa dna wainrights, its a nice session beer and I dont see the point of (home)brewing above 5 percent anyway, seems more of an ego thing than a taste thing

 

[pms67]

Yep,percentage is almost irrelevant to me,anywhere between 3-5% will do.

Unless its a Brewferm kit.