Ridiculous beer descriptions

[Sadfield]

It's an interesting label. All the other beers seem to be Theakson's Bitter or Quencher or whatever, but they all have the Seal of the Peculier of Masham. The IPA doesn't have the logo in fact.

It's on the bottle neck label.

 

[Agentgonzo]

I think with something like 'Peculiar IPA' it's pretty clear what you are getting, or at least it should be.

I'd expect a Black IPA that has a moderate to high level of malt character (i.e. it isn't just coloured black by using Carafa Special) with plenty of hop flavour and aroma too.

Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but don't think the name has anything to do with that.

What you describe doesn't sound like an IPA

 

[Stu's Brews]

What you describe doesn't sound like an IPA

Maybe not, but this is what the BJCP describe a Black IPA as...

'A beer with the dryness, hop-forward balance, and flavor characteristics of an American IPA, but darker in color. Darker malts add a gentle and supportive flavor, not a strongly roasted or burnt character.'

As they are using the 'Peculiar' brand name I'd expect it to be pushing the upper limits of the malt character.

I still think the name adequately describes what you are going to get in the bottle.

 

[Agentgonzo]

Everything's an IPA these days

 

[Stu's Brews]

Everything's an IPA these days

Unfortunately it does seem the market is becoming a bit obsessive about using the 'IPA' label for anything that is heavily-hopped.

 

[Agentgonzo]

Maybe not, but this is what the BJCP describe a Black IPA as...

I don't think that many supermarket shoppers well have read the BJCP style guides. Or even heard of the BJCP... Or black IPA

 

[Stu's Brews]

I don't think that many supermarket shoppers well have read the BJCP style guides. Or even heard of the BJCP... Or black IPA

Definitely true, but that goes down a whole other rabbit hole about how craft beer can be a bit of a closed club for those that are 'in the know'.

 

[Sadfield]

 

[Stu's Brews]

View attachment 90994

Well that's a complete fail then...

Arguably quite an accurate description as it looks like it actually is an IPA. However, using the 'Peculiar' brand is definitely confusing.

 

[Agentgonzo]

How about this Frankenstein creation.....???

View attachment 90988

Just looking back at the label, I'm amazed they have the gall to call themselves "the original craft brewer". That's like me calling myself "the original homebrewer"

 

[Clarence]

I don't think that many supermarket shoppers well have read the BJCP style guides. Or even heard of the BJCP... Or black IPA

Who gives a flying frolic what BJCP say? They've nothing to do with what an English family brewery decide to call their beer.
I suspect this beer is exactly what it says on the label, a "Peculier IPA". Only looking at the pictures, but it doesn't look very black to me. Is it supposed to be?

 

[Sadfield]

@Agentgonzo They probably are. Independent, small batch brewery. If they aren't, who is?

 

[Rodcx500z]

A lot of people moan there is no bitter anymore, walk in a pub and buy amber walla you have a bitter. the marketing boys have a lot to answer for

 

[Chippy_Tea]

View attachment 90994

@Sadfield I dont care about the label whats it like?

(Big old Peculier fan)

 

[Agentgonzo]

Who gives a flying frolic what BJCP say? They've nothing to do with what an English family brewery decide to call their beer.

. Beer JUDGE certification program. They don't get to define anything about beer. It's also (like a lot of other certification stuff) just a money making scheme to get people to hand over their hard earned cash in exchange for a certificate. Woop-de-woop

I suspect this beer is exactly what it says on the label, a "Peculier IPA". Only looking at the pictures, but it doesn't look very black to me. Is it supposed to be?

It's only really the brewer who decides what it should be. As I said, this is cashing in on the old peculier name, and so probably "just an IPA from Theakston"

 

[Sadfield]

@Sadfield I dont care about the label whats it like?

(Big old Peculier fan)

View attachment 90998

Unfortunately not my photo. OP is great, so I'm interested to try this. I suspect it'll be a nice balance between hops, sweet malt and bitterness. And offend the johnny-come-lately's, that think IPA stands for Indigenous Product of America, for not being a crushable hazy.

 

[dad_of_jon]

Not just beer. Flavoured coffee seems to be a trend around Christmas.

I love coffee. I love Christmas pudding. I don't want them both in the same cup!

Christmas Pudding & Clotted Cream Stout 13% 330ML​

This was delicious, I still have one left. (for xmas obs)

 

[Northern_Brewer]

@Agentgonzo They probably are. Independent, small batch brewery. If they aren't, who is?

Any small, independent brewery that isn't ~30% owned by Heineken?

Theakston try to keep that bit quiet, they like to give the impression that the family bought back the entire company from Heineken but it's not true.

As for "original", they don't even go back two centuries whereas eg Sheps go back more than three. If you accept that traditional family brewers are more "craft" than most "craft breweries", Sheps probably qualify in terms of a corporate structure going back to 1698 and with roots in monastic brewing on the site that goes back much further.

 

[Sadfield]

If you accept that traditional family brewers are more "craft" than most "craft breweries"

Sheps is a good call. I don't know about more, but the gist of the question was based around old family breweries fitting the definitions used by the "Craft" sector. For example, the likes of JW Lees and Elgoods have been invited to Indymanbeercon, a festival that sets out to promote "craft" brewing.

 

[MickDundee]

I’m slightly confused about comments about a NEIPA not tasting like beer? In what way does it not taste like beer?

I could understand if it was one of these mango milkshake IPAs with kilos of added fruit pulp/puree and loads of lactose, but a NEIPA is just malt, wheat, oats, hops and yeast.

A stout doesn’t taste like a bitter, which doesn’t taste like a pale lager, which doesn’t taste like a west coast IPA, which doesn’t taste like a hefeweizen, but nobody would claim any of them didn’t taste like beer.