When craft beer started to gain traction in Malaysia around 2012 there seemed to be two companies dominating the scene. Rogue from the US and BrewDog from the UK.
Indeed both companies have consolidated that initial impression and lead the way in many respects. Brewdog in particular have grown into an F&B sensation with their own bars popping up across the UK and in global cities, to the point that in China there is even a fake Brewdog bar.
Brewdog began life in 2007 as a 2-person 1-dog enterprise in Scotland as a means to simply create better beer than the commercial brews available. A simple aim, but one they've surpassed. They now have a dizzying range of beers covering almost every style from general pale ales through to beers that could be weaponised given their lethal abv. (See their Tactical Nuclear Penguin imperial stout). Their signature Punk IPA has gone on to be an icon of the craft brewing scene and for many in Malaysia it may have been their first taste of the new style IPAs conquering the global market.
Jack Hammer is an technically a (single) IPA, yet would make some Double IPAs I've tried weep. What defines a single or a double is not set in stone. It could be alcohol content, bitterness, hoppiness, taste, fruitiness or a combination of all. In many cases it's simply a brewer making sure they have a beer for every style. But as Brewdog pay scant regard to tradition they market Jack Hammer as a Ruthless India Pale Ale. RIPA!
Jack Hammer is brewed at 7.2% and pours a deep golden hue with a rich foamy head. It has a citrus aroma before a chewy bitterness takes over. Refreshing yet powerful, like all the best Double IPAs.
If you like Jack Hammer I would also recommend Stone's Ruination, Anderson Valley's Heelch O'hops, Victory Brewing's Dirt Wolf and Buxton's Wyoming Sheep Ranch, all of which can be found in Malaysia at various times.
And it you want to read about some more IPAs and Double IPAs, follow the links.
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Brewdog began life in 2007 as a 2-person 1-dog enterprise in Scotland as a means to simply create better beer than the commercial brews available. A simple aim, but one they've surpassed. They now have a dizzying range of beers covering almost every style from general pale ales through to beers that could be weaponised given their lethal abv. (See their Tactical Nuclear Penguin imperial stout). Their signature Punk IPA has gone on to be an icon of the craft brewing scene and for many in Malaysia it may have been their first taste of the new style IPAs conquering the global market.
Of course, it's often the case that those setting the trends eventually become the cliché that define the trend, and indeed setting foot in a Brewdog bar is like setting foot into Hipster heaven with uniforms of manicured beards and skinny jeans everywhere (on the boys at least... mostly). The bars are wilfully industrial and occasionally dishevelled and come with their own set of hipster rules like queuing at the bar in a long line like at an ATM rather than along the bar as with, well, every other pub in the UK. (A concept I fell foul of in London during my first visit to a BD pub when I unknowingly stood next to the only other person at the bar to buy a beer and he looked shocked and then pointed out I should stand behind him... I didn't).
But these quirks aside, Brewdog are still leading the way in a craft beer revolution and are notoriously generous with their art to the point of encouraging fans to invest in their bars and giving away the recipes to every beer they've ever produced for homebrewers to try and recreate.
Until I master that art (still trying) the beers they brew themselves are among the highest quality craft brews around. Among them a favourite of mine, Jack Hammer IPA. In the wonderful world of beer there are no real naming conventions when it comes to style and the brewer dictates whether one beer is a porter or stout; IPA or Double IPA at their own discretion.
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Jack Hammer is an technically a (single) IPA, yet would make some Double IPAs I've tried weep. What defines a single or a double is not set in stone. It could be alcohol content, bitterness, hoppiness, taste, fruitiness or a combination of all. In many cases it's simply a brewer making sure they have a beer for every style. But as Brewdog pay scant regard to tradition they market Jack Hammer as a Ruthless India Pale Ale. RIPA!
Jack Hammer is brewed at 7.2% and pours a deep golden hue with a rich foamy head. It has a citrus aroma before a chewy bitterness takes over. Refreshing yet powerful, like all the best Double IPAs.
If you like Jack Hammer I would also recommend Stone's Ruination, Anderson Valley's Heelch O'hops, Victory Brewing's Dirt Wolf and Buxton's Wyoming Sheep Ranch, all of which can be found in Malaysia at various times.
And it you want to read about some more IPAs and Double IPAs, follow the links.
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