Ska with an MO

Modus Hoperandi - 6.8%

Coventry is famous for the 2 Tone Ska music scene from the 70's.  The Specials came from here and what you might be wondering about is why am I rambling on about Coventry and Ska in a blog called Beer Experiment?

Obviously I'm talking about it because this beer is from Ska Brewing and I bought it in a shop in Coventry.  They are not based in the city, nor the country I would talk about them some more but other than they are American know nothing and their website is down.

Modus Hoperandi is an IPA that comes in cans not bottles which is unusual in the craft beer world, if exploring Beer Gonzo's shelves is any way of measuring it.

With some seriously intense hops it's a great example of how an IPA should be done.  Be prepared for a massive flavour and not for the feint of heart.  Take it from someone who would typically pick one this is worth the chance.

If you find it's not for you I doubt any IPA is.

A Sheep in Wolfs clothing

Magic 8 Ball - 7.0%

Take a look at that over there.  Dark with a rich cream head, slightly washed out by the flash, Can't you just imagine the rich flavours, the thick roasted malt aroma?

Well I'm glad you can.  All I get is the citrus twang of an IPA.  This is Magic 8 Ball, Black IPA.  Yes Black IPA.  Brought to you by the folks at Magic Rock Brewing.

It's as strange a beast as it appears.  You have a flavourful IPA with the look of a more manly ale.  I would challenge someone to drink this alongside a regular IPA and see if they could tell one was dark.  Obviously you'd have to blindfold them first or it's a bit more trivial an exercise.

As IPA's go it's quite nice, but once again not my thing with a lingering bitter after taste.  I was a little disappointed that it wasn't as unusual in flavour as it is in colour, but that should not stop you.  Fans of IPA rise up, go forth too Hudddersfeild and rejoice.

Summer fruits in the dead of Autumn

A few times now, quite by accident, I've stumbled onto a smaller independent brewery.  This though wins the prize for apparently smallest and most independent.

The Kernel India Pale Ale - 6.8%

The Kernel Brewery is on the Thames not especially far from London town.  For those inclined you can actually watch a video of the man in action brewing, bottling and labelling his beer for you all by hand.

Take a look at that label.  Another minimalist example but very eye catching in its simplicity.  You can't quite see from the picture but up close you can see, and it's confirmed by the video, the text for the beer type and hops is hand stamped.

Speaking of the hop type we have Citra and Riwaka.  Citra is relatively new and incredibly flavourful of citrus fruits, as its name suggests.

This beer shares a lot in common with the Lotus IPA I tried a few weeks back.  From the strong citrus flavours through to the bitter after taste.

Perhaps in summer time I would enjoy this a little more but it has not put me off delving into whatever they have happened to brew this month.

Strong in alcohol and strongly hopped

At the end of a long week what could be better than hunting down a new beer to try?  I found this one lurking in the basement of a Birmingham hotel.

Lotus IPA 5.6%

IPA or India Pale Ale was first named in the 1830's for export overseas.  This one, Lotus IPA, is made by Ilkley Brewery which is a new modern brewery founded in 2009 making quite a range.

You can see from the picture that it's a straw coloured ale and that my camera flash makes it look like the head has been fashioned from cream.

The flavours are citrus and peach with a slightly disappointing bitterness to the after taste.  Overall it is a very floral drink and perhaps a little perfumed to enjoy more than one, the taste being perhaps a touch ungrounded.  With some spicy foods or something rich, like a winter ploughman's, it may sit better.