Redwillow Ageless Double IPA

Top Tastings 2011

ABV: 7.2%
Origin: Macclesfield, Cheshire East, England
Website: redwillowbrewery.com

Redwillow Ageless Double IPA

Recent years have seen the emergence of a number of new, small British breweries that place themselves firmly in the international craft beer movement rather than the native real ale tradition. I hesitate to use the label “craft beer” as in my view even the most dyed-in-the-wool cask ale producers should be counted as craft breweries, but there’s certainly an emerging and influential group of young brewers who are determined to do things differently, often looking across the Atlantic for inspiration.

The most recent example I’ve encountered is Redwillow, founded in 2010 by Toby McKenzie in Macclesfield. I happened across a selection of Toby’s cask and bottle conditioned beers at one of Manchester’s burgeoning number of interesting beer venues, the Font Bar, in early December, and with limited time to spare opted to try a bottle of this US-inspired double IPA. It turned out to be a good choice.

The beer poured amber, with a very big puffy yellowish head. Grapefruit and tropical fruit notes quickly seized control of a toffeeish malt aroma. More tropical fruit exploded on a resinous palate with notes of spice, burnt toast, lavender, sesame oil and a slight washing up liquid hint – an impressive intensity of flavour but nowhere near as overbearing as some beers in this style. Pineapple, coconut and a building peppery note danced in a long finish, with a minerally, chewy quality and some spicy, seedy notes.