McEwans India Pale Ale

Brewed by John Smiths (S&N, Heineken)
Style: Bitter
Tadcaster, England

On Tap at Brit’s Pub in Minneapolis. Is this cola or beer? I couldn’t tell. No head, very thin, tasted like flat cola, fairly sweet. I thought this was supposed to be bitter. Perhaps they forgot to put the hops in! This one doesn’t even come with an aftertaste! I’ll pass forever on this one.

Deep amber with an off-white film for a head that left fair lacing. Aromas were mild and only a bit orangey when they showed. Not much of an IPA. Flavor was considerably malted... more like an "Irish Red" with a grapefruit chaser.

After typing my review I glanced downwards and think it’s awesome that 80% of the recent reviewers say that this beer should not be called an IPA. Ratebeerians Unite!!!!

<font size=-4>On tap at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/illinois/blue-i Tree Inn, Blue Island, IL<font size=-1>

Had this on tap. A mild brown leather color. Some faint hop, malt characteristics from the nose. Sort of malty, with a some watery hops. Here’s it’s classified as a bitter, which seems right, but it says an IPA. As a bitter it makes more sense; as an IPA -- not really.

Mostly roasted caramel malting (with a nice peaty smokiness) but virtually no hopping (other than a faintly floral note in the quickly fading background. ) Very drinkable as maybe a brown ale, but no way this can be an IPA, yeah?

Malty/grassy/loamy aromas. Dark brown with a tiny head. Sweet baked bean and BBQ pork flavor atop a malt base. It’s not nice to call this mediocare bitter an IPA.

12oz. bottle. Clear copper with a medium size white head. Biscuity malt aroma and flavor with some caramel and butter. Strange butterscotch aftertaste was a turn off.

The bottle poured a dark amber beer with a small thick off-white head that dissipated fairly quickly leaving almost no head and little lacing. The aroma of dark roast malt was prominent with hints of floral hops. The body was thin with light carbonation and a semi-dry, thin texture. The taste starts out primarily of dark roasted malt. There is almost no hop flavor noticeable. Toward the middle it fades and the finish is a bit abrupt. I do not know where they get off calling this an IPA. It would pass as a decent classic brown ale, but there aren’t enough hops in this to call it an IPA.

[tap @ Strangebrew] Not really an IPA... kind of weird. It had an interesting sweet flavor, but no other real distinct characteristics. Kind of weak.