Friday, March 19, 2010
Bitterest
Beer - world record set by The Hop by Peter Fowler
GROVE, Wantage, UK -- Peter Fowler, 58, who has
been brewing since 1975 and runs Pitstop Brewery
created
the eight per cent beer The Hop
, rated for its bitterness
at 323 International BIttering Units - setting the new world
record for the Bitterest
beer
.
Photo: Peter Fowler, front, with landlord
Paul Hexter ( enlarge
photo
)
The
previous Guinness world record for the Bitterest
beer
was about 200, for an American beer Devil
Dance Triple IPA
.
International laboratory reports commissioned
by Peter Fowler, show his eight per cent beer The Hop is more
bitter than any known beer anywhere on the planet.
Mr Fowler, of Pitstop Brewery in Grove,
took on the challenge after a beer tasting with friend Nick
Gould, 52. The pair had been supping a particularly bitter
beer when Mr Gould challenged the brewer to make something
hoppier.
Two independent laboratories in Sunderland
and Kalamazoo, Michigan, have confirmed The Hop is more bitter
than any other beer on sale that has been tested.
To claim the world record, Mr Fowler used
powerful hop varieties Simcoe, Centennial and Chinnok, and
added hop extract Isolone to preserve the extreme bitterness.
American laboratory Kalsec Inc rated its
bitterness at 323 International Bittering Units (IBUs); the
highest previously recorded is around 200, for an American
beer Devil Dance Triple IPA.
Mr Fowler, who has been brewing since
1975 and opened Pitstop Brewery two years ago, said: “It is
always nice to beat the Americans and put a British flag on
the bitterest
pint
.
The US is producing some excellent and different beers.
Most British brewers, with some exceptions, stick with the
same old stuff — 4.1 per cent or thereabouts with a bit of
hops. I don’t want to be like that. I want to be able to make
any beer as a challenge.”
He added: “Anyone with the right technology
and the will to do it can beat this. “I have no doubt that
some US brewer will have a try to beat me, but I'm already
ready with my riposte.”
He admitted: “To be honest, I can only
drink it in halves. To finish an evening, it is fine, but
the taste lasts with me for four hours at a time.”
Mr Gould said: “I don’t think there is
a concept as too hoppy. But there is still room to improve
—Peter hasn’t upset every customer in the pub yet.
I think he’ll only be happy when the last punter
won’t drink it.”
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Friday, March 19, 2010