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