Hops and Glory

A few years ago, Pete Brown – author of A Man Walks Into a Pub and Three Sheets to the Wind – was in a pub. Not surprising for a man who has the dream job of a writer who specializes in beer and related subjects.

Unfortunately on this occasion he was struck by one of those ideas. That is, an idea that will haunt you forever if you don’t go ahead with it, but will cost you enormously in risk, fear, and pain if you do.

In his case it was the idea of recreating an authentic Indian Pale Ale by literally recreating the journey from the UK to India by canal and ship. This is of course, eccentric.

The book Hops and Glory records his journey, starting with an authentic 18th century IPA recipe and transporting a firkin of it to London by canal. Naturally, he had no experience in piloting canal boats. This is of course, irrational.

He then joined the tall ship Europa for the trip south across the equator, He doesn’t know anything about sailing ships and he’s not a great swimmer. This is of course, mad.

He then takes a cargo ship via AK47 toting pirate infested waters to the Middle East where both he and the firkin of beer are essentially illegal. This is of course, utterly insane.

After weeks of solitary confinement, he turns up in India where he moves heaven and earth to display the beer at a trade show where he has no intention of selling or importing the beer in the future. This is of course, Dagenham (two stops past Barking).

A great book, hilarious and informative in turn, and quite the most interesting thing I’ve read on Indian Pale Ale in years. Hops and Glory. Recommended.