Doug Odell is something of a legend in the brewing world you rarely talk to someone who loves their craft beer/hoppy beer/American beer (delete as appropriate) who doesn’t mention Odell Brewing.  Unfortunately until recently I hadn’t had chance to try any of his beers, until this arrived in the post and I then found Colorado red, the collaboration brew that Odell did with Thornbridge while I was in London.
Great beer and great label
Odell India Pale Ale (IPA) is Odell’s take on the traditional IPA shipped from England to India in the 1700′s. It weighs in at 7% ABV and 60 IBU’s.
It’s won a whole trophy cabinet of awards back in its home country and I can see why.
Odell IPA pours a really lovely amber colour, with a slight haze. It smells delicious, resiny hops, fresh pine needles and a little bit of orange and grapefruit.
In the mouth its got lovely fresh bread undertones with a delicious orange bite then a Herby resinous flavour from the hops, it’s beautifully balanced with just enough bitterness to give it kick at the end before it mellows out, it also hides the ABV very, very, very well.
I love the Odell branding, right from the bottle caps to the website, lots of thought and detail has gone into every aspect, The bottle tops have the Odell Logo in different colours, the seasonal’s say they are seasonal’s, The labels look and feel lovely and the website has some brilliant touches. In fact a lot of breweries on both sides of the pond could learn a lot from Doug Odell and his team.
Visit the Odell website here or follow them on twitter here or buy them from the My Brewery Tap
My local pub in Derbyshire sells Odell IPA, Cutthroat Porter, Levity Amber Ale & 5 Barrell Pale Ale. Of these Cutthroat is by far my favourite. In fact I’ve yet to come across a better bottled porter!
The smoked porter they did with DarkStar is very good as well.
This is one of my absolute favourite beers. I should just order a case of it, really.
I love the branding as well – I find it very hard to throw away/recycle O’Dell bottles.
a stunning beer!
Doug made the effort to come to the Beer Ritz shop once, not too long ago. He got me to take him all round the beers in the shop, and then asked me on my specific thoughts on all the Odell beers we sold, and I told him. Luckily enough I told him only good things! He introduced himself to who he was after that…. he’s a crafty man indeed!, but very cool!
I tried one of these a couple of weeks ago it’s an awesome IPA. I’ve kept the empty on the side ever since to remind me to buy more. (Sitting alongside an empty Smuttynose Big IPA)
I’m really getting into these big powerful beers.
Another recommendation is the Belgian Viven Imperial IPA
Seems like there is a lot of love for this beer!!
Ghost drinker – thanks for sharing that story its brilliant, really made me smile.
Phil – big big big big big big fan of the Viven!