Malt Shovel Brewery James Squire India Pale Ale

Picked a bottle up to try in my IPA fest. Upon opening, the aroma from the bottle is much like the JS Amber or Golden ale. The aroma from the glass was a slight bit off-putting though, having a heavy, cooked vegetable odour. It poured into the glass with a thick white head that tapered back after a minute leaving a consistent thin cover. The colour was a deep golden bronze.

Taste-wise, it went in bitter as a dry-hopped IPA should, but then it seemed to become rather ordinary which a dry-hopped IPA shouldn't. It had the decent if standard JS taste, but I think I prefer the Amber or Golden over this. Still, it was easily drinkable and didn't get stale as it warmed. Overall, I'll say it was a mixed success. I would gladly have another one but I'm not going to go out of my way to get one. 

Edit: 2nd bottle Feb 7:  This one was better.  It is mild as far as IPAs go, but nice. I bumped up my score for this one.

An IPA (India Pale Ale) is a unique flavour, unlike many other styles which can make it very easy to spot in a blind test. It also has the distinct characteristic that if you don't like one IPA chances are you wont like the rest. James Squire IPA sticks to the fairly traditional flavours of an IPA.

An earthy malty aroma with a little hint of the increased alcohol content noticable although it is a fairly weak aroma. Appearance wise it is a very dark amber colour with a brilliant foam head which lasts the whole distance.

Flavour wise it is strong and full bodied with a very malty flavour with quite a bitter aftertaste thanks to the style and amount of hops used in it (English Fuggles). Personally the bitterness seems almost 'sour' and I feel spoils the strong and full flavoured initial taste. It is advertised with a crisp finish, however I can not detect it.