Punk IPA - The beer that started it all... Even if they do say so themselves!
My feelings about this beer are confused to say the least. In fact, it might not be my feelings about the beer, but maybe my feelings about the company that produces it that are confused, I don't know.
I'm going to be up front about it, I really like this beer. I like a lot of what Brewdog produce, Elvis Juice is a particular favourite. However, and here is where I get confused, I feel slightly ashamed about admitting that. Admitting that I like Punk IPA just makes me feel, somehow, less cool. Like admitting that I send my weekends engaged in philately or campanology or some other activity that is generally considered dorky.
I suppose I am probably right to feel this way too. Brewdog is like that hip little indie band you used to go see at uni who made it big, sold out and now just don't sound the same now that everyone else likes them - you should have heard their earlier stuff, man that was good.
Brewdog's original image and marketing was so anti-establishment, so edgy and cool. But, thanks to a massive cult-like following and aggressive expansion, they are now effectively the establishment, I mean, it is impossible to walk into a supermarket and not be able to buy their beer. Given their ubiquity, their formerly "edgy" image seems forced and artificial and frankly about as punk as Avril Lavigne.
However, maybe this is unkind, in fact I know it is. The brewers from Ellon aren't as in your face as they once were (for the most part) and they do use their position for good - their environmental efforts are laudable. However... they just aren't cool anymore, are they?
But none of this matters. Do you remember what the British beer scene was before they came along? I do, it was shit. Beer festivals were a CAMRA-driven affair with a few dozen over-malted, under-hopped ales which mostly tasted the same, where anyone under the age of 50 was viewed with suspicion or contempt. Where the best music you could hope for was someone playing an old Runrig record through a tannoy and the food was a Co-op quiche being sold for 50p a slice. And let's not get started on pubs, they were worse, so much worse.
The truth is the British beer scene, in fact I would go so far to say Britain itself, is a better place because of Brewdog. Yeah, they might not be the coolest anymore, or make the most exciting beer, but I can walk into pretty much any pub in the land and be guaranteed that for the entirety of my night out, the very worst beer I will be drinking is a Punk IPA, and it is a damn good beer, just not a cool one anymore.
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