IRISH brewers have been making a bold move for the IPA battleground in recent years and mostly with tasty results.
Of course, a beer branded IPA nowadays tends to refer more to the hopped-up American style than its colonial origins.
So any IPA looking to emulate the revived style on this side of the pond have had to front up the hops while retaining some indigenous characteristics.
The upshot of this is a collection of American-style Irish IPAs. The Station Works Brewery in Newry (it's right beside the railway station, hence the name) has been one of the more prolific beer makers in the last few years, building on their well-received Finn Lager with a solid core range which includes a pale ale, an American IPA, a red ale and a dry Irish stout.
Their IPA is one of the bolder takes on the style. It doesn't hold back on the hops. There's a delicate fruity aroma but it's mostly dominated by a malty aroma and taste which is the calling card of most Irish IPAs, emulating those churned out on the east coast of the US.
However, the dry bitter finish is more reminiscent of a hoppy Californian IPA, although the juicy, fruity flavour is much more subtle in the Foxes Rock IPA.
Still, it a real treat for those with taste for the bitter, hoppier ale. And if that's not your thing, then the Foxes Rock Irish Pale Ale dials down the hops a bit and fronts up with a more smooth and biscuity malt taste.
ANOTHER classic example of the Irish take on IPA is The Full Irish Single Malt IPA from Eight Degrees Brewery in Mitchelstown, Co Cork. Its excellence has recently been recognised at the 2016 World Beer Awards as it was named the Irish winner in the IPA category.
Eight Degrees' Knockmealdown Irish Stout was also named best Irish stout.
"We are over the moon to be judged as having the best IPA and stout from Ireland," said Eight Degrees Brewing's Cam Wallace.
"Our fingers are crossed as we go through to the best in the world World Beer Awards short list."
