Murray’s Big Wednesday Summer IPA’s vital statistics are that it is 6.1% ABV with an original gravity of 1061. It is a different kind of IPA to our Icon 2IPA – it is 1.5% lighter in alcohol, and it is a bit paler in colour – a ‘summer’ IPA. It uses a lot less of the richer caramel flavours from Crystal malt than the Icon in its malt bill. It is also unusual in that I used no standard bittering hop addition at all in the brewing process – all the ‘bitterness’ in the beer is coming from the aggressive hop flavour from the late hop additions rather than traditionally ‘measurable’ bitterness from earlier additions to the boil. There is an aggressive hop flavour balanced by a biscuity malt character from the blend of British and German malts. The aroma is an aggressive blend of citrus and spice – almost passionfruit character and the finish is relatively dry for a beer of this ABV. For all this hop flavour the beer just maintains its balance and has great drinkability.