1754 Historic London Export IPA

Hodgeson’s Accidential Discovery

The story begins when George Hodgson, owner of the upstart Bow Brewery in London, offered ship captains from the East India Company a great deal to carry his ale to India. His heavily hopped pale ale not only survived the long, hot sea voyage to India, but accidentally transformed into a refined, balanced ale on the way. Hodgson’s India Pale Ale (IPA) became a sensation among British expats. It dominated the overseas market and became known as a taste of home, establishing IPA as a the drink of a growing empire.

Hodgson did not invent India Pale Ale, but his brewery became one of the most successful exporters of pale ale to India in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Geography helped. Bow Brewery sat conveniently near the docks, making it easy for captains to load casks before sailing. The beer itself was likely related to the strong, well-hopped “October ales” brewed for aging. During the four-to-six-month journey to India, the beer matured in the rolling hold of the ship. By the time it reached Calcutta or Bombay, it had become bright, dry, and firmly bitter. This was because of a secret ingredient Brettanomyces clausenii, a wild yeast that wouldn’t be discovered for over a century but that lived in the barrels used to ship the ale.

Business would be great for the Bow Brewery until Hodgson’s descendants went back on their deal with the captains, raised their prices, and tried to cut out everyone who had helped their business grow.

Our 1754 Historic London IPA is brewed using the same techniques, malts and, as far as we can tell, yeast as the original. We even replicated the water chemistry of London and aged this beer in oak barrels for four months to simulate the trip to India.

Availability: Seasonal

Release Date: Yearly in late September / early October

First Produced: 2024

Alc/vol. 7%