The name of our biggest IPA is a play on words.

IPAs were first brewed in Great Britain at the same time they were colonizing all over the globe at a time without refrigeration. In order to provide ale to their troops in India they were forced to add copious quantities of hops, a natural preservative.

To strike a more harmonious balance, they also added malt. The result was a pungently flavored beer that was quite high in alcohol content.

As a tribute to that history, we came up with the name "Four Seas." Our over-the-top IPA includes four varieties of hops: Cascade, Centennial, Chinook and Columbus. That made the name "Four Cs."

Now you know why we didn't call it Seven Seas Imperial IPA (in addition to the fact that it doesn't taste like salad dressing!)

Barley's Four Seas Imperial IPA

Style Guidelines: Our strongest and most flavorful IPA is an imperial. More malt and more hops result in a powerful punch, highlihgted by the alcohol. We fill our mash tun with pale malt and add enough hops to make the malt barely noticable. The result is a very citrusy ale.

Rotation Schedule: rotated witho ur other IPAs, as appropriate hops become available.

Food Pairings: This beer will overwhelm all but the most flavorful foods. Spicy Thai or Carribean jerk just might stand up to it. Tell you what--just drink it.

Body: nearly full, though deceptively so

Color: copper

Grain: British pale

Bittering Hops: Cascade, Centennial, Chinook and Columbus

Finishing Hops: Cascade, Centennial, Chinook and Columbus

Dry Hops: Cascade, Centennial and Columbus

Original Gravity: 1.080

IBUs (estimate): 120 (our highest hop rate!)

Alcohol By Volume: 8.0%

First Tapped: May 20, 2005

Barley's Smokehouse & Brewpub Ale House No. 1xx 467 North High Street Columbus OH 43215