泰晤士河的長度，以及它與英格蘭運河系統和公海的良好連接，一直使其成為國內和國際貿易的絕佳樞紐。 貿易有各種形式和形狀，所以可能不難想像，曾幾何時，泰晤士河兩旁都是啤酒廠，這些啤酒廠生產啤酒，供應當地酒吧，最終供應全世界。對於今天仍然有許多人來說，這可能是一個夢想。

當1700年代與亞洲的貿易增加時，東印度公司的貿易商對泰晤士河上的這些啤酒廠產生了興趣，這導致了出口淡啤酒的誕生。這個想法出現了，採用淡啤酒配方，增加 ABV（按體積計算的酒精）並添加額外的啤酒花。這種添加確保了啤酒能夠在長途跋涉到異國情調的情況下倖存下來。一種新型啤酒誕生了：「印度淡啤酒」。。

接下來要考慮的是，在如此漫長的旅程中儲存啤酒的最佳方式是什麼。為了確保釀造的最佳品質，它被保存在豬頭桶中並運輸。將所有因素結合在一起：不斷變化的氣候、木桶的木材和船的運動都有助於以獨特且最佳的方式成熟啤酒。這種非凡的啤酒釀造方式慢慢消失了，但近年來，越來越多的現代啤酒廠開始使用橡木桶來陳釀啤酒。啤酒繼承了木材的特性，創造出獨一無二的風味。

To take it even a step further, we are excited to announce that in cooperation with Gipsy Hill Brewing Company we will honour the craft of the English India Pale Ale (IPA), by inviting handmade barrels to be positioned on our boats this summer. An artistic nod to the classic way of brewing this type of beer, while we are trying to stay as close to the historic tradition as possible. Gipsy Hill Brewery will make a traditional English IPA, which will be matured in barrels while travelling the equivalent amount of time it would take to sail to India (approximately three-four months). The motion of the boats on the Thames, the wooden barrels and the duration will hopefully create a beer that is highly similar to the English IPA that the East India Company traders created in 1700’s.

It will be the first time in over one hundred years that a beer has been matured in handmade barrels replicating this process. Of course, we will follow its journey closely and report back on all the exciting events that we have lined up for this project. Care to join us?

原始發佈日期： September 22， 2020