I've mentioned before how much I enjoy the artwork on the La Debauche cans, and this is no different. The design is by Paul Neberra, an artist from Lisbon in Portugal who's style is described as 'pop surrealist'.
There is something decidedly French about the quirkiness of this image (and I don't just mean the baguette!) It's a detailed, mixed-up and kind of weird, and its suits this beer.
Simply labelled as French IPA, this beer features all ingredients from France.
The result is an old-school IPA, from a time before an American West Coast style became an old-school IPA. Not much of the tropical fruits characteristics in the aroma or the taste with this one, more akin to a traditional English IPA.
Grassy and floral hop notes invite you in to taste a beer that has a little early sweetness from the grain. But it doesn't last long, with the earthy flavour of the hops joining the light grainy malt. There is a sustained bitterness that last from mid-palate right through to the finish. Dry and a little peppery in the aftertaste.
This isn't most people's idea of an IPA nowadays but I find it a nice variation from the IPA's that dominate our market.
And if you like the can art, the best news of all is that I have a few shirts from La Debauche with this image. Drop me an email if you fancy purchasing a shirt, though know that the sizing options would best suit a more svelte physique!