Beer Styles

The flagship beer of the Southwest is the Bitter, an amber-colored, top-fermented ale with moderate alcohol content. The name is misleading, since it isn't particularly bitter: it comes from a time when it was distinguished from the sweeter Mild. Doom Bar from Sharp's and Tribute from St Austell are considered Best Bitters.

How much alcohol does Doom Bar contain? According to the manufacturer, Doom Bar comes in at 4.0 percent, Tribute at 4.2 percent. Both fall within the range of a Best Bitter, which the BJCP places between 3.8 and 4.6 percent.

The name Doom Bar comes from a sandbank at the mouth of the River Camel near Padstow, where ships have run aground for centuries. The beer itself tastes of toast, caramel, and a hint of orange peel, not of the sea.

Proper Job from St Austell is an English IPA at 4.5 percent according to the brewery. That's below the BJCP guideline of 5 to 7.5 percent, yet the brewery still calls it a Cornish IPA. The style name, then, only indicates direction, not an exact number.

How do Bitter and IPA differ? The IPA has more alcohol and more hops, while the Bitter is more balanced and meant for longer drinking sessions. The term IPA stands for India Pale Ale, a pale, heavily hopped export beer that found particular success in India. The Southwest didn't need to invent it, it simply made it its own.