The hobbyhorse of Brouwerij De Molen from Bodegraven in the Netherlands is the combination of seemingly contradictory ideas. This concept encompasses the marriage of raw materials that at first glance do not fit together, as well as the creative work with oxymora and the symbiosis of beer styles that are, by conventional standards, at opposite ends of the spectrum. The team has taken on the latter challenge with their brew Op & Top: The Pale Ale is intended to bridge the gap between lager and India Pale Ale and combine both worlds in a tasteful way.
Lager beers are characterized by their fine mildness and balance. They are neither particularly hoppy nor very malty, but deliver balance instead of extreme. The IPA, on the other hand, plays with extremes and likes to push the boundaries of what is possible. Classic IPAs tend to put the hops at the center and present them in all their facets, with the malt usually taking a back seat. With Op & Top, the brewers at De Molen are trying to work out and combine the best of these two styles. Their tinkering has led them to a pale ale that brings a harmony of soft malt components, citrus-fresh hops and herbal notes into the glass.
The happy medium between lager and IPA.
De MolenWater, barley malt , hops, yeast
