MadTree Brewing Company has added a new IPA to the family tree: Entropic Theory.
The result of a two-year commitment from MadTree’s brewers and lab team, Entropic Theory defies the preset standards that surround a classic IPA, allowing avid craft beer connoisseurs who have previously avoided IPAs to expand their horizons.
“We wanted all of those IPA characteristics — the hops, the floral, the fruity notes and the aroma and flavors — but we wanted to dial down the bitterness,” MadTree’s Director of People and Social Strategy Mike Stuart says. “Bitterness can turn off a lot of people. Sometimes it’s nice to switch things up and go for something that has a softer approach.
“It really is a very approachable IPA," he continues. "For the person that doesn’t typically like IPAs, they like this, and that’s a lot of the feedback we got. People say, ‘I hate IPAs, but I like really like this beer.’”
In order to diverge from the well-traveled path to making an IPA, MadTree leaned on their mad scientists to run through a total of 20 different recipes to perfect Entropic Theory.
“It’s been a steady evolution process,” Stuart says. “Also, it has been our lab folks working very closely with our brewers to measure and analyze as we come up with problems in the recipe, taking a look at it from a more scientific, methodical process.”
Unlike some of their competitors, MadTree prioritizes the quality of their beer over marketing and other sales initiatives, as evidenced in their star-studded lab team.
Fitted with a chemist, two biologists, a full-time sensory expert and an intern, MadTree’s slew of savvy scientists was what ultimately allowed Entropic Theory to come to fruition and provided the basis for the can design.
MadTree’s Trent Leslie, a three-year contributor on the infamous lab team, shined light on just how thorough his team was in producing Entropic Theory.
“We did have a very meticulous process of brewing over and over and over again and taking good notes on how we produced it,” Leslie says.
When asked how excited he was for the launch of Entropic Theory, Leslie stood firm to his quantitative approach to craft beer, measuring his excitement at an 11 on a scale from 1-10.
Stuart also spoke highly of MadTree’s newest IPA, emphasizing that just a whiff of Entropic Theory can deliver a surprisingly delightful knockout blow to the average beer enthusiast.
“When you open a can of (Entropic Theory), the aromatics, the orange, the tropical fruit, the apricot and peach notes are just going to pop out of the can and kind of hit you in the face,” Stuart says.
However, Entropic Theory is much more than a groundbreaking IPA backed by scientific intervention and good intentions; Entropic Theory is an opportunity for MadTree to serve the local community.
A testament to the range of mathematics and science that went into Entropic Theory, MadTree will donate a portion of the proceeds received during their launch party 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 29 to iSPACE, a local nonprofit organization that promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education among children.
“They’re trying to reach back out and show kids that there is a lot of really cool stuff you can do in science, match, etc.,” Stuart says. “Brewing beer is one of those examples of where it’s not like you’re just an engineer behind a desk. You can physically be out making beer.”
To add to the excitement surrounding Thursday’s launch party, iSPACE will organize a range of engaging presentations and activities for the children in attendance at MadTree’s brewery located at 3301 Madison Road in Oakley.
Stuart, of course, couldn’t be happier to give back to the community, as it is a well-respected component of MadTree’s mission statement.
“At MadTree, we firmly believe that beer builds community and community builds beer,” Stuart says. “So, one of the cornerstones of our mission is giving back within the community and supporting the community around us.”
If unable to attend the launch party, members of the community can expect to see cans sold locally through August. The impact of Entropic Theory, however, will extend far beyond the summer.
