George Hodgson Establishes Pale Ale Exports to India

During the 1790s, George Hodgson's Bow Brewery in east London became one of the best-known suppliers of pale ale to British merchants and officials in India. Located near the East India Docks, the brewery benefited from its proximity to ships trading with the Indian subcontinent and from Hodgson's practice of extending generous credit to ship captains. By the end of the decade, Hodgson's pale ale had become strongly associated with the India trade and helped establish the commercial foundation for what would later become known as India Pale Ale (IPA). An advertisement for Hodgson's pale ale appeared in Calcutta in 1793, providing evidence that the beer was being marketed in India during this period.