The Brü Revü – Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous

Since Stone decided to retire this beer it seemed only right to give it a proper review.  The Sublimely Self-Righteous is a Black IPA as only Stone could do it.  Heavy on the hops with a solid dark and roasty background this was a truly Self-Righteous drinking experience.  The beer poured a deep brown with ruby highlights and a very large and robust tan head.  The hops hit me immediately with a very citrusy and floral aroma along with a bit of pine resin.  The dark malty backbone was lingering beneath the hops, but not as present in the nose.  The taste was a full on bitter hop assault with the citrus and pine hop notes that faded into a malty and burnt roasty porter that ended with a burnt and piney bitterness on my palate.  The beer was full and creamy which matched well to its appearance and left a pleasant bitter coating on my tongue between quaffs.  A really outstanding Black IPA and a shame it will be discontinued.  I am sure Stone has great plans up their sleeves and I hope another outstanding Black IPA is in their future.  Either way, grab a Sublimely Self-Righteous while you can and enjoy!

Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous

The Brü Revü – Odell Mountain Standard

It has been great having Odell in Texas and finally getting to try all these great beers I have heard so much about. The Mountain Standard is Odell’s double black IPA that features hops grown on Colorado’s Western slope.  The beer poured a pitch black with slight ruby highlights when held up to the light a and a slight tan head that left sufficient lacing.  The aroma was slightly piney but more resinous and citrus notes with sweet roasted malt backup as to be expected in a Black IPA. The taste exceptionally glided between dark roasty bitterness and piney, resinous hop bitterness that played off each other and kept my deeply coated palate guessing as to where all the flavors were coming from.  The citrus hop flavors peaked their head out from time to time as well and really accentuated the interplay between the dark roasted malts and hop bite.  There is almost a rye or roasted coffee tone deep in this monstrous beauty of a beer.  A really superb Black IPA that manages the line between roasty malts and bitter hoppiness with finesse, if you can say that about such a high abv brew.  Another great one from Odell.  Gotta go grab some more!

Odell Mountain Standard

The Brü Revü – Lagunitas NightTime

The latest beer from Lagunitas is their NightTime Black IPA.  I love everything from Lagunitas so picking up this new confection in a 22 oz bomber for less than $5 is a no brainer.  The beer poured a deep brown to black with slight ruby highlights and loads of fluffy tan head.  The nose is very hop forward with grapefruit rind being the predominant aroma with slight hints of pine and mango.  There was very little roast on the nose and it only revealed itself as it warmed.  If I wasn’t looking at this dark as night brew I would swear it was an IPA on aroma alone.  The taste followed with strong grapefruit rind and a little more of the pine and mango notes than the aroma.  As it warmed the dark roasted malts came through at the end and mingled with the hops to create a beautiful bitterness on my palate.  This was an outstanding Black IPA and Lagunitas handled the hops expertly.  I expect nothing less from a Lagunitas brew.

Lagunitas NightTime

The Brü Revü – Austin Beerworks Heavy Machinery Black IPA

The Black IPA was supposed to be the first in the Heavy Machinery series to be canned, but due to the late arrival of said cans it didn’t quite make it.  Austin Beerworks decided to make up for it by releasing it now.  I had the Black IPA at a Brewery tour when it was first released and I have been eagerly anticipating its return.  This is one of my all time favorite Black IPAs and as the packaging says, this is just an IPA that happens to be black.  It poured a deep black with a good tan head which was as expected.  The aroma was tropical fruits and citrus hops with a slight hint of pine, and it was all IPA.  The taste was as exceptional as I remembered it.  This Black IPA was a monstrous mouthful of juicy citrus and tropical fruit hops that belittled its foreboding appearance.  The finish held a lingering pine bitterness and a slight roast that was the only hint of it’s ebony appearance.  The Black IPA was a fitting bookend to the fantastic Heavy Machinery IPA series and I hope they continue to release and re-brew these incredible IPAs.

Austin Beerworks Heavy Machinery Black IPA

IPA Day, August 1st, 2013

Thursday August 1st is IPA Day so get ready.  

Here are a few suggestions from craftbeer.com on how to participate in IPA Day:

On August 1, share your photos, videos, blog posts, tasting notes, recipes and thoughts on IPA with the world. Be sure to tag your posts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ and other social media platforms with the #IPAday hashtag. Please note that this year we are using a lower case “d” in the hashtag to reduce confusion.

See what other people are saying on Twitter by searching #IPAday. Follow the conversation closely by adding an #IPAday search column on your Tweetdeck.

Become a craft beer steward in your community. Encourage non-craft beer drinkers to take a break from their normal beverage routine and join the collective toast on IPA Day. Set the goal of converting at least one person, if not the whole world of drinkers, to IPA lovers!

What are you planning to drink on IPA Day?

A few brews to consider on your hoppy day:

Brü Revü IPAs

Brü Revü India Pale Ales

Brü Revü Double IPAs

Brü Revü Belgian IPAs

The Brü Revü – Karbach Brewing El Hopadillo Negro

El Hopadillo Negro is one of two year round IPA offerings from Karbach and is their version of a Black IPA.  I am growing fond of all Karbach beers so I was happy to pick this up on one of my many trips to Houston.  El Hopadillo Negro poured an opaque black with a significant tan head that exuded heavy hops and a hint of roasted malt in the aroma.  The taste has a strong citrus hop start that faded into a sweet roasted malt bitterness. The Negro was very similar to their Hopadillo but a bit sweeter and with a deeper richer profile.  Given the dark appearance the brew was light and flavorful and left a roasty bitterness on my palate.  El Hopadillo Negro was a really enjoyable beer from Karbach and its silky smooth body was a real beer treat.

Karbach Brewing El Hopadillo Negro

The Brü Revü – Victory Yakima Glory

The Yakima Glory uses fresh hops from the Yakima valley played off dark roasted malts in this seasonal offering from Victory.  I miss the release of this beer every year, but not this time!  This is a Dark IPA or Black IPA that is one of the best I have had.  It poured a deep ruby brown with a full tan head and loads of hops on the nose.  Below the hops there was a hint of sweet malt that subdued the hoppy aroma.  The taste was a front load of big juicy hops that faded into a bitter burnt chocolate and sweet toasted malts.  The two flavors played well with each other and brought out the shining attributes of each while not allowing the other to take over.  There was loads of flavor and lots of dynamic tastes to be had … and I had and had and had some more.  A delicious beer with plenty of flavor to spare.  Perfect for these winter months when a dark brew is appropriate, but with enough hops to keep my palate singing. Yum!

Victory Yakima Glory

The Brü Revü – Deschutes Hop in the Dark

I have been impressed with Deschutes beers in the past so when I saw their Hop in the Dark which was their version of a Black IPA, I couldn’t pass it up.  It poured a deep black with a slight tan head.  It was more malty on the nose with the first taste having a slight burnt malt flavor that gave way to a good bitterness.  The IPA hoppiness was matched with the burnt malt bitterness and balanced with a slightly sweet and toasty malt backbone with a hint of dark chocolate.  My taste buds deceived my sight as it looked like a stout but tasted like a dark and rich IPA.  While not as overly hoppy as other Black IPA’s I have had, there was a perfect balance of flavors that I easily quaffed.  This was another excellent offering from Deschutes and a great example of a Black IPA.

Deschutes Hop in the Dark

The Brü Revü – Widmer Brothers Pitch Black IPA

I don't have a lot of experience with Widmer Brothers, but their Pitch Black IPA was a good introduction.  I have had a few Black IPAs and this one seemed true to the style.  Looks like a porter but tastes like an IPA.  The aroma was not a full on hop assault, but rather a light hop aroma with a hint of sweet malt.  The taste was more on the sweet malt side with hints of chocolate and bitter roast.   It could have used a stronger hop presence for an IPA, but it was still a tasty beer.  It had a nice creamy body and was lighter than I expected.  All in all this was a very good beer although I would prefer my Black IPAs with more hops; I still thoroughly enjoyed this Pitch Black IPA.

Widmer Brothers Pitch Black IPA

The Brü Revü – Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA

The 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA is a fantastic beer from Stone Brewery.   It started off with the signature Stone hop aroma with a bit of sweet chocolate as it pours a deep black with a significant tan head.  I let the beer warm to allow all of the flavors to come through and I was glad I did, because wow.  This was a big complex beer with plenty of the hoppy IPA and a load of chocolatey malty sweetness.  The excellent hop profile is up front followed by the roasted malt and a taste of semi-sweet chocolate that hides its high alcohol content well.  This was a phenomenal beer, complex and well balanced that Stone should think about brewing on a regular basis.  You should definitely grab one before they are gone for good.
Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA