Tag Archives: american black ale

May 3, 2014 · 9:02 am

NightTime (beer)

Petaluma’s Lagunitas Brewing Company consistently brews amazing craft beers, and they’ve done it again with NightTime. NightTime is a limited release American Black Ale with an 8.2% ABV. It pours a dark brown, almost black color with a thin tan head. It has a mellow aroma of citrus hops, pineapple, mango, and pine. The taste is a nice balance between citrus and pine hops and roasted malt, with some spice and maybe a little rye. It’s bitter, sweet, smooth, and dry. Black Ales aren’t my go-to brew, but NightTime is a very solid and enjoyable beer. I would get it again, and then I’d get another bottle after that. Then I would try a different beer. Life’s too short to stick to only one.

Critically Rated at 13/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

Blt3FgnCAAAEafI.jpg-medium

Leave a comment

Filed under Drinks

Tagged as , , ,

March 16, 2014 · 12:04 pm

Wookey Jack (beer)

Wookey Jack is a craft beer from California’s Firestone Walker Brewing Co. I decided to try it because I’m a nerd and the name reminds me of Star Wars. The label says it’s a Black Rye IPA but Beeradvocate.com says it’s an American Black Ale. They need to make up their minds. It pours a dark brown, almost black, with a thick tan head that lingers for a while. It has an intriguing aroma. I get citrus hops, roasted malt, rye, spice, and maybe a little chocolate. The flavor profile is a good balance between hops and malt, and spicy rye. I also taste bitter chocolate and a hint of smoke. It has an 8.3% alcohol content, so your head will be buzzing pleasantly after a couple of sips. This is a very satisfying beer with lots of flavor and personality. I suggest that you try it. But I won’t take it personally if you don’t.

Critically Rated at 15/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

Leave a comment

Filed under Drinks

Tagged as , , , ,

September 20, 2013 · 8:43 pm

Speakeasy Butchertown Black Ale

Butchertown Black Ale is a limited release brew from San Francisco’s Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, one of the better microbreweries in the city by the bay. It’s full flavored American Black Ale, full of malty and hoppy goodness. I can really taste the malt and piney hops, and it has a bit of a burnt smokey flavor as well. The Speakeasy brewmaster says that flavors of grapefruit, pine, currants and red wine come through before overturning to a malt depth intricacy of dark, toasted bread, pumpernickel, subtle notes of dark fruits and hints of dark chocolate, tobacco and leather. Try as I might, I can’t taste the leather and that’s probably a good thing. I think a lot of people would be put off by the bold taste, especially if you usually drink Bud or Coors. But if you like microbrews, this is a great choice. It’s 8.2% alcohol, a fairly typical amount for a good microbrewed ale. It has a cool name too. It was inspired by San Francisco’s Butchertown district where they used to slaughter livestock back in the day. Now it’s where the Speakeasy brewery stands. It’s worth buying. Look for the beer with a picture of a happy cow on the bottle. I don’t know why the cow is so happy. It’s almost as if it doesn’t know that it’s the mascot for a beer named after a slaughterhouse district.

Critically Rated at 12/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

Leave a comment

Filed under Drinks

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,