#208: Jack's Abby Brewing / Evil Twin » Jack's Evil Brew (Schwarzbier)

Black

The Brewery: Jack's Abby (Farmington, MA) / Evil Twin (Denmark)
The Brew: Jack's Evil Brew (Schwarzbier)
Availability: Bottles/Draft (Limited - Brewed Once)
ABV: 5.20%
Rating: 8.9/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

If you've been following the blog at all, you'll know Jack's Abby is one of my latest go-to breweries for smashing innovation and tradition, without loosing general drinkability and enjoyment. Partner that up with one of my favorite European and nomatic brewers (Evil Twin) and I'm going to buy your beer immediately. I'm also a sucker for a good schwarzbier.

As per it's type, Jack's Evil Brew serves up jet black, with a thick finger of ivory head. A surprisingly herbal nose of cut grass starts things off, augmented with sweet, woody, earthy and nutty notes. Intriguing...

As hoped, it's packed with flavor - nutty, roasted notes meld with mild cocoa for a malt-forward experience and a prickly, dry finish. Subtle, but present earthiness, a touch of hops, caramel, chocolate, and even herbal, tea-like notes all peak though.

Overall, an awesome brew if not just a touch peculiar.

#206: Jack's Abby Brewing » Smoke & Dagger (Nitro)

Jack rides the line between a schwarzbier and smoked porter...

The Brewery: Jack's Abby (Farmington, MA)
The Brew: Mass Rising (Double IPL)
Availability: Bottles/Draft (Year-Round)
ABV: 5.8%| IBUs: 24
Rating: 8.7/10
Found: Ithaca Coffee Company (Gateway Commons)

After a solid, eventful, and productive week, I figured I'd treat myself to a pint on the way home from the day job. I had my eye on Sierra Nevada's Ovila on draft, but alas, it kicked literally the glass before mine.

Jack's has never done me wrong, I'd I've heard great things about Smoke & Dagger and it was on Nitro, so figured like a good runner up.

Smoke & Dagger pours up almost jet black, just slightly more on the deep brown spectrum, topped with ivory head. Down the hatch, it's really wonderful. Silky smooth with a smoke and faintly spiced finish. It's toasty with a touch of what I want to say is cinnamon.

Bold notes of malt, chocolate, coffee and undeniable smoke continue to build on this meal of a beer. The flavors have some serious staying power but still remain refreshing and well balanced.

The Nitro is a nice touch for such a dark, silky lager. Jack's continues to innovate and revitalize lagers at the same time.

#006: Rogue Farms Dirtoir Black Lager

This one has been on the wishlist for a while...

The Brewery: Rogue Farms (Newport, OR)
The Brew: Dirtoir Black Lager
Availability: Draft & Bottles (22oz. Bombers)
ABV: 6.0% // IBU: 35
Rating: 9/10
Location: The Westy, Ithaca, NY

The Story? I'm always on the look out for robust variations on lagers and pilsners and this one is an award winner.  Part of Rogue Farms series (organic, no chemicals or preservatives), this black brew has won several US Beer Tasting and World Beer awards. I must have stopped, stared, and nearly picked this one up a dozen times, but for some reason it wasn't the right moment. Glad I waited and had my first glass on tap at my favorite local spot. 

The Beer?  WOW! Roasted bliss. This gives half the common stouts and porters I've had a run for their money.  An opaque, jet black lager that is totally scorched (in a great way) with a tan / brown head. First taste is full bodied and full of roasted malt goodness. Earthy espresso and dark chocolate fills my pallet continuously through the glass. Rogue are big hop fans, but with perfect restraint, the hops are present but not "hoppy" and hold the malt from hitting the sweet side of things.

There's no running away from this beer. The taste sticks to your tongue like flypaper. I'm a big fan of blackening / roasting / smoking beers which are traditionally light in taste and body. Rogue nailed it on the head with this one.

BeerAdvocate calls it a Schwartzbier, but that'd be like calling Hoptimum a pale ale.

Nickname: Recommended Roasted Adventure