Hop Jam
Willoughby Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing Black IPA I must say. 1st had it Blues and Brews over the summer and I have been seeking it out since. Checking there Draft list Online weekly, Hop Jam is a Seasonal hit or miss at the pub. Dark malt overtones with a hit of rye and hoppyness. MMM...so good I wish I did not share my growler with two others. Smooth, nicely balanced and deliciously Hoppy, this Black IPA ranks at the top of my list in terms of taste.

A - Pours a dark brown with one and a half finger head that leaves lacing clinging to the sides.

S - Dark chocolately robust malts, molasses and burnt brown sugar.

T - Toffee, caramel, chocolate and then the hops.

M - Light to medium, very thin.

O - A solid beer, good not great.

So, I used to go to Willoughby a lot. As an Eastside resident, they’ve been the only game in town since Buckeye packed up and headed to Lakewood. But the beer was going downhill, and I eventually stopped including it in the rotation. If this sounds familiar, you need to see what the new Willoughby is up to. This is easily the best beer I’ve ever had from them.

Sampled several times at the Winter Warmer Tasting 2011.

Hop Jam pours a dark brown with hints of red around the edges, a beautiful white head, nice retention and lace. This is a great looking brew!

The smell is wonderful. Hops give pine and grapefruit notes while rye adds some spicy depth. There's a touch of chocolate from the malt, but the rye and hops really define this beer and kick it into overdrive.

The taste reminds me of a spicier version of Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous. There’s a beautiful tropical note from the hops, bringing grapefruit, pine and even some lush pineapple.

The mouthfeel is also exceptional, creamy and delicious with perfect viscosity. Just a bit more lively carb would make this a 5. Overall, this is a great beer - unique and classic at the same time, drinkable and very, very enjoyable.

I enjoyed this so much I had a repeat pour, something I almost never do at a festival. Keep up the good work, Willoughby brewers!

This is actually a Black Rye IPA, a style not listed, and is a wonderful change from your average IPA. It was a small batch, but I am told they will be making it again. It is, as the style implies, a dark IPA, and has just a hint of rye almost overshadowed by it's beautiful 67 IBU hop flavor and aroma. The head pours a clingy off white, and thick. The beer itself is black as night, beautiful, and has a creamy mouth feel.