Trickster IPA | Black Raven Brewing Co.
Brewed by:
Black Raven Brewing Co.
Washington, United States
blackravenbrewing.com
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.80%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
In mythology, the raven can play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules, hence the name Trickster. This well-balanced IPA has a light fruit, citrus and piney hop aroma with a full hop flavor. With delicately balanced malt and hops and a 6.9% ABV, this beer has truly earned its name. Available year-round.
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 291 | Reviews: 51
Reviews by BCross:
More User Reviews:
3.94/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a basic pint glass at the Seattle Taproom at SeaTac Airport. A beautiful Citrus and hop aroma presents from an oddly Amber color. Initial taste is a nice malty citrus, and a well balanced bitterness. Halfway through the malt moves forward and the citrus and hop take a back seat. It finished fairly clean, but the hoppy bitterness does slowly taper.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a basic pint glass at the Seattle Taproom at SeaTac Airport. A beautiful Citrus and hop aroma presents from an oddly Amber color. Initial taste is a nice malty citrus, and a well balanced bitterness. Halfway through the malt moves forward and the citrus and hop take a back seat. It finished fairly clean, but the hoppy bitterness does slowly taper.
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3.77/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
22oz bottle purchased at 99 Bottles in Federal Way, Washington, for $5. No obvious freshness date, but the guy at 99 Bottles said it’s only recently begun to be bottled, so age should (hopefully) not be an issue.
Poured into a Budge Bros. pint glass, this was a slightly chill-hazed copper-amber color, with a creamy, beige head that dropped down after a few minutes but not before leaving a sticky band of lace around the sides of the glass.
Piney, peppery and grapefruity in the nose, in that order.
Similar to the aroma, that taste was of piney, spicy, citrusy hop flavors, with a minor, mineralish taste midway through. Finishes on a bone-dry note.
Medium bodied, with a drier mouthfeel than most IPAs.
I don’t get the hype. Don’t get me wrong – it’s good., but the build up this has gotten from west-side BAs seems overdone. Maybe it’s just an off-bottle, possible since they’ve only recently begun bottling. I’ll give it another shot next time I see it, and will hopefully be able to have it on tap at some point.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
22oz bottle purchased at 99 Bottles in Federal Way, Washington, for $5. No obvious freshness date, but the guy at 99 Bottles said it’s only recently begun to be bottled, so age should (hopefully) not be an issue.
Poured into a Budge Bros. pint glass, this was a slightly chill-hazed copper-amber color, with a creamy, beige head that dropped down after a few minutes but not before leaving a sticky band of lace around the sides of the glass.
Piney, peppery and grapefruity in the nose, in that order.
Similar to the aroma, that taste was of piney, spicy, citrusy hop flavors, with a minor, mineralish taste midway through. Finishes on a bone-dry note.
Medium bodied, with a drier mouthfeel than most IPAs.
I don’t get the hype. Don’t get me wrong – it’s good., but the build up this has gotten from west-side BAs seems overdone. Maybe it’s just an off-bottle, possible since they’ve only recently begun bottling. I’ll give it another shot next time I see it, and will hopefully be able to have it on tap at some point.
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4.8/5 rDev +20%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Beautiful clear semi-dark copper appearance. Moderate head. Served at the brewery.
Very well balanced with just the right amount of bitterness expected from an IPA.
My previous gold standard for local IPA was Lucille IPA from Georgetown brewery. Trickster is very close in all respects - both winners - with a slight edge to Trickster.
Grabbed a growler to go.
edit: After several return visits, I reiterate my impression that this is a great IPA. A bit pricey though at $12 a growler fill. No one else around here asks that much. That is the only disappointing thing about this beer.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Beautiful clear semi-dark copper appearance. Moderate head. Served at the brewery.
Very well balanced with just the right amount of bitterness expected from an IPA.
My previous gold standard for local IPA was Lucille IPA from Georgetown brewery. Trickster is very close in all respects - both winners - with a slight edge to Trickster.
Grabbed a growler to go.
edit: After several return visits, I reiterate my impression that this is a great IPA. A bit pricey though at $12 a growler fill. No one else around here asks that much. That is the only disappointing thing about this beer.
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3.72/5 rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Amber color. Taste of toffee, caramel, and malt. Smooth taste overall. Maybe a little too smooth for my self.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Amber color. Taste of toffee, caramel, and malt. Smooth taste overall. Maybe a little too smooth for my self.
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4.28/5 rDev +7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Floral smells, smooth on the palette, a good IPA for those that usually don't like IPAs
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Floral smells, smooth on the palette, a good IPA for those that usually don't like IPAs
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3.58/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.73/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A decent IPA that leaves a slightly unpleasant aftertaste--like the aftertaste of spinach that has been stir-fried. The nose is by far the best thing about this beer--very nice aroma of grapefruit and pine. Filtered and crystal clear amber color is pleasant as well. I wouldn't call this "balanced" by any stretch--very hop forward, and mostly in a good way at the beginning, but as the hop slap fades it becomes drier, tastes like pot dry-mouth. Also like chewing on a twig--astringent and no malt sweetness to balance it.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A decent IPA that leaves a slightly unpleasant aftertaste--like the aftertaste of spinach that has been stir-fried. The nose is by far the best thing about this beer--very nice aroma of grapefruit and pine. Filtered and crystal clear amber color is pleasant as well. I wouldn't call this "balanced" by any stretch--very hop forward, and mostly in a good way at the beginning, but as the hop slap fades it becomes drier, tastes like pot dry-mouth. Also like chewing on a twig--astringent and no malt sweetness to balance it.
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4.28/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Good appearance, amber. Great aroma, I smell cascade, chinook and columbus? Maybe some simcoe dry hopping. Not really in the taste profile though.
Very bitter beer. But enjoyable. Tasted a little more alcohol than I would have preferred to feel, but negated somewhat by the bitterness. Or exacerbated, I dunno. They're both there, I enjoyed the beer, the bitterness just never lets go on this one.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Good appearance, amber. Great aroma, I smell cascade, chinook and columbus? Maybe some simcoe dry hopping. Not really in the taste profile though.
Very bitter beer. But enjoyable. Tasted a little more alcohol than I would have preferred to feel, but negated somewhat by the bitterness. Or exacerbated, I dunno. They're both there, I enjoyed the beer, the bitterness just never lets go on this one.
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4.14/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had on tap at Latona, review from notes.
A: Pours a clear copper color with a small off-white head on top. Retention as average, but some nice lacing was left behind on the glass.
S: As expected, a vibrant/fresh hoppy aroma. Lots of citrus, pineapple, and a bit of zest. The malt comes through as a grainy aroma. Light pine at the end.
T: Similar to the aroma. Nice citrus up front, rather strong - grapefruit, pineapple, orange, and a little zest. Grainy malt with a little caramel.
M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Has a nice bitter finish.
O: A very nice IPA. Glad I can usually find on tap somewhere in the city.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had on tap at Latona, review from notes.
A: Pours a clear copper color with a small off-white head on top. Retention as average, but some nice lacing was left behind on the glass.
S: As expected, a vibrant/fresh hoppy aroma. Lots of citrus, pineapple, and a bit of zest. The malt comes through as a grainy aroma. Light pine at the end.
T: Similar to the aroma. Nice citrus up front, rather strong - grapefruit, pineapple, orange, and a little zest. Grainy malt with a little caramel.
M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Has a nice bitter finish.
O: A very nice IPA. Glad I can usually find on tap somewhere in the city.
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3.8/5 rDev -5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle served in pint glass. Beer pours crystal orange in color, and briefly forms a white head. Assertive tropical aroma. Flavor is much more aggressive, brining piney astringency and fine carbonation (too much of it). But in spite of all that, this big IPA finishes incredibly neutral. Straight ahead West coast IPAs are so unbelievably common, and have been done so well, that this comes across as fairly unremarkable. But really the finish is just fantastic here -- it's hard for me to imagine that a beer which is otherwise so ordinary could have its strongest selling point be it's neutral finish.
614 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.25
22oz bottle served in pint glass. Beer pours crystal orange in color, and briefly forms a white head. Assertive tropical aroma. Flavor is much more aggressive, brining piney astringency and fine carbonation (too much of it). But in spite of all that, this big IPA finishes incredibly neutral. Straight ahead West coast IPAs are so unbelievably common, and have been done so well, that this comes across as fairly unremarkable. But really the finish is just fantastic here -- it's hard for me to imagine that a beer which is otherwise so ordinary could have its strongest selling point be it's neutral finish.
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3.78/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
4/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
on-tap @ the taproom; enjoyed after a niner on rattlesnake mountain
appearance: served in a pretty sharp branded 20oz pint, light orange-copper body, nice creamy froth
smell: fresh citrus, toasted malt, lemon rind
taste: refreshing post-hike beer - quite well balanced, if balance is your thing. juicy citrus hops - grapefruit and tangerine. biscuit malts, toasted grain, caramel, nutty.
mouthfeel: moderate-light bitterness, refreshing
overall: good ipa - prefer the wisdom seeker
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
on-tap @ the taproom; enjoyed after a niner on rattlesnake mountain
appearance: served in a pretty sharp branded 20oz pint, light orange-copper body, nice creamy froth
smell: fresh citrus, toasted malt, lemon rind
taste: refreshing post-hike beer - quite well balanced, if balance is your thing. juicy citrus hops - grapefruit and tangerine. biscuit malts, toasted grain, caramel, nutty.
mouthfeel: moderate-light bitterness, refreshing
overall: good ipa - prefer the wisdom seeker
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Trickster IPA from Black Raven Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
4 out of
5 with
291 ratings
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