Death Hoppy Black Ale
Shmaltz Brewing Company

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From:
Shmaltz Brewing Company
 
New York, United States
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
7%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 11.17%
Reviews:
79
Ratings:
459
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 25, 2019
Added:
Oct 25, 2013
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  80
Formerly Death Of A Contract Brewer

Death seems so obvious: the end of life, no mas, kaput. But Humans stand an optimistic animal. Many traditions suggest alternate endings: Resurrection, reincarnation, rebirth, afterlife. Even the atheist view of Eternal Oblivion doesn't seem quite final, more of a shift in spiritual states of (un)consciousness. As usual, Jewish tradition prescribes... Food. 7 days of family, community, and bagels (beer!), called, Shiva, meaning "7" in Hebrew. The flip side to the 7 days of Creation with the 7th as a holy day of rest. The first meal of Shiva is "the comfort meal." And the number 7 provides powerful mojo: 7 Jewish wedding blessings, 7 Liberal Arts, 7 Lucky Japanese gods, 7 stars of the Big Dipper, 7 colors of the rainbow, 7 seas, 007 license to kill, 7 dwarves, We are 7 by Wordsworth with a child's view of death, 7 deadly sins, Best of 7 finals in NBA, NHL, MLB, 7th Inning stretch, no. 7 on Elway & Tiny Archibald. George Costanza yearned to name his firstborn, "7" as a living tribute to no. 7 Mickey Mantle. The 7 Award however must go to the immortal George Carlin for 7 Dirty Words, inspired by another hero Lenny Bruce. Coming into 17 years of beer, and Year no. 1 with our own Brewery, we commemorate this conversion with Death Of A Contract Brewer, our Shmaltz homage to new life - L'Chaim! Jeremy Cowan, proprietor

7 MALTS: Specialty 2-row, Munich, Crystal Rye, Wheat, Chocolate,Pale Chocolate, Kiln Coffee
7 HOPS: Cascade, Citra, Summit, Crystal, Amarillo, Ahtanum, Chinook
70 IBU
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.25 by plaid75 from New York

Nov 25, 2019
Photo of VABA
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

4.04/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A-A nice dark color with a slight tan head and nice lacing.
S-A scent of dank hops, roasted malts and coffee.
T-The taste follows the smell, with nice reminders of mocha.
M-A medium bodied black IPA that is very smooth and easy on the palate.
O-A very nice balanced beer, with good character.
Jun 23, 2019
 
Rated: 4.5 by ehmdubya from Missouri

Aug 10, 2018
Photo of Specules
Reviewed by Specules from California

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
I'm more of a Black, Imperial, and English IPAs these days and this one really hits the spot.
Interesting licorice, sweet & bitter chocolate, peroxide/alcoholic burn on the nose and taste.
Taste is a good balance of the 7 malts and hops.
Would love to see this one barrel-aged.
Mar 27, 2018
Photo of RonaldTheriot
Reviewed by RonaldTheriot from Louisiana

4.71/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Death by has a medium beige head, a dark brown, nearly black, appearance, with brown highlights and a bit of glass lacing. Aroma is of dark bread crust, and the flavor is of sweet, dark malts, mild chocolate, and a touch of hop & acrid bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium, and Death by finishes medium dry.

RJT
Feb 11, 2018
 
Rated: 5 by OzmanBey from Massachusetts

Feb 06, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Jan 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.39 by ADKbeerguy from New York

Dec 17, 2017
Photo of Tone
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours a black color. 3/4 inch head of an off-tan color. Good retention and good lacing. Smells of strong resin, strong spicy hops, sweet malt, slight roasted malt, and a hint of alcohol. Fits the style of an American Black Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with a high carbonation level and noticeable bitterness. Tastes of strong resin, strong spicy hops, sweet malt, slight roasted malt, and a hint of alcohol. Overall, good appearance and blend, but only average aroma and body.
Nov 29, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Wheels2532 from Pennsylvania

Nov 02, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by Buannaich from Colorado

Oct 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by Philcassella from North Carolina

Aug 11, 2017
 
Rated: 3.46 by AlaskaAg from Florida

Apr 03, 2017
Photo of mothmanscott
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia

4.17/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Pours a clear very dark brown (bordering on black until you shine a light into it) producing 2+ fingers of frothy, moderately lasting, tan head that leaves a beautiful wash of dense, patchy lace. Aroma is floral, grapefruit & pine with a note of deep roast intermingled with burnt hints caramel, molasses & faint coffee. Taste is grapefruit hoppy with only hints of floral and pine, malts are roast, dark bread & char infused with mix of caramel, molasses & a little coffee, again with a burnt note that is stronger than in the nose. Bitter throughout the sip but strongest at mid-sip where it becomes more pine dominant backed up by citrus which is complemented in the finish by smoke & burnt malts becoming a hop bitter/burnt malt aftertaste. Mouthfeel is medium-heavy bodied with moderate to heavy carbonation, astringent especially in the aftertaste, silky but not smooth, slightly chewy & prickly on the tongue.
Mar 06, 2017
 
Rated: 3.48 by beaulabauve from Louisiana

Feb 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.77 by h4ger from Connecticut

Jan 22, 2017
Photo of Samlover55
Reviewed by Samlover55 from New York

3.35/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle into nonic pint
not going to bother with the date code
L- black with hints of brown, khaki head, solid retention
S- really beautiful floral hoppy aroma, with notes of a chocolate-y mocha
T- malty, hoppy but most pronounced is the booziness, which is surprising being the beer is 7% abv
F- medium bodied with a hoppy/boozy bite
O- not a balanced beer the flavors just don't meld together nicely
Dec 09, 2016
 
Rated: 4.06 by NolaHopHead from Louisiana

Dec 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4.29 by SteveMarco from New Jersey

Nov 19, 2016
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

2.89/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 2.75
12 oz bottle at 7% ABV.
Pours near black with ruby edges. The body is topped by a large, tan head that leaves lots of lacing.
Aroma: a bit medicinal with hints of raisins and pine.
Flavor: similar, but with more suggestion of some contamination (Brett) and wet leather. Hoppy, as promised.
Nov 08, 2016
Death Hoppy Black Ale from Shmaltz Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 459 ratings