Gungle Gem
Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
 
Kentucky, United States
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
7.6%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.94 | pDev: 9.9%
Reviews:
5
Ratings:
9
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 02, 2013
Added:
Nov 27, 2012
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.94/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Dark brown with a ruby glint in the Becher glass. Modest mustache of foam, but adequate carbonation. On tap at Church Key in Washington, DC.

The flavor is deep and dark with highly roasted grains. Malty, with a sweet note, and an herbal sort of taste. The hops are fragrant and give a slightly earthy tone with some caramel hints. The bitterness is quite moderated. It's more hoppy than bitter, and full of unusual aromatics. Brewer says this is made with Pacific Gem hops, which are supposed to have high alpha acids, but this beer shows off a lot of fruity and fragrant flavors as well. One of the better Black IPAs I've had, tho I was just admiring the Black Sun IPA from San Diego's Intergalactic Brewing Co.
Aug 02, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Boone757 from Virginia

Jun 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by Rhettroactive from Virginia

Jun 03, 2013
Photo of girlbrew
Reviewed by girlbrew from District of Columbia

4.19/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Light foamy head with nice carbonation. Beer is a dark brown garnet color.

Aroma is very sweet and jammy, other dark fruits and a little hop/grapefruit.

Palate is a good representation of black ale, its no Hoppy Bunny but a good ABA with robust flavors. Good malt to hop balance and the bright carbonation cuts through any sugar left on the tongue. Clean finish and nice bitter aftertaste.

A well executed beer and I look forward to trying more from Against the Grain.
May 28, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by BKBassist from New York

May 23, 2013
Photo of Rifugium
Reviewed by Rifugium from North Dakota

3.79/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
First had: on tap at Pinocchio's, Media, PA

My first from this brewery, I believe. By the books as far as appearance goes: dark brown-black color, nearly opaque, with a solid cap of frothy off-white head that sank to a ringlet and laced the glass. Aroma of piney hops and dark malts, toasted grains. More of the same in the taste, toasted pumpernickel, some chewy chocolatiness, with an influx of pine and oily citrus hops; nicely balanced, and not too intense in either component. Medium body, actually pretty smooth, and a nice easy drink overall.
May 05, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by vodkammunion90 from Kentucky

Feb 11, 2013
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

3.96/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
It takes a lot of guts to turn a pale beer dark. But it seems that the trend of "black" and hoppy comingling in the glass is the brewer's equivelent of cats and dogs living together. And it's this duality that Against the Grain celebrates in this uniquely hopped black ale.

The beer's dark bark-brown hue carries the eye and the mind to porters or more robust brown ales or even stout. It's creamy ivory froth provides the long lasting retention and strong lacing that might be the modest clue that an IPA lurks inside. But even with its unfiltered, hoppy haze- the beer speaks more porter than pale to me.

The light roast of dark grains meet the olfactory senses first, but then there's something sharper, grassier, more piney, and fruity that rockets up from the depths of beer beer and screams hops! Grapefruit, tangy currant and an oaked wood note shapes the hop aromas that take command of the nose with ease.

A short lived taste of caramel and chocolate is quickly engulfed by dominating hop flavor and bitterness, just as the taste od dry roast, cocoa, and burnt embers come to light. Bracing bitterness sets in at middle palate with the crisp taste of white grapefruit pulp and pith, grass and hay, and a skim note of berries. Its triangulated taste of faint powdery roast, racy hops, and dry caramel keep the combinations of flavors enticing the tongue and the mind.

Medium-dry on the palate, It's easy to read a heaftier mouthfeel because of the toasty-dry elements in the beer. But the piercing hops dry the beer with great satisfaction- ushering in its bracing bitterness, moderate resinous texture, and mild alcohol warmth. An aftertaste of slightly powdery ash and smooth roast return for onle last dose of conflict.

Gungle Gem is easily the love child born from American IPA and German schwarzbier!
Jan 18, 2013
Photo of DrinkSlurm
Reviewed by DrinkSlurm from New York

3.83/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured from cask into tulip at the brewery. Pours a creamy black with tan sticky head. Looks really nice. Not much aroma, but a deff hop and roasted malt.
Taste is nice mellow hop and overall roasted malt but very well balanced. Its a bit bitter but still nice. Overall its a solid black ipa...just wish it was a bit hoppier.
Nov 27, 2012
Gungle Gem from Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
Beer rating: 3.94 out of 5 with 9 ratings