Play Date
BlackStack Brewing

Clear, bright golden hue, small but lasting ivory head. Looking great.

In the nose: Muted hop flavors, shy fruit, slowly unfolding tropical tones. Pineapple peeks out. Pine trickles through. Softly, citrus sneaks in.

In the mouth: Nice burst of hop bitterness on the palate from the get-go, but none too harsh. Soft and smooth, in true BlackStack fashion, though isn't in the hazy style. And thank goodness for that. We need some change of pace from that ballyhoo. Little bit of berry, smack of pine. Smooth, sweet, and plenty of hoppiness.

This, I like. It's got the smooth and the bitter.

 

 

 

Very different than most of Blackstacks IPAs. Definitely a classic/midwest ipa. White head. Golden orange color. Grapefruit, pine, and some resin. Bitterness with some stickiness. Fairly fruity. Bready malts. A bit of abv shows in the finish.

 

Blackstack IPA cans have become appointment reading for me over the past year; I need to get to their taproom more often. 16 oz. can.

The pour is sunlight gold, less northeast than a bit off of St. Anthony Main. Touch of florals & fruit on the aroma, but pretty mild.

Play Date is dull. A nice shot of bitterness up front is marred by a slurry earthiness, followed by solvent grains, indistinct fruitiness, & the sadness of shattered expectations. Really not much to it.

This is what happens when you dare to believe. Mediocre.

This beer pours a slightly hazy gold with a solid head. The aroma is beautifully intense, with pineapple, mango, pink grapefruit flesh, kiwi, passion fruit, and a touch of brown sugar. The flavor is sweet with some caramel malts, then pink grapefruit flesh and peel, mango, and pineapple,. with a solid level of bitterness throughout and a hint of resin on the back end. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a sweet finish and bold fizzy carbonation. Overall this is a really solid beer - not straight up NE style, it is more like the intermediate IPA's that dominated a few years ago - boldy fruit, but still with a bitter core - super enjoyable.

 

Pours a semi hazed golden color. Smell had floral fruity hops. Taste followed nose very fruity with some passion fruit and a light dose of malts. Mouth feel was soft with some lingering pine bitterness. Twas good but the least favorite "new" offerings from Blackstack for me in the last year.