Lunch Buffet
BlackStack Brewing

 

Blackstack is back at it with another murky and rusty IPA. Something has seriously changed with their IPA's lately, they've lost that bright HAZE and replaced it with a dark MURK. In appearance AND in flavor. This one is very interesting and unique, yes, but that doesn't make it GOOD, at least not to me. There's an incredible sort of seasoned taste to it, almost like it was brewed with spices, which does make it remarkably interesting. And the alcohol hits very very well and blends nicely. But there's a certain full-bodiedness that's just not here, like SOMETHING has been stripped away.
I miss IPA's like their "2 ON", "ON ONE", and "LOUD PACK" -- those brighter, hazier IPA's. EVERY IPA from them lately seems to be this darker and murkier kinda thing, darker and murkier in look AND taste, feel, aroma, etc. This is still a very very high quality ale, just not what I'm lookin for in a hazy DIPA I suppose.
Everything I've said aside, this one is too sweet for me as well. Instead of some of the best IPA's, which SEEM like they're going to be saccharine, except the finish is dry and not overly-sweet at all (think Abomination Brewing), this is the opposite -- it starts a bit dryer and more robust, but then settles and finishes in a saccharine way that I find pretty compromising to the integrity of the brew. Perhaps a bad habit they picked up from their collaboration with Junkyard. It's hard to decide whether or not this overly-saccharine quality is a strike against the "taste" or the "feel" of the beer, because it's really both. It shows up primarily in the finish of the ale, so that suggests FEEL, since it's less of a taste-bud kind of sensation, and more of a syrupy/throaty kinda sensation. FAR TOO SWEET.

These kinds of beers really begin to beg for a marketing distinction between hazy and murky. And while they're at it, perhaps a sort of sweet-o-meter!

Pours a nice orange/golden color. 3 finger white head. Head retention is excellent. Some lacing on the glass.
The nose hits me as I opened the can and poured the beer - there's plenty of hops here. Up close I get more of a floral aroma. I do also get a nice more of a tropical citrus. I get some pineapple, mango, grapefruit. Maybe not as strong as I would have thought, based on the aroma hitting me when I was pouring.
Taste - Well, I get a nice, but mellow, citrus flavor. Mango, seems to be the major. I get some pineapple, and grapefruit.
Very smooth bodied. Very easy to drink, which can be a problem with a 9% beer. Creamy. Thick.
Another tasty IPA from Blackstack. Recommended.

 

Can. White head. Lace. Hazy orange juice color.

How is this 9%? Doesn’t taste anywhere near that high. Smooth, soft, and drinkable. Pineapple, mango, melon, and orange. So tropical and juicy. Very well done. BS knows how to make high abv NE IPAs

2nd collaboration with Ansari’s Tnew his on pours very hazed golden yellow with as fresh white head. Smell has fresh white grapes with citrus and and melon. Taste was citrus forward with lemon,citrus some herbal notes. Taste was sweet loved the herbal dankness in the finish it mixed with peach and passion fruit, very little bitterness. I liked this a lot dangerous drinkable on the ABV .