Waking the Witch
WarPigs Brewing USA

A brutal mix of tropical/citrus flavors with rich notes of chocolate. Very much like a cross between an IPA and a Porter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 oz can pkgd 9/27/24 into a tulip glass.
L: SRM 39 Pours 99% black with a tall creamy 1.5" light khaki head that has excellent retention. steady light carbo, Head resembles a volcano cap, medium-thick random complex lacing with ripped sheeting and light banding with warming.
S: Citrus, ripe citrus zest, darkly roasted grains, mainly hoppy (Centennial?), caramelized malts, lightly floral.
T: Toasted grains, moderately resinous hops, grapefruit zest, melon rind, a distant grape note, it is hop forward, balanced bittersweet, had a resinous linger with a touch of char.
F: Lightly brisk, fairly smooth & wet medium-bodied feel with a medium length slightly drying finish.
O: Very flavorful, fruity, and hoppy. Nice smooth feel and has a top-notch resinous IPA finish. Pleasant tastes, great feel, drinks easily for its ABV. It is outstanding in its style.

 

 

12oz can, PKGD 10/10/23
L: creamy khaki colored head caps a near black body
S: roast, cocoa, piney hops
T: roasted barley, cocoa, coffee, caramel, earthy pine
F: medium body, ample carbonation, bitter finish with roast and pine lingering
O: oh so good! Always love a well done Black IPA

 

Poured from a 12 ounce can dated 10-10-23 into a snifter at 53 degrees.

Look- Black, opaque, plentiful visible particulate at margins, light brown creamy head, above average head retention and lacing.

Smell- Clementine, cocoa, roasted malt, medium strength of scent.

Taste- Clementine, coffee, cocoa, between medium and high strength of flavor.

Feel- Full body, average carbonation, highly creamy, highly bitter, mildly mouth warming, mildly sweet, moderately mouth coating.

Overall- This was a complex and interesting drinking experience. I am not too familiar with this style, but seemed to be a cross between a Stout and an IPA. Before starting this beer I was unsure if the flavors would mesh, but it ended up being quite tasty.

12oz canned 10/10/23 (45 days ago) poured into a tulip pint glass at fridge temp, no ABV listed on label. The beer pours opaque dark brown with light brown head. The head recedes to a thin ring and scattered, varied sized bubbles leaving a complete web of lacing. The aroma is mild with sweet malt, cocoa and pine. The taste is bittersweet citrus layered over caramel malt that has the color of roasted malt with none of the roasted taste. Moderate bitterness. Mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, delicious black IPA.

 

 

Happy to shake off the haze, Warpigs brewing is seeing hoppy things clearly... with a black beer. Waking the seldom seen "black" IPA for a special fall taste, the brewery shows that there's more to hops than just the juice.

With a very dark pour, Waking the Witch releases a foamy off-white cap and a roasty, sprucy and nearly smoky scent that seems to even smell resinous. As its dark sweetness hits the early palate hints of burnt caramel, cocoa and toffee skirt along in a robustly malted initial taste.

As the hops expand across the middle palate, a citrusy wallop of grapefruit and orange all seem charred about their edges an carry a nearly smoky taste beyond its dark roast coffee, cocoa and walnut flavors. Trending swiftly bitter, the herbal suggestions of spruce tips, grass clippings and citrus peels keep the hops alive- even if they a seared and roasted.

Medium bodied and trending bitter and drying, the ale does exactly what its supposed to do- it uses the elements of both hop resins and roast to elevate bitterness and dryness to a point where neither can achieve alone; rather than just becoming a hoppy porter.

Super dark like a cola with a tan head that gave way to nice lacing. Nose is charred malts. Taste is Piney with a malty finish. Very good bitterness on backend. Well done black IPA.