I waited about two years to try a Fresh Hopped IPA from my almost favorite brewery, Jack Black. By sheer unluck, I always saw the advert for their two special beers, the Fresh Hop IPA, and the Wolves of Winter Stout, but then they were sold out.
But after almost two years, I finally found a couple of six packs of both beers. In fact, I think I bought the last of the oatmeal stout six packs in my town!
I waited long enough, so I could not wait to open these beers. Better still, both looked like they were bottle conditioned, so there will be even more flavour from the extra yeast and the beer being alive.
So join me on this virtual drink and tasting experience of two interesting limited edition Jack Black Brewery Beers!
Fresh Hop
IPA | 5.1% ABV | 43 IBUs
As soon as I opened the beer, it had on the nose that delicate yet delicious fresh hop smell, definitely selling the name. I had no malt, with slight fruity sweetness. There was definitely passionfruit and only a slight alcoholic taste but not too much.
The taste was nice and bitter, but also not too much/ It had a nice and full bodied mouthfeel, but which was not as strong fruity passion fruit as on the nose.
It was also nice and hazy; I am not sure if that was what they were going for, but it was good. It was also bottle conditioned so slight yeastiness which compliments the beer. Sadly, there was no real head or lacing after a while.
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Wolves of Winter
Oatmeal Stout | 5.5% ABV | 40 IBUs
There was slightly more of an alcoholic first note on the nose with slight yeast as well. I definitely got some roasted black malt notes, and with some sweet and fruity notes.
The first taste was like homebrewed beer (at least, the styles that I brewed), dark black coffee, bitter yet not too overpowering. It was nice and smooth from the oatmeal.
Despite the smell, it was not too alcoholic in taste; having a nice mouthfeel. It was sadly a little bit too carbonated but not bad, and it had nice lacing in the glass.
And just like that, the two year wait was over. I tasted the beer that I have been wanting to taste for two years. Was it worth the wait? Definitely. I would drink this as an everyday beer. Sadly, it is only brewed once a year. Luckily, I have some other breweries that brew something very similar on a more regular basis...
For now, happy drinking (beer) and keep well!
All of the musings and thoughts are my own, albeit inspired by the beers. The photographs are my own, taken with my Nikon D300.