Tommyknocker Hop Strike black rye IPA

[riverfrontbrewer]

from 16 oz bottle, 78 IBU's

Floral nose with a bit of spice in the hop character, def choc malt or rye to make this CDA a dark.....well worth $3.49!

[Hoser]

Sucks, bad example of a CDA/Black IPA in my opinion. Very disappointing.

[riverfrontbrewer]

I don't think they categorize it as a cda, but thats the only group I thought it may go in....so do you have any actual notes, or is "sucks" the only constructive thing we get?

[Hoser]

Well, I believe they categorize it themselves by calling it a black rye IPA on the label, no? Flavors to me seem to clash. Too much chocolate and roast. Don't detect any rye spice, despite them saying it contains rye. Maybe that is because they used chocolate rye. I do not feel chocolate malt has any business being in a black IPA/CDA. If you are going to use chocolate malt than call it a brown ale. More brown than black. I found the hop flavor and aroma to be quite low despite claims that it is a dry-hopped IPA. Seems to be rather lifeless and boring to me. A better example of the style is Odells Mountain Standard Double black, or Stone Sublimely Righteous. I have many good examples of Tommy Knocker beers and CDAs/Black IPAs. This isn't one of them. I wanted to like it, but it did absolutely nothing for me.

[riverfrontbrewer]

Hoser-

Great note, thanks. Yes, I believe that is what is on the label but since I don't believe there is any rye in the BJCP CDA description, I guess I thought it was their "experimental" beer. Your desciption of a brown...I could go with that ...with some added hops. As I orginally noted the nose on the hops has quite a spice, like they were using noble hops? Def not a "to style" cda if indeed that's what they were going for.

[Hoser]

My problem with it is that it seems like they can't decide what the beer should be. It is a poor example of an IPA, a poor example of a rye beer, and a poor example of whatever we are calling black IPA/CDAs. Jack of all, master of none I guess. It is a well made beer, don't get me wrong, I just don't think I would drink more than one (which I haven't ) I would way rather drink Odells Double black for the extra cash if I am looking for a hoppy black IPA. Now, Odells Saboteur....F'in outstanding!

[riverfrontbrewer]

Have you tried the new dry hopped sour from New Belgium? La Terrior I believe it is called.

[Hoser]

Sucks, bad example of a CDA/Black IPA in my opinion. Very disappointing.

Sorry about the original post. That was probably the Guiness Foreign Extra Stout talking on St. Patty's day. As a homebrewer and BJCP judge, I know better than that. At any rate, I enjoyed the conversation. I really love the Black IPA or whatever the hell you want to call it style and drink every example I can. I really like Tommyknocker beers, but this is the first one that really dissapointed me.

At any rate, I am starting to get into brett beers and will look into the NB La Terrior at your suggestion. I should be able to find it here. Thanks for the suggestion.