Tommyknocker Hop Strike Black Rye-IPA

3.9/5

AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, best by Jan 23, 2012. Pours crystal clear dark brown color with a nice 2 finger dense khaki head with great retention that reduces to a thick cap that lasts. Some nice soapy lacing on the glass as well. Aromas of caramel, grapefruit, pine resin, orange, chocolate, roasted malt, rye, bread, and some spicy hops. Nice and fairly well balanced aromas. Taste of huge caramel, biscuit, chocolate, rye, roasted malt, grapefruit, orange, pine, and spicy hops. Nice amount of bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of rye, biscuit, chocolate, roasted malt, and spicy hops on the finish for a bit. Medium carbonation and body; with a very nice creamy and slightly slick mouthfeel. Good balance of roasted malt presence and hop bitterness. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming after the finish. Very smooth drinking. Overall a damn nice black IPA. Great roasted malt flavor presence with a nice amount of hoppiness as well.

A damn nice black IPA offering with plenty of hoppiness and malt balance as well. My first from Tommyknocker too.