Friday, January 15, 2010

Pitch Black and a Bargain

New from Widmer is their Pitch Black IPA, the latest to follow the trend of dark IPAs (think Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous). The 6.5% ABV is matched by 65 IBUs, and should be a solid offering. Though only recently released to the public, it was entered and won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in the "Out of Category- Traditionally Brewed Beer" category. Whatever that means. It is hopped with Cascade, Warrior, and Millennium hops. Widmer has always done a decent job with their Broken Halo IPA, and this special Brewmaster's Release is worth trying at the $7.99 retail price.

Kelly Liquors has a good deal going right now on Red Hook 12-packs. $8.99 for any variety of the family of beers, including Longhammer IPA, ESB, and my old buddy, Winterhook. I picked up some Winterhook because it is probably the most flavorful of the line. Red Hook may not make the best beers out there, but for $8.99, I'll get a 12-pack or two. Not quite as great a deal as the day I picked up a 12-pack of Winterhook for $4.99 at Quarters, but that was a loonng time ago.

1 comment:

Reid Rivenburgh said...

I'd never heard of this "dark IPA" category, but it really needs its own distinct name. Granted, calling your IPA "Pitch Black" suggests that it's no typical ipper, but I bet I'd be pretty surprised if I was told this was an IPA and took a gulp.

I'd get me a few 12s of Red Hook for that price, too. I'm scared that I'm starting to accept $8.99 a six....