S1NIST0R Black Ale brewed by 10 Barrel Brewing - Bend, Oregon
The brewers at 10 Barrel make S1NIST0R Black Ale using a special German
dehusked black malt that is free of astringency, giving the beer a rich
black color without the traditional dark beer characteristics. You will
notice subtle hints of chocolate with an easy drinking balance on the back
end. In the glass the dark color may look intimidating to some, but donot
let this beer fool you. Our unique combination of malts creates a very light
body and smooth finish. This ale uses 2-row Pale, Carafa and Biscuit malt
and Perle hops. ABV: 5.4%. IBU’s: 28.
Beer Review from Beer Advocate
Appearance: This appears like a regular stout with the mild khaki carbonation,
deep brown/blackish hues and nice malty roasted character.
Aroma: The nose has a very light smokiness to it with a mild sweetness. A bit
watery, nothing to lose your mind over. A solid beer depending on how much you
pay for it.
Taste: The taste is thin and refreshing with an almond sweetness to it. There’s
a very faint bit of milkiness and maple syrup but the palate is so thin you
don’t really have time to focus on it. There’s a good balance to it with some
mild bittering. The hops present a cocoa dryness that rounds it out nicely.
Mouthfeel: This is very thin but it doesn’t feel like it came up short, it feels
intentional, and that somehow makes it ok. The lacing is fantastic, but the
coating is relatively minimal, which is a bit anomalous. Again, not
disappointing though. I always feel like when someone presents a black ale, it
is a genre that is so amorphous it is tough to really determine what you are
about to get. Someimtes you get an imperial stout monster like Labyrinth, other
times you get this dapper gentleperson. Who can ever tell.
Overall: This is exceptionally drinkable and the color is the only thing that
might be offputting to people. It is a strange hybrid that brings a bit of IPA
to the table and a bit of Stout in the mix. Overall, pretty solid beer and I
would recommend a bomber or two to any willing participant.
History of 10 Barrel Brewing
Long-time fans will remember that 10 Barrel Brewing started out in 2007 under
the name of Wildfire Brewing, the venture of brothers Chris and Jeremy Cox who
owned and ran JC's Bar and Grill in downtown Bend at the time. The name change
didn't hurt things one bit and 10 Barrel's popularity has exploded (and
continues to do so), so much so that they renovated and opened their west side
Pub in 2010, and completed a brand-new 50-barrel brewery at the beginning of
this year.
The recent additions of big-name brewers Jimmy Seifrit (from Deschutes Brewery),
Tonya Cornett (of Bend Brewing), and Shawn Kelso (of Baker City's Barley Brown's
Brewpub) promise lots of interesting things to be coming out of their
brewery---and for a craft brewery whose beers are already insanely popular,
that's saying something. (Courtesy of Central Oregon Beer Week)
