Wookey Jack Black IPA brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing - Paso Robles, California 

Wookey Jack is our first foray into the dark outer world of black IPAs. Rich dark malts and spicy rye careen into bold citrus laden hops creating a new dimension in IPA flavor. This brew has been left unfiltered and unfined to retain all of its texture and character. At 60 IBUs, Wookey Jack is gnarly on the outside yet complex and refined on the inside. ABV: 8.5% Malts: Pale Malt, Malted Rye, Dash of Cara-Rye, Midnight Wheat from Briess, De-Bittered Black Malt (Weyermann - Germany/Patagonia malting - Chile), Dash of Wookey dust. Hops: German Magnum (bittering), Citra & Amarillo (flavor/aroma and double dry-hopped)
     

 
Review by Beer Advocate
Appearance: Deep dark brown, which in some lights appears black with some red highlights. A bit of khaki head sits atop the liquid dissipating to form beautiful lace along the leg of the glass.

Aroma: Just upon opening the growler, the tropical aromas are overpowering and glorious. There is pineapple and citrus from a distance, but as you get closer to in, subtle chocolate and coffee waft upwards.
 

  
Taste/Mouthfeel: The taste follows the nose--tropical & citrus coupled with a light coffee note that develops into a spicy rye character ending with a mouth-coating dryness. This has a great, light mouthfeel, more true to an IPA than an imperial IPA or stout.

Overall, I really like this ale! It is a true black IPA. I made a beer similar to this back in August using a very similar dry-hop profile. The Amarillo really pulls through and the rye flavor, which is not too evident, lends a nice spicy bitterness to accompany the hop flavors. I am looking forward to the bottling of this beer.
 
    
 
History of Firestone Walker Brewing Company
It began innocently enough: a couple of brothers-in-law sitting around debating the subject of good and bad beer. Instead, their search for a decent ale to led them to brew their own. Given Mr. Firestone’s winemaking bias and Mr. Walker’s complete lack of fermentation experience, they believed 60-gallon oak barrels were the appropriate vehicle in which to create their perfect elixir.

OK, so initial attempts were forgettable. But like so many great ideas, out of that disaster was born a handy invention – the Firestone Union. Based on classic brewing traditions from Burton-Upon Trent, this bizarre and unlikely system of linked barrels has the ability to produce rich and complex ales. In 1996 the accidental duo shelved their endless discussion on better beers and settled for building a world-class brewery that bore their names on California’s Central Coast……the debate was now over..

Firestone Walker Brewing Company continues to grow as the palates of Americans migrate to craft beer. Our brew staff have picked up “Mid Size Brewery of the Year” at the World Beer Cup an unmatched three times.