Beer - #408 - Epic - Apocalypse IPA

Epic Apocalypse IPA, I fair fell over myself going to get one of these, and one other that I went out for. I need to get out more....  Anyhoo  for now... this.

The Brewer is Epic Brewing Company (NZ) and for Epic this is brewed at Steam Brewing Company and it's in the style that is  Black IPA and they are based in Auckland, New Zealand, although they tout it out a bit.

50 IBUS things in a bottle of 500ml, that has 180 calories a serve. and at 6% ABV this is 2.7 standard drinks in a bottle.

Black in colour, massively hoppy like an IPA. Brewed using Simcoe, Amarillo, Citra and Chinook hops.

First brewed in 2009 as New Zealand's first Black IPA. The dark brother of Armageddon is finally back. Blacker. Hoppier. Better. You think it should be raosty and rull bodied like a stout. WRONG! It's face punchingly aromatic, juicy delicious hops dominate the flavour, and it finishes with a lingering hoppy bite.

It has been touted as Epic Armageddon’s black brother, but I have used slightly different hops for this version of an IPA. Amarillo, Simcoe, Citra and Chinook. Don’t ask me why, I just felt that the flavours of these hops together would work well in this beer. You will notice that the hop aroma is pretty significant, and this follows into the flavour, where it marries with a hint of roasty malt notes, and finishes clean, bitter and an after taste of hops.

I might be onto something. If not how to cut and paste links from google.



To the opening ceremony then ....  wowser! that really is a god smacking nose of hops, divine, seriously nice.

Silky black pour that is dark ruby red in the light, with a fantastic head, see how I'm talking it up, like the England coach before the world cup, and this carries the hop aroma to the glass, it's less intense but it is there still, nice head that is fluffy off white and persistent.

The combination of hops then is delivered in spades. This is a mouthful of pine, grass, tang,  bitterness on the front of the tongue and a whole mouth full of just hops.

What is there not to like about this ?

I feel a bit moved to be honest, which I was by the music I was listening to, that made my heart soar a little as I made up the words to the song that was playing, and we've all done that right,

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. How could I not, I could be churlish and mark it back a tick but this is a 5-star belter of an IPA, black or otherwise it's moved me to poetry, and in my head I have to say talking in an Irish brogue - what's that all about ?

One of those beers where if you like IPA and you brought this and didn't like it I would pay you back for it, it's that good. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yess with 2 's's


2. Would I have another? Oath yes, If I had to spend a night with you it would be a nigth too short


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? If you like IPA hoppy beer that all about the tasty and sensation then yes oath I would, this rocks into my top 10 beers and would knock out other IPA types that I have been dreamy about.

I'm totally rocking the lounge with this particular song, the Canadian band  "Chains of Love" and this song "Pretend", seriously hit my spot, turn it up loud it deserves a bigger audience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U576PJSMhp4

I was told to move on to another song after 5 plays.....

BLACK IPA

An emerging beer style roughly defined as a beer with IPA-level hopping, relatively high alcohol and a distinct toasty dark malt character. Typically lacks the roastiness and body of a strong stout and is hoppier than a strong porter. Expressive dry-hopping is common. Also called India Dark Ale, India Black Ale, Cascadian Dark Ale, Dark IPA, and sometimes India Brown Ale.