Beer of the Weekend #354: Black Top
My daytrip yesterday to Wisconsin was awesome. Ah, the land of cheese and beer. Between Minnesota and Wisconsin it is hard to say which I like better. Hmm… I think Wisconsin may edge the Gopher State by a fingernail. However, “The Cities” may keep it even.
On the return trip we stopped at the Roelli Cheese Haus in rural Shullsburg. (The southwestern corner of the state is peppered with rural cheese factories. My dad’s family lived at one when he was little.) I bought some smoked brick cheese and the beer of the weekend from the store’s massive display of New Glarus brew: Black Top, brewed by the New Glarus Brewing Company of New Glarus, Wisconsin.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. I cannot find a freshness date, which is sad since it is from epic New Glarus.
Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color looks black but it is not opaque; shades of brown are visible around the edge. Two fingers of dense, off-white head, with a little tint of tan, dissipated slowly.
Smell: I could smell the delicious citrus and pine when I popped the cap. Grapefruit citrus mixed with pine spice. Buried beneath the (overwhelming) citrus and spice are scents of dark chocolate, caramel, and molasses. There could also be a little coffee in there as well.
Taste: The mouthfeel is a little thin and the favor is a tad weaker than the aroma. However, it does offer nice, hoppy characteristics. The citrus takes a backseat to the pine spice. The maltier elements are not as noticeable until the beer warms. Flavors of chocolate and caramel help balance the citrus and spice nicely.
Drinkability: Another excellent creation from New Glarus. However — and I hate to say this — I think I prefer Summit’s Black Ale.
Fun facts about Black Top:
-Style: New Glarus calls it “Black IPA” and BA classifies it as “American Black IPA.”
-Price: $8.49/sixer at the Roelli Cheese Haus on State Highway 11 in Shullsburg, Wisconsin.
-Serving temperature: 40-45ºF.
-Alcohol content: 6.9 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: New Glarus recommends “Steak, Mexican, Creme Brulee” for food pairings and “Brie, Gouda” for cheese pairings. (What?! No brick?!)
-Nerdiness from the beer’s webpage:
-Speaking of black top, my dad always claimed (proudly, as a native Wisconsinite) that there are no gravel roads in the Badger State. I have no clue if that is true or not, but Wisconsin does have much better roads then Iowa.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
On the return trip we stopped at the Roelli Cheese Haus in rural Shullsburg. (The southwestern corner of the state is peppered with rural cheese factories. My dad’s family lived at one when he was little.) I bought some smoked brick cheese and the beer of the weekend from the store’s massive display of New Glarus brew: Black Top, brewed by the New Glarus Brewing Company of New Glarus, Wisconsin.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. I cannot find a freshness date, which is sad since it is from epic New Glarus.
Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color looks black but it is not opaque; shades of brown are visible around the edge. Two fingers of dense, off-white head, with a little tint of tan, dissipated slowly.
Smell: I could smell the delicious citrus and pine when I popped the cap. Grapefruit citrus mixed with pine spice. Buried beneath the (overwhelming) citrus and spice are scents of dark chocolate, caramel, and molasses. There could also be a little coffee in there as well.
Taste: The mouthfeel is a little thin and the favor is a tad weaker than the aroma. However, it does offer nice, hoppy characteristics. The citrus takes a backseat to the pine spice. The maltier elements are not as noticeable until the beer warms. Flavors of chocolate and caramel help balance the citrus and spice nicely.
Drinkability: Another excellent creation from New Glarus. However — and I hate to say this — I think I prefer Summit’s Black Ale.
Fun facts about Black Top:
-Style: New Glarus calls it “Black IPA” and BA classifies it as “American Black IPA.”
-Price: $8.49/sixer at the Roelli Cheese Haus on State Highway 11 in Shullsburg, Wisconsin.
-Serving temperature: 40-45ºF.
-Alcohol content: 6.9 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: New Glarus recommends “Steak, Mexican, Creme Brulee” for food pairings and “Brie, Gouda” for cheese pairings. (What?! No brick?!)
-Nerdiness from the beer’s webpage:
We invite you to discover this newest beer style Black IPA. Political debate rages over the origins of this jet black beer as both coasts feel they deserve credit. Our Black Top is a pleasant road connecting Villages and Communities statewide on a ride of Black IPA discovery.
Expect this beer to pour a hop forward jet black glass brimming with aromatic bitterness. Brewmaster Dan skillfully weaves molasses and chocolate malt undertones with a soaring rush of clean citrus and pine hop notes, to deliver a drinkable Black IPA. Savor Black Top, like Wisconsin’s miles of licorice ribbons of ink that meander through armies of corn and bovine mowed fields. Enjoy the journey on a road less traveled.
-Speaking of black top, my dad always claimed (proudly, as a native Wisconsinite) that there are no gravel roads in the Badger State. I have no clue if that is true or not, but Wisconsin does have much better roads then Iowa.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
