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Pouring out a spritzy golden straw in the body with a heavy amount of carbonation streaming upwards in the glass. Lets get to drinking this Steel & Oak brew. From what I remember I enjoyed the beer because it took a fairly average wheat beer and turned the profile on its head. I’ve only ever had one other smoked hefeweizen which was from Portland’s Gigantic Brewing. Hefeweizens are wheat beers that also originated in Germany and are characterized by a profile of banana, clove, coriander and lemon. Smoked beers originate in the small Bavarian town of Bamberg where malt is smoked over beechwood fire before being added to the brew. The first beer to hit shelves is their 5.4% Smoked Hefeweizen a rarely seen fusion style that blends two different German brewing styles. One of the newest BC brewers to begin exporting to their Eastern neighbours is New Westminster’s Steel & Oak. Overall a very good Black IPA that hopefully foreshadows the things to come from Category 12 Brewing. The finish is bitter and lingers on heavily without acting cloying and taking away from the roasted malts. The malts are up front and heavy without destroying the pine and citrus hops. This is not the case here with both the malts and the hops showcasing well in a best of both worlds situation. Often Black IPA’s seem to tip the scale on either the roasted malt or the hop side.
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A common problem for me with this style is balance. Light pine needle and heavy grapefruit citrus notes fill the back end with light grassy and spiced hop notes more subtle. The malt is heavy but doesn’t seem to occupy the profile too much with the hops making a similarly weighty appearance. Taking my first sip a beautiful chocolate and nut accented roasted malt accompanies the caramel and toffee notes in the mid palate. A nice aroma overall with the hops at the forefront. The malt is more subtle and reserved on the nose but for a light cocoa and toffee malt. The nose is heavy with pine and citrus hops, lighter floral and spice notes with a trademark cascade overtone. The appearance by first glance is that of a nicely roasted and well hopped brew. Plenty of lacing rings form and the head itself sustains for quite some time. Pouring out a dark and murky burgundian brown with an opaque body and light carbonation the head is standout with a fluffy, marshmallow esque consistency. In addition to the hop bill Disruption is malted with carafa and munich malts. Disruption Black IPA is a 6.7% ale brewed with Simcoe, Cascade and Columbus hops that won Best American Black Ale at the Canadian Brewing Awards. Victoria brewer Category 12 was founded by Michael Kuzyk who holds a PhD in microbiology and biochemistry from the University of Victoria. This past week Alberta beer lovers have yet another BC brewer extending their distribution into our province.