Wisdom Seeker - Black Raven Brewing Co.

NWer

Washington

4.88/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Black Raven's limited release Double IPA doesn't disappoint.
Darker in tone than other great DIPA's - Pliny E&Y for example.
Good well behaved foamy head results from my pour into my 21st Amendment chalice.
Very pleasant but not overpowering citrus taste lingers well.
A wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Tending to business and seeking a little wisdom.
Delish.

Serving type: growler

03-01-2011 04:49:34 | More by NWer

Pecafaced

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-19-2013 23:18:24 | More by Pecafaced

Justin_Neff

Ohio

4.51/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle dated 4/16/2013.

A: This one is a beauty. Completely translucent light golden body with a silky, thick, bright white head that leaves nearly a full layer of lacing on the glass.

S: Tons of pine and citrus. Smells like strong fruit and hops.

T: Dank. The bitterness lingers. Tons of hops and sprucey pinecone overpower what normally sticks as a citrus strength. The taste and bitterness of lemon and grapefruit peel finishes the mouth wonderfully. The balance is really nice.

M: Full body, but surprisingly drinkable for a DIPA. Oily. Sticky. Medium Carbonation.

O: Wow, was I pleased with this one. Great west coast DIPA. The balance is incredible for being so hop forward but also pretty sweet and resinous. So happy I got to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 00:24:08 | More by Justin_Neff

TysonA

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

05-12-2013 21:18:01 | More by TysonA

jmarsh123

Indiana

2.56/5  rDev -40%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours clear orange-ish color with a good cap of creamy white head. Good retention and a touch of lacing.

Very pine and resin forward. A bit of candied grapefruit as well with some floral notes. Good sticky and dank aroma.

And now the let down. Definitely leans west coast style although there is a bit more malt than in most in that classification. Starts out with a touch of citrus before it's enveloped by bready malts and pine. A weird sweet bread flavor clashes with the hops. Very astringent finish and every bit of the 9.0% ABV shines through then some. Booziness is overwhelming by the end.

Sticky medium body with medium to low carbonation. As mentioned, does nothing at all to hide alcohol.

Not sure why this beer is getting glowing reviews. In my opinion, it's a decidedly below average DIPA. The aroma is very intriguing, but the taste is an absolute mess. 9.0% feels like 12.0%. I've never had a DIPA that seems to add ABV before. There's also a weird sweetness that clashes with the alcohol. Decent hop profile, but is lost behind the booze. Ended up pouring some down the drain as it got to be too much. Very let down by this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 17:14:32 | More by jmarsh123

dirtylou

Washington

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

05-07-2013 03:28:54 | More by dirtylou

draheim

Washington

4.46/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

22oz (bottled 4/16/2013) into a tulip. Pours a crystal-clear copper color with a big frothy white head. Lazy carbonation rises from the bottom.

Aroma is a big burst of clean citrus and pine. Smells like Pliny.

Taste is dank, sticky, and resinous. Tons of hop oils, held together by a solid backbone of clean pale malt. More pine and citrus. Alcohol is well-hidden. Great balance.

Mouthfeel is oily and sticky, about right for a big DIPA. Nice bitterness on the finish, but this one is also pretty sweet.

Overall this is about exactly what I hoped for and expected. Wisdom Seeker is world-class, about as good as any other DIPA out there. The real deal.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 00:25:26 | More by draheim

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.38/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Black Raven pint glass. Pours a light to medium golden amber with a fine two finger white head with great carbonation and chunky lacing. Aroma dominated by piney and citrus hops with grapefruit and light caramel malt. Flavor is a great balance between caramel malt and herbal, piney hops and mild mixed citrus. Medium body with some creaminess and nice active carbonation. It was a long wait to try this, but it was worth the wait. A very well balanced IPA that starts out nicely malty with light citrus fruit and then slowly develops a great herbal hop presence that lingers. Lives up to its hype and I look forward to greater availability. This is one of the great PNW breweries.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 03:28:44 | More by LiquidAmber

bifrost17

Washington

4.16/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a FW Teku glass. Bottled only two days ago!!

A: Pours exactly like you'd expect for the style. Super clear dark golden/orange color, nice finger and a half fluffy white head. Nice webby lacing. Super clean, inviting looking beer.

S: Hoppy, citrus fuit, piney goodness. Slight hints of that 9.1% abv coming through in the nose.

T: Follows up the nose. Finishes with a pleasant lingering bitterness.

M: Nice and smooth, moderate carbonation. Super sticky. My only slight gripe is I wish it was just a little bit more on the dry side in the finish, but that's a very minor gripe.

O: Black Raven makes some pretty damn amazing beer, but unfortunately the bottles are very limited, but I'm hoping with their upcoming expansion it will make it possible for me people to be able to experience it. I'll just be happy for now that I'm fortunate enough to be able to drink their beer on tap on a consistent basis. Wisdom seeker isn't the best DIPA I've ever had, but it's certainly in my top 10 and could easily contend with any of the more well known and "hyped" DIPAs. Seek the wisdom seeker!! You won't be disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 19:40:15 | More by bifrost17

distantmantra

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

04-18-2013 20:43:52 | More by distantmantra

standardcherry

Massachusetts

4.39/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle produced on March 21st 2013. Drank on April 8th.

A: Almost transparent gold color. A nice white head with very nice lacing. Good looking beer!
S: Blast of hop resin and pine! Also has a big candy-like aroma. Strange but good. Followed by a slight citrusy character and some toasted malts.
T: Just like the nose. Big piney/grassy bitterness with a bit of orange zest. I usually prefer my IIPAs to be more fruit-forward but this one is great. Lots of caramel malty backbone in there supporting the super piney hops. A bit of spiciness in there. Strange candy flavor just like the smell. Very interesting and tasty, just not something I would expect in a IIPA.
M: Medium bodied with soft, creamy carbonation. A bit of an alcohol bite.
O: This is a great beer, glad I got to try it!

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 07:44:11 | More by standardcherry

sukwonee

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

04-16-2013 03:19:01 | More by sukwonee

HopChef44

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

04-12-2013 01:59:40 | More by HopChef44

visualweasel

Washington

4.83/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Just got to try this for the first time. On tap at the brewery in Redmond.

A: Beautiful, clear bright gold color, about a finger of white head, leaving behind lovely and abundant lacing.

S: Mouth-watering hop resin, pine, and citrus (in that order). Makes you want to stick your nose right into it!

T: Follows the nose and delivers more. Wonderful west coast hop essence. Not profoundly bitter, but the hops contribute to the nose and the flavor in big, big ways. Very balanced. Reminds me of a cellared Dogfish Head 120 in flavor, but more like a Dogfish 90 in other ways, and easily its match. This is a DIPA to spoil you for others.

M: Medium-bodied, appropriate carbonation for the style. Very satisfying on a beautiful day.

O: Up there with the best imperial IPAs I've had. Hard to find for anyone outside of Western Washington. If you see it, don't miss it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2013 21:33:24 | More by visualweasel

FalconA

Washington

4/5  rDev -6.3%

03-25-2013 20:44:20 | More by FalconA

yojimbo1

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

02-24-2013 23:28:14 | More by yojimbo1

iKrystin

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

01-13-2013 20:56:30 | More by iKrystin

ChefHopMeister

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -12.2%

11-23-2012 21:55:11 | More by ChefHopMeister

strongaf

Washington

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

11-11-2012 06:56:18 | More by strongaf

juliusseizure

New York

4/5  rDev -6.3%

11-03-2012 02:18:29 | More by juliusseizure

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.2/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a transparent deep yellow color with good carbonation leaving a moderate white cap and bubbles but th lacing is light islight and head retention is minimal

S: Melons, grass, orange peel and grapefruit

T: Immediate sordove astringent and bitterness with a lemongrass note followed up with a light toasted grain, orange peel, grapefruit and a tough of melon. The finish has a light booze sting, a little slick but has a dry sordove feeling and taste to it

M: Medium bodied, well carbonated, a nice amount of lingering bitterness remains on the palate

O: Very good. Easy to drink, tastes wonderful. The appearance could use some legs and the nose could use a boost.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 22:27:48 | More by barleywinefiend

adkieffer

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

10-05-2012 22:30:21 | More by adkieffer

dionito

Washington

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

09-26-2012 01:14:47 | More by dionito

benbjb

Washington

5/5  rDev +17.1%

09-17-2012 02:25:12 | More by benbjb

Adamostella

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

07-20-2012 06:24:18 | More by Adamostella