Wookey Jack - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A good drinking bomber, spot on black IPA solid offering. Very good, another solid FW offering. Black bodied, assertive carbonation. Above average mouthfeel. Solid hops, solid roast,anise. Rye spice adds some edge. Roast aroma.Significant grapefruit.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 03:47:53 | More by northyorksammy

womencantsail

California

4.1/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Bruery Provisions

Almost black with a very dense, thick, khaki head. Really nice fruity hops to this. Lots of grapefruit and pineapple with a touch of pine. Some roast, but it’s restrained and luckily not really any chocolate. Mildly sweet on the palate, but a nice pine bitterness and plenty of fresh grapefruit flavor. There is some pineapple, but it’s not as intense as on the nose. A touch of roasted malt flavor to it, too.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2012 22:44:26 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Churchkey. Served in a mini snifter. Pours dark brown with an off-white head. Nose carries a nice bit of roast and chocolate malt along with a bit of rye and some nice citrus and earthy-pine hop notes. Flavor is hoppy with a nice underlying bitterness and moderate malt sweetness. Good rye component as well as dark malt sweetness. Medium-full body with medium bitterness. Quite smooth. Very nice beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2012 19:10:40 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

3.81/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Quite a pour, with a huge ecru head that settles down to size as the fudge brown liquid rises, showing off some tawny highlights; clumps of foam cling to the pint glass

Smell: Toasted rye bread, caramel, pine and wintergreen

Taste: Lots of roast, up front, with the caramel, spicy rye and piney hop elements assertive through the middle; the wintergreen flavor adds another dimension to the hops, after the swallow, with the bitterness building boldly into the finish; finishes very dry

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A very bold flavored ABA; I would prefer a less harsh hop profile and a bit more malt as the flavors are battling with my tastebuds

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 23:21:08 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4.35/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Congregation Ale House in Pasadena, CA.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a small cap on top of the beer. Small carbonation bubbles rise up in the beer during the entire drink down. A foamy curtain of lace coats the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, citrus zest, and some herbal hop aromas. Taste is much the same with a roasty and hop bitterness that lingers on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a great beer with a very nice balance between roast and hop aromas and flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2012 03:54:49 | More by UCLABrewN84

oberon

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into an imperial nonic a deep cola color with one finger beige colored head atop.Great aromas of roast,earth,and pine resin,a littlbitter chocolate is there as well as the beer warmed a little.Big roast up front on the palate with earthiness and bitter chocolate,the piney hops hit hard in the finish.This is a big brash ABA,maybe the best I have had.Awesome

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 13:11:17 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a shaker pint glass at Fountainhead.

Figured I'd give this guy a try alongside some other tastiness at Fountainhead. It pours a dark ruby-highlighted black-brown topped by a finger of tan foam. The nose comprises roasted malts, pine resin, grapefruit rind, and a kiss of molasses. The taste brings in more of the same, with the grapefruit really coming in stronger and being joined by what seems to be some lime zest. The result, though, comes across as clashing, with the roasty and hoppy factions unwilling to give ground or work together. It's not an altogether awful clash, but it's certainly bloody enough. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a generally solid black IPA, but one whose clashing flavors just don't fully do it for me.

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2012 15:53:39 | More by TMoney2591

drabmuh

Maryland

4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer on draft at Churcheky, decent black ale but a little too roasty. Beer is brown and hazy with a nice tan head fo small bubbles, some lacing, moderate carbonation.

Aroma is piny and roasty.

Beer is medium in body and sweet on the finish, it is only mildly bitter and has this nutty roasty bitterness at the backend. It is pretty enjoyable but I was hoping for more hops based on the description.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2012 01:26:07 | More by drabmuh

zeff80

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at 44 Stone in Columbia, MO.

A - Poured a dark, dark brown color with a light brown head of bubbly foam. It left thin rings of sticky lace on the glass.

S - It smelled strongly of rye aromas. There was a nice roasted malt presence and some spicy notes.

T - It tasted very roasty with spicy rye notes. A touch of pine and some sharp bitterness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is a really tasty rye black IPA. Another delicious offering from Firestone Walker.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2012 01:11:06 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

4.15/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is very dark brown (close to being jet black) in color. It poured with a half finger high tan head that hardly died down and consistently left a thin head covering the surface.
S: The nose has aromas of spices (either from the hops or rye) and some hints of orange citrus.
T: Like the smell, the taste is dominated by flavors of spices, which linger though the finish. The hops contribute a light to moderate amount of bitterness. Although this is a Black Ale, there are only some hints of roasted malts.
M: It feels medium-bodied and quite crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. The bitterness leaves your mouth very dry.
O: While this beer is dark, it seems to taste more like an spicy IPA with rye because the roasted flavors are not that prominent. Nonetheless, it is rather easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 00:38:29 | More by metter98

MasterSki

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Map Room. Served in a tulip.

A - Light mocha foam settles to a solid cap, thick collar, and concentric circles of lacing. Black body with a light shade of brown at the bottom of the glass. Appropriately 'black' for a Black IPA.

S - Massive tropical hop bouquet, along with ripe orange, milk chocolate, biscuit, caramel, mild roast, and a hint of pine.

T - Taste is equally enjoyable, with a nice mélange of chocolate, caramel, and mild roast from the malts, mixed with citrus zest and tropical fruits flavors from the hops. I appreciate the dearth of black malt and astringency that often plague beers of this ilk. Moderate bitterness builds over time, but never becomes fatiguing.

M - Zesty, somewhat prickly carbonation. Medium-light body, with a super resinous finish laden with sticky hop oils. No obvious alcohol, but seems a tad thin for 8.3%.

D - Other than the mildly flaccid feel and harsh carbonation this beer is quite excellent. Perhaps bottle conditioning will fix these issues. In any case, I would definitely seek this out again, and would happily have multiple glasses in an evening.

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2012 14:13:47 | More by MasterSki

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.93/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap 8/4/2012 at Track 84 in Warwick, RI, served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep black color, with a large off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains floral hops, roasted malts, citrus and some chocolate.

T: The taste starts out with a bitter combination of a strong hops presence and dark chocolate. Then a hearty roasted malt character comes in to create a good balance. There are sweet flavors in the background of citrus and caramel. The after-taste is slightly hoppy and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is dry but slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style, this is a nice beer to drink for a while if you’re in the mood for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2012 02:24:22 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured out as a very dark brown, the head was a light tan color with a good retention and lacing. The smell of the beer is nicely balanced with the roasted malts and the hops. The taste of the beer has a great flavor to it. The malts are there and slightly roasted but not chocolaty at all, the rye gives of some light spice and the hops come in and bitter the beer nicely but not overwhelmingly. The mouthfeel is great, it's medium bodied with generous carbonation with a nice smooth feel to it. Overall it's damn good brew. Highly impressed, would totally drink this one again.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 18:16:26 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.23/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottled 11/20/12

Pours a scarlet tinged mahogany with 3+ fingers of mocha colored head. Eoic lacing & good head retention

S: Pineyness & grapefruit, not as assertive I would've hoped

T: Follows the nose, plus roastyness up front & little bit baker's chocolate as well. Roasty bitterness & grapefruit as this warms, then pineyness kicks in & grapefruit acidity. Finishes roasty with mucho grapefruit

MF: Medium bodied, crisp carbonation, good balance for the style, a bit of warming booze

This is good but not upper ecehelon, give me a Stone's itteration on this style any day, but pretty nice & very drinkable; the abv is well disguised. Will try this again if I can find a super fresh bottle. Had this on tap & this compares favorably to that if memory serves me...

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 03:51:18 | More by russpowell

Gavage

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: pours a black color with a 2" head. Mild lace appears.

Smell: roasted malts and chocolates are easy to detect.

Taste: roasted malt, dark chocolates, earthy bitterness, rye, some prune sweetness, and a bit of alcohol rounds it out.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp to start, less crisp at the finish. Long lasting aftertaste.

Overall: a very enjoyable black IPA. Easy to quaff an somewhat refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 21:21:39 | More by Gavage

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Split a bomber with a couple friends. Poured brown with a light tan head and had a big, juicy aroma. Seriously, this reminds me of sweetened tropical fruit punch. Of course, there's also a spicy roasted edge to the aroma.

The taste is well balanced between hops, rye, and barley. Surprisingly well balanced. So many black IPAs are all hops, or not enough. And so few rye beers actually have a discernible rye character. But this beer has a healthy portion of each element.

Upfront is that same juicy pineapple hops hit. Then as the spicy rye and roasted barley roll in, so does a spicier citrus hops mix. Damn that's tasty. The body is a little lighter for an 8%+ beer and the semi-dry peppery finish, makes this almost too drinkable. Find this beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 21:30:46 | More by tempest

barleywinefiend

Washington

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

A: Poured a deep, deep brown with good carbonation, lightly sluggish pour leaving a nice tan cap, loads of lacing

S: Nice orange zest, floral notes are dominant on the nose with some pine needles with a some rye

T: The hops provide a nice citrus burst with a light pine and floral burst but the hop bitterness is very present on this beer. It comes right after I taste the citrus leading to me believe it is the hops versus some overly toasted black malt. I pick up some roasted notes along with some cocoa, light coffee. This beer is extremely dry which I like. I am so sick of oily hop bombs. Some wheat peaks in from time to time as does light bread, probably from the rye. Immediate rye pepperness and spice upfront.

M: Big body, booze is present but well hidden, loads of flavor on the palate, dry and clean. I felt the bottle was a bit drier and and bitter than the growler.

O: Most excellent!

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 16:49:39 | More by barleywinefiend

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled on ??/06/12
(Served in a tulip glass)

A- This beer pours a dense black body with a sandy light brown creamy head with bubbles on top and a microbubble collection right below the head.

S- The full green woody hops come though eve during the pour with a earthy malt aroma to follow. There is a some cat pee notes that grow in the hops as the beer opens.

T- The slightly dry green woody hops have a slight mint quality to them with an earthy pungent dark hops finish. There is a big pungent hops flavor that lingers but not any bitterness with it. The finish also has a slight salty note to it that adds some interesting depth.

M- The medium-light mouthfeel has a gentle fizz and no alcohol heat noticed.

O- The big hops flavor is dark and pungent with some nice malt support. This beer is full of flavor but is very drinkable and the lack of bitterness in the finish is really nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 22:26:45 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

4.35/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bomber bottle ( a bargain at $8 and change at Yorktown (NY) beverage) Has a place on the label for bottled on date, but its blank...

Pours near black, mocha head, thats large, creamy and a bit fluffy, then a nice thick film, collar and more then ample webs of lace.

Nose of dark chocolate, dark coffee, and a hint of vanilla.

Full flavor, black IPA or what ever you want to call it. More dark chocolate and coffee notes, with mocha and again vanilla. Biting and drying hops in the rear, but packing a hefty punch.

Well crafted, pleasantly flavorful and satisfying. Would be great with some grill charred meats and/or some well aged cheddar.

Well worth seeking out and enjoying.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 03:42:26 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 06/07/12 notes. Had on tap at Churchkey in Washington, DC. Been wanting to try this for a while.

a - Pours a dark brown color with one inch of off white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smmels of citrus hops, piney hops, caramel malts, roasted malts, chocolate, and a little bit soapy. Pretty awesome nose; just a great mix of fresh hops and caramel malt.

t - Taste of roasted malts, citrus hops, caramel malts, chocolate malts, coffee, light pine. Taste is still very good, but less hoppy than the nose, and the malts dominate a little more. Not as balanced.

m - Medium body and low carb. Mouthfeel has no bitterness at all; super easy to drink for 8.3% ABV.

o - Overall I thought this was a great Black IPA; one of the best I've had probably. The nose is balanced really well between hops and malts, and it is very easy to drink. Would like to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2012 19:45:14 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice darker colored fluffy head that continues to rise to almost 2 fingers before slowly biding back with lots of lacing, very dark almost pitch black beer.

Nose dominates with hops, some citrus, tropical fruit, grapefruit, little earthy, with some fruity and spicy rye, with a bit of malts behind bringing a light caramel and fluffy nougat, hint of chocolate and roast.

Taste come more malt forward at first, fluffy caramel nougat again, little roast and chocolate, similar profile to the nose. Hops are not far behind, nice earthy spicy hops, not of pine, light citrus, fairly bitter with a light spicy rye character as well. A hint of booze warms the palette. Finish is drier but slightly sticky sweet, more warming booze, little rye and dark crystal almost roasty malts, more spicy pine hops.

Mouth is med to slightly fuller bodied, a bit rich, nice carb, bit of warming booze.

Overall nice, a lot going on with nice hops, dark malts, not too roasty or astringent, decent hops typical for the style, but no matter how good they are, all those flavors just don't seem like they should.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 12:45:59 | More by jlindros

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle purchased as a single from somewhere localish.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1 1/2" tan head over the cloudy reddish brown brew. Head lasts and lasts, with chunky lacing. Aroma is pine and spices.

Taste is spicy rye to start, citrus in the middle, and dominant pine bitterness through the close. Mouthfeel is pretty smooth, and drinkability is okay. Wish there was a bit more maltiness to support all the bitter.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 22:51:18 | More by ppoitras

Zorro

California

3.93/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

First the obvious remark "How many Wookies in a bottle of Wookey Jack?"

Clear dark brown colored ale with a tall and thick light brown colored head, looks are impressive.

Smell is strong hops and patent malt. Scents primarily of pine and eucalyptus. Scent of menthol is in this it numbs your nose when you sniff it. Lesser scents of chocolate and cake batter.

Starts out thick and bitter. Patent malt and menthol with a little carrot taste to it. Chocolate and rye with a hint of burnt rubber. hop remains mostly pine.

Good mouthfeel.

Overall a good beer but not an outstanding one.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 02:01:24 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle into a tulip glass.

Pours a deep amber/brown in the glass, topped with 2 fingers of rich off-white head. This retains with a creamy ¾ finger of froth that rings the sides of the glass with sticky lace. The aroma smells fresh and leafy in the nose with notes of bright grapefruit and a zesty spiciness from the rye as it mixes in with that citrus. This even has a big of a leafy tobacco thing going on with it from the hops combining with those dark roasted malts across the back. Some cocoa sweetness hangs on the edges as well but this is overall pretty dry, bitter, and roasted feeling in the nose.

The taste has fresh grapefruit bitterness and a leafy feel up front that runs into a combination of bittersweet chocolate and roasted coffee character. The finish on this really shows the rye with a dry spicy doughiness that sticks and lingers with some leftover bitterness and pine from the hops. The mouthfeel is medium to fuller bodied, with a lively sharp creaminess that fills up the mouth and then more of a underlying slickness that leaves some oils back on the tongue. There is some alcohol present and while it isn’t overly distracting, it does really bring out the assertiveness of those flavors here.

This was a very good entry into the Black IPA category from Firestone that really packs a fierce nature on the palate thanks to that assertive mix of American hops, rye, and high ABV. This was just balanced enough to stay drinkable but I still enjoyed it very much. Sometimes it’s fun to just brutalize your mouth with flavor!

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 14:30:22 | More by Kegatron

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft at Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia, PA.

Pours a dark brown. almost black color with faint mahogany edges and a two finger beige head that slowly settles into a lasting ring.  Streaks of lace left behind.

Sweet floral aroma with spicy rye, malt, earthy and citrus hops.  Subtle roast but the rye character adds another dimension. Some grassy pine and slight citrus but the nose is dominated by spicy rye and dark malts.  

On the fuller end of medium bodied with a nice balance of resinous, earthy hops, sweet and roasted malt and spicy rye.  Again, the rye adds complexity with level of spicy swetness that counters the piny hops and roasted notes. Grassy and piny hops followed by spicy rye with roasted and sweet malts underneath.  Hints of chocolate, toast, coffee and oatmeal lingering into a dry finish with subtle heat.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2012 21:44:09 | More by corby112