Hoppy Feet - Clown Shoes

gshak

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

12-14-2012 21:14:34 | More by gshak

Hopheadjeffery

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

06-19-2013 16:29:19 | More by Hopheadjeffery

Ispeakforthetrees

Colorado

3/5  rDev -23.3%

06-19-2013 05:38:14 | More by Ispeakforthetrees

WhitmansNiece

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

06-18-2013 15:40:15 | More by WhitmansNiece

Bnoise11

California

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

06-17-2013 03:12:20 | More by Bnoise11

jaxon53

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

06-16-2013 16:45:30 | More by jaxon53

Rudy

California

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

06-16-2013 16:44:00 | More by Rudy

dbkdev

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.3%

06-16-2013 02:34:18 | More by dbkdev

jjboesen

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

The Hoppy Shoes pours out - or should I say kicks out? - a mammoth pillow of beige foam that crowns a tar black body, Let it sit and take a whiff: there is an intense miasma of caramel and charcoal that is brazenly backed with some fearless hints of dark chocolate.

The initial taste is a bit chalky - imagine chalk with cocoa powder, actually. This is supported by a relaible reinforcement of Amarillo and Columbus hops - all this with an 80 IBU accompanied by the 7% abv. There is some serious structure here; yet, neither the hops or the malts are dominant. A Fair and Balances Black Ale is what we have.

This is a serious beer, but not an intimidating one. There is the chalky mouthfeel; however, this simply leads to a more substative quaff that handles all its ingredients well and allows for one sturdy sessional quaff - two, at least.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 23:29:11 | More by jjboesen

VictorWisc

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

06-14-2013 07:20:46 | More by VictorWisc

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I think the thing that comes to mind most about this beer is that because it isn't mind-blowing, so far as the character of it goes, some might consider it pedestrian. 3 years ago, people would have committed bloody murder to try this one. With all the black ales out there now, people might "eh" this one. I think it's a pretty good black ale. Glad to finally be able to try stuff from these cats out of 12 ouncers.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 04:46:16 | More by RblWthACoz

Thedrizzle

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

06-14-2013 03:02:56 | More by Thedrizzle

pajonkunz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%

06-13-2013 16:55:07 | More by pajonkunz

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2.3%

06-12-2013 18:20:20 | More by InspectorBob

GoldHorde

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My second CLOWN SHOES offering from Mercury Brewing in Ipswich MA is their Black IPA. I have had a handful of Black IPA's - some of which I have reviewed here - and I am certainly a NOVICE to this style in my own consideration.

THIS particular brew rings the bells of what I first expected in the category pf "Black IPA": namely an IPA style (highly hopped) straddling the category with STOUT. I think the category would make more sense as a "hopped stout" rather than a black IPA but, nonetheless, THIS beer DEFINES the category the BEST so far. It has all the aggressiveness of an IPA with the smoky, creamy charm and appearance of the STOUT.

WELL DONE Mercury! I think this beer should define the category...course, I'm far from done in sampling this style - BUT for now CLOWN SHOES BLACK INDIA PAL ALE holds the crown of Black IPA.

A = Opaque dark brown with a tan head and medium lacing
S = Definitely more STOUT than IPA at the SNOUT - only a hint of citrus hop
T = Smoky coffee STOUT with the familiar IPA hop kick and afterburn
M = Creamy

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 03:25:24 | More by GoldHorde

s35keith

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

06-11-2013 20:26:37 | More by s35keith

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.3%

06-10-2013 12:05:03 | More by twenty5

litheum94

California

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

06-10-2013 00:39:54 | More by litheum94

msturek

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

06-09-2013 21:37:01 | More by msturek

morimech

Minnesota

3.99/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Standard black ale appearance with one finger of tan head that settled to a thin cap. Moderate amount of sticky lacing is left down the glass.

Nice aroma that seems to be an even mix of dark malt with chocolate, coffee notes, and West Coast hops that lend its citrus aromas.

Plenty hoppy flavor with high bitterness. Get a lot of citrus. The malt adds sweetness but not quite enough to balance the beer. Nice chocolate and dark malt flavor. Finishes with a bitter, citrus bite.

Solid body and carbonation. Nice texture for a hoppy brew.

A personal requirement for me when it comes to hoppy black ales, is can I taste the black. In this case I definitely can. It adds more than just color.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 18:55:56 | More by morimech

tree777

Florida

4/5  rDev +2.3%

06-08-2013 16:49:30 | More by tree777

Rollzroyce21

California

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

06-08-2013 05:51:31 | More by Rollzroyce21

kylemckinnis

Oregon

4/5  rDev +2.3%

06-06-2013 02:16:54 | More by kylemckinnis

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

3.71/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: poured from a 12 oz bottle (dated 3/18/13) into a nonic pint glass, dark brown almost black with a large frothy white that lingers leaving good lacing, clear

S: bitter citrus hops, coffee, dark chocolate, more subtle than expected

T: aggressively bitter from both hops and espresso flavors, a salty gas grilled meat flavor lurks underneath, not smoky but think Dale's sauce

M: thinner than expected, lower carbonation

O: above average black IPA, flavors are a bit confused though, be less of a stout and let the hops sing

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 02:30:32 | More by M_C_Hampton

joshbrink

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

06-03-2013 20:31:51 | More by joshbrink