Hoppy Feet - Clown Shoes

hudsonvalleyslim

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Clown Shoes Black doesn't say IPA to me. Finishing a bomber bought in Boston as we speak. Disclaimer: I love almost everything Ipwsich (Mercury) since forever.

Name: Black & Pale??

Appearance: Black on Black. Opaque.

Taste: Very nice - a bit of patience and reward. Halfway through the pint the flavors began playing on my tongue.

Mouthfeel: Kinda porter-like.

Drinkability: Very. One of those ales that falls between category. Tis a full-bodied black ale, with good helping of hops (though not the massive amount we consider for an IPA nowadays.)

Guess the name is part of the game, but despite whatever name this brew is saddled with, it is a goodun.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2010 00:22:38 | More by hudsonvalleyslim

Halcyondays

California

3.4/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours black wiith a small off-white head, some lace, fair head retention.

S: Piney hops, some white grape fruit with a lot of roasted malt.

T: Dark chocolate and pine, very hoppy with lemon and other citrus zest. Definitely has a green streak.

M: Medium-bodied, a tad acrid, with crisp carbonation, refreshing at points.

O: A fair black ale, it's to style, but a little clashing in flavours. An OK pickup if you like the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 02:32:41 | More by Halcyondays

PaulMc

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

05-19-2013 06:12:23 | More by PaulMc

afrokaze

California

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

05-18-2013 22:35:36 | More by afrokaze

megamass

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

05-18-2013 04:31:20 | More by megamass

agreenman19

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +2%

05-16-2013 03:20:58 | More by agreenman19

OUJayhawk1799

Oklahoma

3.25/5  rDev -17.1%

05-16-2013 00:42:26 | More by OUJayhawk1799

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Quite an impressive full inch of deep mocha head atop of a rather pitch black looking beer. Mild ruby hues at the base but very faint.
S - Smell is very timid with little roast or pine but it does smell rather hoppy.
T - Ow god this is one hoppy brew! Bittering unbalanced acidic hops meets a charcoal like roast body. Hoppiness lingers long after the sip on the tongue. Hard to choke down.
M - Medium bodied, kind of slick but so damn hoppy.

Overall I like my black IPA's to balance the hops to roasty malts and this one fails pretty hard. Only get this one if your looking for some serious tongue abuse.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 01:39:24 | More by DrDemento456

hopley

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2%

05-12-2013 04:05:43 | More by hopley

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a shaker pint.

Appearance
Cola-colored black with ruby red highlights. 1 finger of off-white head with good retention.

Nose
Tangerine, pine, caramel and Tootsie Roll.

Taste
Bitter pine with notes of tangerine and lemon. Caramel, Cola, charcoal and cocoa nibs. Pine needles are full force in the finish along with some grapefruit zest.

Mouthfeel
Medium bodied, oily, bitter and dry.

Overall
It's okay. Nothing that I would buy again though.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 21:06:21 | More by justintcoons

Rwalford74

Australia

4/5  rDev +2%

05-11-2013 11:04:30 | More by Rwalford74

ToddHolder

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2%

05-11-2013 01:03:02 | More by ToddHolder

UCLABrewN84

California

3.79/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Bottled 3/18/13.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and candied citrus zest aromas. Taste is much the same with cocoa and citrus zest flavors on the finish. There is a medium amount of roasty and hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is tasty but the bitterness lingers long after each sip.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 02:41:16 | More by UCLABrewN84

pioneer96

Pennsylvania

1/5  rDev -74.5%

05-09-2013 00:40:48 | More by pioneer96

klawburke

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

05-08-2013 22:06:02 | More by klawburke

jayhunter357

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

05-06-2013 16:21:06 | More by jayhunter357

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +2%

05-06-2013 00:01:23 | More by Damian74Shensky

George1799

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +2%

05-04-2013 18:14:33 | More by George1799

Beaver13

Colorado

3.68/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle, bottled on 2/21/13. Pours dark brown with a big pillowy tan head that retains fairly well and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet roasted chocolate malts and a little fruit with some piney hops.

The flavor is sweet roasted chocolate malts and a little fruit and coffee with a big bitter tarry finish. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with smooth carbonation.

Overall, a pretty good black IPA. A bit too much roast and tarry notes.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 22:27:23 | More by Beaver13

bostonryan

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

05-01-2013 01:03:21 | More by bostonryan

Haybeerman

Colorado

4/5  rDev +2%

05-01-2013 00:33:43 | More by Haybeerman

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

04-29-2013 05:46:57 | More by Kelp

troy138

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +27.6%

04-28-2013 16:31:53 | More by troy138

Wishdiak

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +2%

04-28-2013 14:21:15 | More by Wishdiak

capuchinpilates

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

04-27-2013 13:46:44 | More by capuchinpilates