Hoppy Feet - Clown Shoes

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass.

Appearance: this beer is dark but not opaque more like a superior dark brown with a tan that rises to roughly a finger's length.

Smell: floral smell which is slightly light nothing to brag about.

Taste: Floral feel, I like the bitterness and it's potent piney feel.

Mouth: somewhat sticky, medium to heavy carbonation that has you pondering about what else is there.

Overall: this was a descent brew here at the bar, it was the best "Black IPA" but it was definitely well worth it. I hope you give it a try it definitely satisfied my taste buds, Salud!

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2012 05:59:29 | More by BlurryVisi0n

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from tap into 12oz tulip like glass at Lazy Boy, White Plains, NY.
Pours a deep black color with very little head. No noticeable aromas aside from the slight malt and hops. Taste is very mild roasted malts and hops. Its very smooth.
Overall nice brew; not the best I ever had, but a solid roasted hoppy and smooth beer, and worth a try for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2012 12:37:12 | More by DrinkSlurm

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Drafting Room during their recent hopfest.

The beer pours a fairly dark brown color with good head retention and lacing. Don't get a whole lot on the nose; just some coffee, light citrus and hint of eucalyptus. It's attractive, I just wish there was more of it. The flavor profile replicates the nose, with a hint of chocolate intermixed with the coffee and dry citrus. The beer is actully fairly dry and bitter, though there's some initial sweetness when you take a sip. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with fairly long and bitter finish (with a hint of licorice at the end). Alcohol is well integrated into the flavor profile, and while there's nothing extraordinairy here, it's a tasty enough beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2012 17:41:04 | More by johnmichaelsen

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at TJ's, Paoli, PA

Slight differences between this and the 1.5, I felt, but they're still both pretty good selections. Dark brown-black color, a small cap of off-white head that receded to a ringlet, leaving just a few streaks of lacing on the glass. Aroma is pine-hop-forward, with some dark roasted malts coming through. Taste of piney and citrusy hops, a bit more bitter than the 1.5, with a somewhat subtler chocolate flavor, more roasty with dark malts, and more resinous in the mouth. Medium body, decently drinkable overall, but can be a little harsh if you're not prepared for it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-29-2012 02:11:52 | More by Rifugium

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

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

Poured from a tap at TJs in Paoli. Clown Shoes lands in PA!

A: A dark brownish color that is not quite black. A light brown head sits atop the glass and produces nice lacing.

S: Roasted smells mixed with some caramel sweetness and a dose of earthy piney hops. I like it.

T: Dark roasted flavors jump out with dark chocolate and some coffee. The roasted flavors get mixed with the caramel and toffee sweetness that is quickly overcome by the huge pine and earthy hops. Finish is bitter with hops and some of the roastiness sticking around. Nice beer and more of a Black IPA if you ask me.

M: Nice, full, coating, prickly and a hint of alcohol.

O: My first try of their beers and I really liked this one. A prototypical black IPA with the roasted flavors and the massive hops. Nice.

I really liked this beer and I eagerly await more from them. TJs has a bunch of other stuff on the upcoming tap list so I'll be trying more. Glad they arrived!

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2012 21:17:11 | More by Kadonny

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On Tap at Blue Dog

Very dark red with some brown and black mixed in as well, looks kinda sludgy. Ring around the glass. Semi slight dots of lace, nothing extraordinary. Smell is piney, grapefruit that's sharp, semi boozy even with the low ABV, malts are in the forefront. Taste is a black IPA alright, sharp taste of grapefruit and oily hops, resinous. Some malt in the back, not terribly complex. Medium bodied, highly carbed, kinda prickly on the tounge there, bitterness is noted. I kinda liked this stuff, it did not blow me away, but I will look for it again, maybe.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2012 08:46:44 | More by onix1agr

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.88/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Served in a tumbler at The Tribes.

The Accidental Highway to Hell Tour continues! This stop pours a dark garnet-tinged black-brown topped by a finger of dusty tan micro-foam. The nose comprises chocolate, light roasted malts, dry pine needles, and very light sand (honestly, what my brain associates with this smell is sand...). The taste holds notes of coffee, darkly roasted malts, light leather, light char, sharp pine resin, and lime skin. Things come off decidedly bitter and acrid, to the point that my face evinces my body's inner wincing. The body is a light medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a smooth feel. Overall, what seems like a good beer decides to go all Mr. Hyde on my tongue, ruining everything. I'm not sure what happened, but it's just too darkly bitter and astringent for my liking.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2011 22:46:46 | More by TMoney2591

socon67

New York

4.55/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Note: Reviewed from 5oz sample

A - Black with a slight beige foam. Decent lacing.

S - Scents of roasted malt, cocoa, and a mild hoppy aroma.

T - Freaking awesome! The flavor of mocha is about the best I can recall. There is a blended hop component too, but the dominant flavor is this mocha taste that is smooth, consistent, and rivals that of some major stotus. I'm wowed by this.

M - Smooth as silk, feels medium bodied yet has some major flavor. Perfect beer for imp stout lovers that don't want a heavy beer.

O - Easily the best black ale I've had. So glad to try this beer, and I'm getting a bottle as we speak.

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2011 20:34:39 | More by socon67

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at The Good Life

L - black with a khaki colored head that thinned to a layer leaving a good coating on the inside of the glass.

S - bitter citrus rind and light roastiness.

T - citrus hops upfront with a roasted malty middle finishing dry and bitter.

F - medium bodied with a smooth feel.

O - a very enjoyable Black IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2011 23:37:21 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

CaptDavyJones

New York

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a pint of this on tap. Poured a really nice dark color, almost pitch black with a nice one finger head that dissipated fairly quickly to a thin film. Good head retention.
The aroma was oh so hoppy, tickled all the hop senses. Faint notes of malt in between all of the hoppy goodness.
Similar to the aroma, this was a very nice and controlled hop assault on the palate. The bitterness is just about perfect and this also surprisingly feels almost like a full-bodied ale.
This is a very delicious brew to say the least. I'm glad that I gave it a try. It was a fresh keg, and I am keen to have this from a bottle to see if the bottle compares anywhere to a nice fresh keg.
Definitely worth a try and is highly recommended, especially if you are a hop-head.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2011 04:56:38 | More by CaptDavyJones

Mebuzzard

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this at the Great Lost Bear in Portland, ME

I suspect this is their best beer at Clown Shoes. But of course I don't know that, this is my first one. If they're all this good, then this is quite the brewery.

Pours...well, black. Not thick, there are some hints of ruby and mahogany. 1 finger white head. Looks good. Delishhh

Somewhat chaotic aroma. Sometimes the roasted malt comes out, sometimes the piney hops. It's a nice blend whatever comes forth.

Dark, toasted bread backbone. Some chocolate and molasses. But the hops dominate here. Pine and earthy, some zesty spice, but mostly the 'robust' hops. Bitter? Yeups. Nice. It sorta depends on what you're thinking about that determines which flavors come out more; malt, some smoke, chocolate, pine, raisin, leather, and/or zest. me like

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2011 19:02:19 | More by Mebuzzard

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

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

This beer poured out as a deep black color, When I had heard about it I was unaware that it was going to be a Black IPA. The brew has a very nice dark brownish black color with a pretty nice looking tan colored head on top. The smell of the beer has a big hop aroma on the nose which I found to be very nice. There is also some hints of chocolate in there as well. The taste had some lemony citrus to it along with a bitter dry aftertaste of chocolatey flavors. The mouthfeel was smooth and very drinkable. Overall this beer was quite good, I would enjoy having it again one day.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2011 11:41:49 | More by Knapp85

Bierguy5

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Small Bar Fullerton. Deep chestnut brown, with some ruby edges. Off-white head fades to a thin layer, but leaves an impressive patchwork of lace.

Roasty notes, with some pine, citrus and floral hop notes. A bit of a mineral feel in the nose as well.

Darker, roasty malt up front without a lot of sweetness. A bit ashy. Hops come in a bit piney, and earthy. Well balanced. Finishes dry.

Medium body, good carbonation. Alcohol is well hidden. Pretty nice, even though it is not my favorite style.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2011 20:55:43 | More by Bierguy5

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours black with very little head. What there is is white and settles to a thin ring. Smells earthy and citrusy with some pine and firm malt. Very dry, but also very little roastiness. That's fine by me, I'd rather this be a black ale than a mischaracterised porter. The taste is very, very dry- almost none of the malt shows through. Very attenuated, with almost beefy flavors, and a bitterness that approaches that of an Amaro. Pine and earth notes, along with some gentian tastes here. Very dry in the mouth, almost austere. An interesting beer, and a bit different than others I've had in the style. Wouldn't be confused with a porter, but also not with a juicy IPA. Nice.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2011 15:55:52 | More by Georgiabeer

rfgetz

New Jersey

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

Pours a chalky, dark charcoal black with moderate cap of grayish head, light rings of sticky lacing. Scent is a blend of piney and grapefruity hops backed by a light roast and char grain profile. Taste more focused than scent as a lot of fruit and pine comes through, bitter hops and bitter roast work nicely. Light sweetness and faint hints of chocolate, minerals and burnt grain. Medium bodied, dry on palate. A decent black IPA with a touch more roast and char and lacking some sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2011 18:22:32 | More by rfgetz

PicoPapa

Connecticut

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

On tap. Pours a deep black color with an inch of tan frothy head. Good amount of lacing. Aroma is of chocolate and pine. Taste is a nice big flavor of dark chocolate. Some pine as well, but the chocolate dominates. Nice amount of bitterness. Coffee/espresso finish. Overall it's a solid black ipa and worth having again. More chocolate taste than hops, but it works well.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2011 20:55:59 | More by PicoPapa

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

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

Had on tap in Portland, ME at the Blue Monk back in Mid March.

A: A black look with brownish highlights on the glass. Small ring of tan head pretty good lacing.

S: A bitter dark malt aroma in front with some sweeter tinged juicy hops behind that mostly in what I'd call a grassy category. Some chocolate overall too.

T: Roasted malt mixed with serious grassy hops. Nice full flavor with both tastes of a porter like roastiness with a down the middle IPA, very nicely balanced in terms of flavor but extreme on bitters and burn.

M: Super bitter back, balanced roasted feel. Nice stuff.

O:Strikingly bitter after a while, but good nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2011 19:39:31 | More by Dreadnaught33

CaptainAM

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Tommy Doyles. Big foamy head, tan, lace was nice. The smell floored me. Grapefruit assault. Pine. Hops in abundance. Also peat, smoke or roast?, dark chocolate. Complex. The taste was similar but more bitter than expected. Really bitter, with a long after taste that I liked. Agressive stuff. Enjoyed this one. Reccomend.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2011 21:20:33 | More by CaptainAM

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Good hoppy black beer. Good hops, Amarillo gives it orange taste, its a little strange with the malted chocolate malts, drinkable but not as integrated as you would think. Dark black, a little retained head.Nutty, altogether good beer not not outstanding as the 1.5 Hoppy aromas.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2011 00:13:50 | More by northyorksammy

BeerLover99

New Jersey

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

A: deep brown, cardinal shimmer/hue, 1 finger head, terrific lacing

S: roasted nut, bitter chocolate, piney/grass

T: sweet malt, firm middle, slow roasted bitter finish

M: med body, big carbonation, mild tongue prick

O: Interesting, still can't decide if I like this style. It's like could have one, not craving a 6 pack It's like an IPA + Dry Irish Stout got in a car wreck.

Give it a go!

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2011 18:41:40 | More by BeerLover99

sk8man121

Maine

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Great Lost Bear in Portland, ME.

A: Pours engine oil black with brown highlights. Nice fluffy tan head settles down quickly but reappears when roused. Attractive brew.

S: Grapefruit, smoke and a hint of chocolate in the nose. This literally smells "creamy;" I like that.

T: VERY bitter hops up front, mellowing in the finish. Dark malts are thankfully evident; this doesn't just taste like an IPA with a mask. Rich and bold palette-wrecker.

M: Incredible mouthfeel. Strong carbonation quickly turns smooth and creamy, making this a joy to put back.

D: I just looked at the ABV (7%); came into this thinking it was 9% and was going to say it hides it well. Even so, Hoppy Feet is quite rich. I had a 22oz glass and wouldn't want another. That said, this is a really good beer, and exactly what I want out of an "American Black Ale."

Worth repeat visits.

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2011 22:09:35 | More by sk8man121

BeerMePlze

Illinois

4.83/5  rDev +23.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: pours oil black, but not very viscous. Nice amount of tan head

S: I get both the hops and the roasted malt equally, very well balanced.

T: Amazing!! apparently I need to drink more black IPAs if this is what the style can taste like. Along with the smell, the balance of almost charcoal malts with the west coast IPA style bitterness creates one of the most amazing flavors i've ever experienced.

M: Coats the mouth fully with the bitterness of the hops, but the malts put out the fire perfectly.

D: I could drink this all day (until I pass out!) This is such a delight!

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2011 22:25:19 | More by BeerMePlze

TK5150

Maine

2.95/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

On draft at the GLB

A- Dark brown with some ruby/light brown highlights. Small beige head consisting of small bubbles.

S- Dark malts with hints of piney american hops.

T- Dry cocoa powder and the bitterness from piney hops and roasted malts. The bitterness becomes the major taste of the beer as I continue to finish off the glass. I really enjoy dark hoppy beers, and this was majorly disappointing. Not much hop flavor, nor much complexity.

M- Medium bodied and low carbonation. If this had higher carbonation I probably would not have finished the beer, so in this case it helped.

D- Not conducive to drinking another glass. Liked it less and less as I drank. Will not get again.

I have only had two beers from Clown Shoes, this and Brown Angel. Brown Angel was very nice, this was not.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2011 19:25:14 | More by TK5150

bishopdc0

Maine

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer is very similar to stones sublimely self righteous

The look is dark brown with a thick thick tan head

The aroma sweet to start it is hops that speak the loudest. Citrus and spicy hops love it

The beer starts with a sweet malt it quickly becomes light in the tongue but hops take over, spicy and citrus pair to a dry slight roasted finish leaving a big bitter on the tongue

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2011 16:04:23 | More by bishopdc0

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clown Shoes Black IPA pours an oily black color into the glass. A small off white head forms on top and dissolves quickly to a foamy ring around the beer. A few spots of lace remain behind.

The aroma is hoppy with pine essence and notes of chocolate and dark malts mixed in.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer is very smooth and silky on the palate. Light to medium carbonation.

The flavor is a well balanced combination of piney hops and sweet malt notes of chocolate, roasted malt and toffee. It finishes slightly bitter and once gone the pine and toffee flavor lingers on the palate.

This is a very tasty, well balanced beer that's easy to drink. It may be my standard for black IPA's.

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2010 01:18:34 | More by WanderingFool