Hoppy Feet - Clown Shoes

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

muletrane

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled 2/12

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a CBS snifter.

A: Pours a deep black colour with no light shining through. One finger of frothy light tan head. Decent retention and lacing.

S: Lots of floral notes dominate. Some roastiness in there as well and a touch of sweet smelling chocolate.

T: Unlike the nose, the roasty malts dominate the palate. Floral and bitter hop notes come through in the finish. Lingering bitterness.

M: Moderate body and carbonation. Mouthfeel is slightly watery once it goes down.

Solid offering from Clown Shoes. Not their best but solid. I prefer the Hoppy Feet 1.5 over this one. 1.5 has more of a hop presence and is not as roasty dominate like this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 14:00:40 | More by muletrane

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Cheers to Riggsy for this one! Bottled 2/12, nice & fresh!

Pours garnet/chestnut with 2+ fingers of tan head. Mind blowning lacing

S: Pineyness, roasty malt & carob

T: Follows the nose, a touch of grapefruit & tanins, & charred grain up front. More charred grain, pineyness, a touch of baker's chocolate, just bit of plummyness hiding underneath as this warms. Finishes roasty, dry, woody, a bit of Girl Scout Thin Mint with a touch of orange rind, much bitterness

MF: Medium bodied with fairly firm carbonation, nice balance but skews a tad too bitter for me

Drinks fairly easy, not the best black ale out there, but worth your consideration

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 05:36:33 | More by russpowell

Dope

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A very dark brown pour with a big dense milk chocolate head. Retention is extremely strong, there is an island of foam that never disappears. Huge, thick wall of lacing across the entire glass.

S: Very floral with lots of pine. Touch of grapefruit. Some roasted malt and chocolate hiding behind it.

T: Lots of nice roasted malt and chocolate but quickly overpowered by lots of pine and to a lesser extent grapefruit. These bitter hoppy flavors linger in the aftertaste nicely with just a touch of that roasted malt left behind. Surprisingly hoppy since I think this bottle is about a year old. I find that black IPAs hold up quite well though.

M: Mid-range, prickly hop bitterness.

O: Very nice black IPA. Roasted malt and chocolate blends nicely with the bitter grapefruit and pine flavors. If anything the roasted malt gets drowned out a bit, like a more typical IPA/DIPA might.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 05:13:54 | More by Dope

evilkalla

Alabama

3.95/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving: Bottle into an ale glass.

A: Fairly black with a LOT of head on it. Three inches at least. Had to stop pouring because of the amount of head on it. Lots of carbonation still evident.

S: Very piney hops, almost juniper like. Nice.

T: Dark and malty, hints of espresso and chocolate, with a fairly solid, bitter hop backbone. Very nice.

M: Very smooth, bitterness clings to the tongue and the back of the mouth really well.

O: This is a pretty good black IPA. Though this batch is over carbonated I would recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 01:48:58 | More by evilkalla

output01x

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz. capped bottle (Bottled 2/2012) into a pint glass.

A strong pour yields a 1-finger tan-colored head that slowly fades after a few minutes to a thin, clumpy dusting and thick foam ring. The body is a clear near-black with traces of ruby when held to light. Great lacing can be seen clinging to nearly every available surface in spiderweb-like curtains.

Strong aromas of pine and dark, roasted malts strike the nostrils with force. Notes of roasted coffee beans, dark chocolate, and pumpernickel bread are matched equally by the strong pine aroma.

Flavors of melted dark chocolate, cream coffee. Swallowing the beer releases a torrent of pine and citrus hops flavors that quickly overtake the entire tongue. A smooth dark coffee flavor soon comes in to combine with the hops flavors. These flavors slowly fade to a piney bitter and dry coffee aftertaste.

The body is nice and full (for the style) which really allows the dark malt flavors to hit the tastebuds. The carbonation doesn't really present itself while the beer is in the mouth but does a great job of creating a smooth swallow.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 03:52:33 | More by output01x

KomodoDragon

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - an abundant caramel head with great lacing welcomed this black ale with mahogany highlights

S - burnt pine, sugar

T - Rich roasted flavors melded with hop flavors and a long finish with chocolate and some nuttiness. Light and only a hint of the 7% ABV.

M - Light, smooth and mild carbonation allows the flavors to take center stage.

Nicely balanced black IPA. Well crafted, easy to appreciate, easy to approach.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 04:36:35 | More by KomodoDragon

JizackFH

New York

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

A - This beer pours a really dark brown color. It has about two fingers of light tan head resting on top. The head has good retention, and it leave some scattered wispy lace behind on the glass. There is a bit of a reddish glow around the edges when held to the light.

S - The nose has a good amount of roasted malt and some piney hop aroma. There are some aromas of coffee, chocolate, caramel, and a somewhat medicinal smell.

T - The taste follows the nose pretty well. It starts off with some good roasted malt flavor. There is a nice piney hop flavor as well. There are also some flavors of coffee, chocolate, caramel, and some earthiness. The finish leaves some lingering roasted malt and earthy piney hop flavor behind on the palate.

M - This has a medium body and good carbonation. It goes down easy and has a nice smooth feel to it. There is a bit of an oily resin hop feel to it, as well as a nice hop bitterness.

O - This has good drinkability. It has good flavor, and I could easily have a few pints of it. Overall, I think this is a good beer and a nice example of the style. The roasted malts and hops meld quite well together. I recommend trying it out. I would drink it again. This is my first Clown Shoes beer, but I look forward to trying more.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 13:51:08 | More by JizackFH

Nerudamann

Arizona

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

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Look – jet black or very dark brown in color, with about two fingers’ worth of frothy tan-colored foam that dissipates slowly like a stout.

Smell – a somewhat phenolic kind of smell, like something medicinal, but also tinged with a slight chocolaty or roasted quality.

Taste – at the very first it seems somewhat milky and/or chocolaty, but then the roasted a biting flavors and feelings of the hops strike hold and don’t let up until well into the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel – pretty well-balanced, but leans a little more toward the watery side.

Overall – pretty interesting taste, although not terribly intriguing, but at the same time not at all dull.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 04:01:32 | More by Nerudamann

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

ehammond1

California

3.83/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle (2011)

Acquired via trade
Thanks, MrHirschybar!

Nearly black in color with a quickly forming, moderately sized brown head that leaves spots of lace down the glass. Very nice for the style.

The aroma is mostly of roasted and dark malt with a bit of floral hop character. Nicely aromatic, and appropriate for the style, though this leans further to the stout side of the spectrum than the IPA side.

The hops are nearly lost in the flavor with the roasted and dark malt characteristics dominating--good thing they're quite tasty. There's a lingering aftertaste of coffee that lingers on and on. Very nice, though certainly not complex.

Medium to full bodied with moderate to high carbonation. A true pleasure to drink.

A great beer, though I wish it had more hop character.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 22:26:42 | More by ehammond1

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a black color ale with a nice dark brown foamy head with good retention and light lacing. Aroma of light dry roasted malt notes with semi bitter hops profile. Taste is also a mix between some roasted malt notes with dry notes and some medium bitter hops flavours. Body is a bit light with good carbonation. Not bad though hops flavours could have been more upfront.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 19:53:41 | More by Phyl21ca

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

jsanford

Georgia

3.78/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a Pint Glass

A - Pours dark black with a creamy mocha-colored head that settles to a solid cap.
S - Pleasant aromas of grapefruit and pine resin hops with a roasty malt backbone of coffee and chocolate cake.
T - Similar to the nose, nicely balanced between the bitterness of the pine resin/grapefruit hops and the espresso/dark chocolate malt. Finish is long-lasting and bitter, and the 7% ABV is hidden nicely.
M - Smooth and quite creamy, with a touch-over-medium body and good carbonation.
O - Another great Black IPA from Clown Shoes (I had previously had the Hoppy Feet 1.5, which was also good).

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 23:37:44 | More by jsanford

cfergusn

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Nice head formation on glass, slightly dark, but can still be looked thru.

S: Malted roast with mocha and a hint of grapefruit I belive.

T: Slight bitter taste, but balanced out with espresso like start. I thought of a stout, but tapered off as I continued.

M: Defnately a creamy feel, some strong points, but not as overpowering or dull.

O: Decent beer from a brewery that has earned my respect. This is for those that would like to have a stout like beer, without the stoutness.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 20:42:19 | More by cfergusn

beeragent

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass from a 22oz bottle.

A - pours a dark brown, appearing black in the glass. Thick mocha head with heavy rings of lace on the glass.

S - mocha and roasted malts. Not as much hop presence in the nose as expected but still present.

T - roasted malts and espresso coat the palate. Hop bitterness in the finish Is strong but not as sharp as expected. Tastes more like a stout initially, then balances out to the more familiar black ale flavor profile. Hops become stronger as the beer warms, creating a more balanced flavor.

M - medium bodied with great carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel with a slight hop sharpness in the finish.

O - This beer is much better if allowed to warm a bit. Great flavor, body, and aroma. Well balanced. Recommended!

O -

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 02:44:24 | More by beeragent

SawDog505

New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a 13 oz tulip glass, dated 11/2011. Pours a slick black, with a huge 3 inch tan head that slowly settles into patch bubbles, lacing everywhere. Smell is chocolate, citrus, and pine. Taste is even more aggressive, hops and dark chocolate dominate the flavor. Body is big for the ABV, moderate carbonation, a little dry, and easy drinking. This is a great beer and one of the best examples of the style I have had.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 18:19:00 | More by SawDog505

BeerPhan86

New York

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

I've enjoyed everything I have had from Clown Shoes, and expect this one will be good too.

A - Pours a deep mahogany brown with about one finger of light brown head. Great retention on the head with sticky lacing.

S - Roasted coffee and dark chocolate with dry earthy hops. Some pine and citrus notes.

T - More hoppy than the nose leads on. Plenty of piney and earthy hops. The fruitiness of the Amarillo hops is sort of killed by the coffee and chocolate, I can't really pick them out. The malt and hops seem to battle for dominance but ultimately the malt wins. Not as hoppy and citrusy as I would have liked. Drinks more like a chocolate stout than an IPA but what's here is good.

M - Creamy with low carbonation.

O - Overall a nice hoppy dark beer, but not as many aspects of an IPA as you would expect. Tastes more like a chocolate stout to me but I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 02:01:35 | More by BeerPhan86

JayAre46

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

reviewed from notes. pours a deep black with a big tan head that shows great retention and lace down the glass. i love it already. strong roasted malt in the nose, burnt wood hoppy in the back. the taste has some fresh coffee beans roasted to the fullest, earthy spices and huge hop finish that leaves the dragon o hop breath. bitter in the end. creamy, lightly carbonated while flowing over the palate and has very sharp bite in the end. first offering i had from clown shoes and it did not disappoint. if only i could of looked into the future. good competition to stone's SSR.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 07:53:00 | More by JayAre46

Imsothirsty

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours very dark and opaque, leaves really nice lacing, rocky head settles quickly.

Nose is pine hops first, followed by some smoky roasted malt, pretty decent.

Taste: Malts come first this time, mostly just coffee notes, followed by some sharp hop notes again mostly pine, a little citrus, a quick bitter finish, no alcohol taste to speak of.

Mouthfeel: On par with a typical IPA, slightly lighter than I expected, carbonation was just right. Lacking a nice slick that would be found in an Imperial IPA.

Overall: Its a decent Cascade Dark so try it, but certainly not near the top in the style, lacks complexity, just not as flavorful as others.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 13:22:36 | More by Imsothirsty

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is very dark amber (near black) in color. It poured with a thin tan head that died down and left lacing on the surface and a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are aromas of citrus and pine resin hops and roasted malts in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of roasted malts and a moderate amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is some dryness in the finish.
O: This beer is very well balanced and has lots of hops but isn’t overly bitter.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 03:51:02 | More by metter98

GPHarris

Alabama

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

a - poured a two-fingers thick creamy tan head into a snifter that left great lacing through out; the beer billows nicely as well. the body was dark black.
s - muted piney hops, they smell sticky and resiny.
t - piney hops hit you in the front but bittersweet chocolate is coming through underneath. the tastes are very distinct but as it warms the beer begins to smooth out.
m - slightly thin with a hint of crispness.
o - solid black ipa, not on the level with others i've had such as southern tier or stone but good nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 16:25:12 | More by GPHarris

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

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

Consumed 1/8/12

Appearance: Dark brown - clear, lighter brown around the edges - a nice beige head that leaves nice lacing

Smell: Moderately burnt and roasted malts - far from charred - hoppy, with an interesting profile - pine, dry citrus, lots of rind, herbal - orange and grapefruit zest

Taste: A nice mix of burnt bitterness and hoppy bitterness - roasted malts, chocolate malts, some slight malt sweetness - hops are dry - herbal, orange and grapefruit rind, and dry pine - ultimately very dry and roasted

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body, could be a little smoother and heavier given the flavor profile,nicely carbonated, dry

Overall: Not the best, but definitely good

The fact that I had Hoppy Feet 1.5 before the original might have given me a weird perspective. I really think this could benefit from a little more body. I'm not in love with the hop profile, but it's good for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 07:22:59 | More by angrybabboon