Nigel - Tired Hands Brewing Company

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.38/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

1L growler, filled 2/1/13
5oz mini tasting snifter

A: Pours out a really deep dark brown color. Nicely carbonated, and I got a nice layer of tight bubbled light tan head atop the glass. It leaves some sticky lacing bits.

S: The nose on this screams hoppy IPA, which is awesome. Although sometimes it's nice to have some of that roast ala a porter, this is a true black (in color) IPA on the nose. Lots of pine for sure, and some hints of citrus underneath it. Some mild roast from the grains.

T: Taste follows the nose, this is a delicious brew. Nice pine hop bitterness on the front of the tongue. The malts dance in around the mid-palate to balance it out. There is some of that dark malt roast/coffee/chocolate character, but primarily it feels like a traditional lighter grain bill here. Dry close with lingering hop bitterness sticking around.

M: Medium bodied. Easy to drink.

Serving type: growler

02-04-2013 18:36:27 | More by inlimbo77

Greenplastic615

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

06-05-2013 14:33:51 | More by Greenplastic615

kspongeworthy

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-24-2013 14:37:10 | More by kspongeworthy

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -12%

05-06-2013 13:19:59 | More by Jason1337

THECPJ

Delaware

3.5/5  rDev -17.8%

03-12-2013 19:27:10 | More by THECPJ

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -12%

03-01-2013 13:50:37 | More by ShanePB

oline73

Maryland

4.4/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I had this on-tap at the brewpub. Pours a very dark brown color with a layer of creamy off white head. The smell is full of citrus peel hops with some roast chiming in as well. The taste is more of the same. Citrus peel hops along with roasted malt. There is a nice level of sweetness in the finish. The carbonation is fluffy and smooth and the finish is dry.

This is one of the better black IPAs I've ever had. Very well done.

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2013 00:54:47 | More by oline73

mikem0487

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

02-05-2013 22:15:35 | More by mikem0487

morganmcd

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +17.4%

02-04-2013 15:44:29 | More by morganmcd

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.1%

01-31-2013 23:00:23 | More by callmemickey

brentk56

North Carolina

4.39/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Arrives with a creamy head capping the dark brown liquid; squiggles of lace are left behind

Smell: A bit of a toasty aspect but that is just a backdrop for the grapefruity hops

Taste: Just a bit of toasty brown bread, up front, and then the grapefruity hops kick in; a dry finish that just contains a hint of the malt with the hop flavors lingering into the aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Unlike a lot of ABAs, this beer doesn't have the need to make a malt statement that battles the hops; another nicely attenuated beer from Tired Hands that is full of subtlety and balance

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2013 03:31:33 | More by brentk56

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

01-29-2013 16:40:45 | More by Retail1LO

phishphorce

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

01-29-2013 01:49:50 | More by phishphorce

drabmuh

Maryland

4.35/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

One of the best Black IPAs I've ever had. Served in a Tired Hands glass. At the time of this review, this is #10 on the "Top Beers - American Black Ale" list on beeradvocate.com. This beer is a great cascade bomb, I love cascade so this was a winner to me

Beer is black with a tan head of small bubbles, some lacing, moderate head, some retention.

Aroma is all hops, mild malt, no roast.

Beer is medium to light in body, nice cascade on the midpalate, nice bitterness from the hops on the finish and some bittering from mild roast. It plays well together and I would have this again for sure. One of my favorites from this place thus far.

Serving type: growler

01-28-2013 18:24:42 | More by drabmuh

meatyard

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

01-25-2013 03:03:09 | More by meatyard

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured out as a deep brown color, not quite as dark as I was expecting it to be. The head was a light brown color. The retention and lacing were pretty good on this beer. The smell of the beer gave off a pungent aroma of citrusy hops and some roasted malts. The taste of the beer is nicely balanced with the hops and the roasted malts coming together. The mouthfeel is sharp, it's crisp and leaves a prickly feeling on the tounge. Overall it's a pretty sold Black IPA and I could see myself ordering it again in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2013 18:39:53 | More by Knapp85

comfortablynirm

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

01-21-2013 15:45:05 | More by comfortablynirm

MusicaleMike

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from growler into a large snifter.

Nigel pours black with dark brown highlights when held to light. Pale, sudsy tan head was about two fingers worth and is doing a great job sticking all over the glass. The head drops to a thin lacing on top after a minute or two.

The hop aroma on this beer is super fresh. Clearly dominated by piney, resinous hops that smell spicy, earthy and citrusy all at the same time. Notes of honeydew, pine, floral bouquet, spiced tea and chicory.

On the first sip, the bitterness gently takes a bite towards the swallow....nothing up front. There is a spiciness to the hop profile, reminiscent of HopDevil a little. Piney hops lead the way, followed by an aftertaste of toasted malts. The bitterness is not very intense at all (maybe like 60 IBUs?) but it certainly is lingering, and tastes like straight pine needles when you burp. I am enjoying the lack of acridness from heavy dosing of black malt. Tired Hands seemed to go easy on the malt bill to let the hops shine, but also didn't shoot to kill your tastebuds, allowing the hops to just taste fresh and allow a subtler bitterness to dominate.

This Black IPA is medium-bodied, with a semi-dry finish. Very smooth beer, with active carbonation and a lively mouthfeel. Not over the top, but certainly just right for the style.

This may be my favorite beer in this style so far! Most of the time, it feels like the dark malts and hops are battling it out for domination, and this one drinks much more easily and feels like both are toned down for the sake of creating a cohesive dark IPA. Really well done and one of my favorites from Tired Hands so far!

Serving type: growler

01-20-2013 21:57:25 | More by MusicaleMike

Tom_Gilman

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

01-19-2013 17:05:52 | More by Tom_Gilman

tsblack05

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

01-19-2013 03:55:05 | More by tsblack05

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.75/5  rDev +11.5%

01-18-2013 02:04:23 | More by yourefragile

nmann08

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

01-17-2013 02:27:08 | More by nmann08

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on tap at the brewpub

Clouded deep opaque black color with a two-finger tanned head resting on top. Fades out slowly, leaving patchy, spotty lacing littered around the glass.

Piny hoppiness in the nose with a few citrus notes. Dark malts with warmer roasted tones, a dash of cocoa and chocolate. Soft alcohol warmth.

Formidable bitterness up front, pine hops with a touch of resin. Notes of citrus peel and light sweetness resting on the thicker dark malt backbone. Roasted tones, chocolate and cocoa lurk underneath. Finishes with pine hop bitterness and a kiss of alcohol.

Medium body, well carbonated, dry and sticky on the tongue. Quality hop-forward ale for the season, although this wasn't quite as memorable as some of their other recent brews (attn Light That Spills...)

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2013 14:08:35 | More by xnicknj

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

01-16-2013 13:51:34 | More by Thorpe429

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.19/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On-tap at the brewpub

A dark brown, almost black pour with a tight, creamy off-white cap. Some good retention as it never truly faded, settling to a thin layer of foam with some spotty lace.

Piney hops with some mild citrus over top. Lightly roasted malt with a bit of cocoa powder laying low. Nicely hopped, vibrant aroma.

Nigel slides onto the palate. Piney hops greet you first. Resiny notes. Mild roast and cocoa powder through the middle. The finish is a moderate bitterness of pine resin and mild grapefruit.

Medium bodied and smooth. A tad below creamy. Dry finish, with a bit of resiny stickiness left behind.

A damn fine dark IPA. Solid hop presence with malt bill that isn't too roasty and stays out of the way.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2013 22:45:52 | More by ColForbinBC