Berkshire Good Night Irene
Berkshire Brewing Company

Berkshire Good Night IreneBerkshire Good Night Irene
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From:
Berkshire Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
7%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.63 | pDev: 14.05%
Reviews:
13
Ratings:
26
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 05, 2013
Added:
Dec 28, 2011
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  1
On August 29th 2011, one of the most powerful Hurricanes to hit the US since 1980 rolled over New England and caused devastation and destruction that most people had never experienced. That experience pulled many people together to help with the recovery. Berkshire Brewing Company and their distributors in Vermont and New Hampshire are also pulling together with the long recovery effort. $15.00 from every case of "Good Night Irene" will benefit the local organizations which are assisting the recovery effort. This special India Pale Ale has the assertive bitterness of a hurricane and the subtle malty sweetness of recovery. We hope you enjoy this as much as we enjoy you.

55 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.75 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Jun 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by BeerCosmonaut from Vermont

Jan 05, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by davewlfpckfan29 from Massachusetts

May 17, 2012
Photo of bum732
Reviewed by bum732 from Lesotho

2.64/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2
S: Orange, maltiness, BBC yeastiness common in their beers, english yeast esters.

L: Slightly hazy burnt orange, dusty white head that dissipates.

T: Rich maltiness with a slightly estery and orange hoppiness. Some candy sweetness with residual candy hops. Finishes semi-sweet with a touch of hoppiness. Prominent bitterness throughout without being that hoppy.

M: Medium bodied, medium carbonation.

Pretty mediocre, almost tasted old.
Apr 23, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by smi from New York

Apr 14, 2012
Photo of russwbeck
Reviewed by russwbeck from Virginia

2.85/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Picked this up a few weeks ago in Vermont. I'm a bit worried about how old this might be, the it supports a good cause so it is what it is.

A: Hazy brown pour with a nice couple fingers of thicker than average white head. A really nice amount of sticky lacing reminds you where the top of the beer used to be, and a decent number of bubbles race to the top.

S: The aroma is really malty, almost like a caramel candy with a lot of residual hop bitterness. I have to say it really isn't pleasant, and certainly doesn't have the aggressively citrus hop aroma I'd expect from a "West Coast IPA".

T: I was ready to hate the taste, but it isn't awful. This is certainly FAR past its prime, which I guess is what I get for buying this in rural Vermont. Big caramel body, but a good amount of fruity citrus curbs it really nicely. The taste seems a bit disjointed and oddly a bit boozy, which I wasn't expecting. Odd, but not unpleasant.

MF: The finish is clean, but the body is a bit heavy and the carbonation is fine. I'm having trouble assessing the drinkability, but 22oz is far too much so I'm going to say not that great. Just too far passed its prime.

O: If you have this, drink it or get rid of it. It's not getting any better.
Apr 03, 2012
Photo of CliffBrake
Reviewed by CliffBrake from New Hampshire

3.96/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Fairly bright amber orange color with off-white head, good retention and lacing.

Nice caramel and biscuit nose, but the hops are hiding?? Flavor is very balanced between orange/citrusy and earthy hops with a biscuit malt background. Flavors are well integrated, with a dry pleasant bitter finish.

Creamy and juicy medium body with appropriate carbonation.

I suppose the citrus makes this an American IPA? To me, the earthy hops and balance with a dry biscuit malt and good overall integration make it seem more like an English IPA. But what do I know? And is the style really that important? This is a very tasty beer and a pleasant surprise. I think I like it more than if it had been a standard west-coast style. Recommended!
Apr 03, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by Cascade77 from Vermont

Mar 28, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by Joev_84 from Connecticut

Mar 26, 2012
Photo of HuskyinPDX
Reviewed by HuskyinPDX from Washington

3.67/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Irene is my wife's name, so I posted an ISO, and CliffBrake was cool enough to help me out.

We split it on 3-20-12.

A - Pours a dark, clear orange with a small, almost white head with great retention.

S - Very citrusy, mostly oranges and nectarines.

T - Similar to the smell, citrusy with a pine-like finish. Some very slight carmel matls as well.

D - Good carbonation, medium body, smooth.

O - Irene! Nice balanced body and flavors. Not quite as good as the wife's.
Mar 24, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by slangtruth from Kentucky

Mar 21, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by alamode from Massachusetts

Mar 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by grahambo from New York

Mar 05, 2012
Photo of threeviews
Reviewed by threeviews from Florida

3.35/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 22oz bottle (no "bottled on" or "best by" date, but I think it was bottled sometime in Dec, 11 / Jan 12) into a Libbey 13.25oz tulip.

A- Due to the hefty amount of yeast, it pours a very hazy, deep orange with an 1-2 finger frothy, off-white head possessing moderate retention. The presence of the yeast detracts from the appearance, but is welcome as it makes for rousing a head quite easy.

S- A fresh head emits citrus, floral and pine notes. However, biscut, pine and some grassiness dominates the nose as the head subsides.

T- Surprisingly complex. An immediate sweet, biscuty malt (I would guess Maris Otter) subsides to a pleasant citrus bitterness which then gives way to a piney/tacky finish. Nicely done and very drinkable.

M- The complexity of flavors and supportive carbonation makes for a very nice IPA. Classified as "West Coast" due to the pine-forward qualities in the taste and aroma.

O- I usually purchase in "two's" and am glad I did for Good Night Irene. My first sampling was not that enjoyable. However, the second bottle (from which I am composing this review) is a completely new experience and am really surprised with the results. A solid IPA for this beer, the cause and a tertiary reason: the price (under $4 bottle @ 7% ABV up in VT ). If you can get it, check it out as it won't be around (or fresh) much longer.
Feb 29, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by mctizzz from California

Feb 28, 2012
Photo of Nordicsk8er
Reviewed by Nordicsk8er from Massachusetts

3.41/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This hazy dark orange ale had very little aroma to speak of - just a hint of citrus and bread. The flavor was more pronounced than the smell. This reminded me of a BBC Steel Rail with some extra hops. It was not reminiscent of any "west coast" IPA I've had, in spite of BBC's description. The hop flavors were more fruity - citrus and tropical - than floral. The dominant theme on the palate was malt, like many other BBC offerings, with most of the hop action coming in at the end and some bitterness to finish - but not much. There was a lot of clumpy lacing left behind. This was a fine if unremarkable beer brewed for a good cause. It's worth a try. Don't expect, however, a big time hop experience.
Feb 19, 2012
Photo of Brad007
Reviewed by Brad007 from Vermont

4.11/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a beautiful but cloudy amber gold color into my glass. Long Trail also made an ale named after Irene.

The aroma isn't as prominent on my nose but it could be other things. What I do get is a good dose of grapefruit.

Sweet, hop nectar is the only way I can describe this. There's a good dose of biscuity malt as well. It absolutely is an interpretation of the west coast IPA.

Lingering grapefruit and biscuit malt. Slightly acidic.

I'm a lupulin loompa and I approve of this.
Feb 17, 2012
 
Rated: 3.25 by Ray7233 from Connecticut

Feb 10, 2012
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Reviewed by sentomaster from Connecticut

3.55/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A- golden brown with a pillowy three finger head.

S- leafy grassy, and piney with blood orange citrus. A touch of grapefruit. The nose is subtle on the hops, becoming more pronounced and tropical as it warms.

Strong malt backbone is more than moat will prefer in their IPA, I'm sure. Pale toasted cracker and caramel provide a hefty base. Leafy, herbal, earthy hops ride into a wave of citrus and pine with a bit of pink grapefruit in tow. We're talking a small New England wave though. This might say west coast IPA, and it is, but its with an east coast moderation. Creamy and medium full body. Caramel comes back around to finish with juicy pineapple, pine and grapefruit.

O- very solid if not a raging standout
Feb 07, 2012
Photo of davey101
Reviewed by davey101 from Connecticut

3.58/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
22 oz bomber into a nonic pint glass. Picked this up at Table & Vine. Roughly a month old.

A - Dark amber with a light khaki 2 finger head that dies quickly.

S - Like Lost Sailor, it is very heavy on the malts. Caramel, toffee, biscuits, and some light piney hops.

T - Same as the nose. Starts off with biscuits and caramel and ends with lightly bitter pine notes. Nice carbonation and slick mouth feel. Drinkability is quite high.

O - I don't understand why BBC calls it a "West Coast Style IPA" when its so malt heavy and light on the hops. Its just a bit hoppier than lost sailor, but not enough to really stand out as a superior beer. It is easy drinking though, and supports a great cause. Its also quite limited and a one off beer, definitely worth a try!
Feb 04, 2012
Berkshire Good Night Irene from Berkshire Brewing Company
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 26 ratings