"Contortionist. We hope you enjoy this dark, hoppy beer. As you experience the earthy and floral hops that give way to a roasted malt profile, The Contortionist will bend your perception of what a Black IPA can be."
Happy 4th of July everyone! As we celebrate another year of our original independence, or as my brother-in-law would say, the "First Brexit", I figured I'd take the time to catch up on my blog and add at least a half dozen posts today. To start off, I decided to grab the empty beer bottles and notes I keep on my shelves and start with those. The first empty beer bottle happened to be the Hi-Wire Contortionist Black IPA.
The beer was poured into a snifter glass. It has a near black color in appearance with a half-finger of tan colored head. Average retention with a small ring of lacing. Aromas of charred malt, earth, pine, and some fruity esters.
The roasted malts are front and center, followed by the bitter finish of earth and pine. The bitter lingers for quite a while. Light to medium bodied with average carbonation. 6.0% ABV and unfiltered.
This particular beer did not resonate with me. I've had "Black IPAs" before and I've found them to be tasty, but this particular brew seemed to be in conflict and just didn't mesh together well.
Grade: C-
Price Paid: $2.69 (12 oz bottle)
