Wookey Jack & Hop 15

We went to Parry’s the other day for dinner and I tried a couple of new beers. I am a “fan” of Firestone Walker and I had not tried Wookey Jack (8.5% ABV and 60 IBU) that is an unfiltered Black Rye IPA. I also tried Port Brewing’s Hop 15 (9.7% ABV and ?? IBU) that is a Double IPA. So, two beers with the IPA as the base or foundational style and I liked Wookey Jack the best. I thought Wookey Jack was very well-balanced and I liked the combination of Citra and Amarillo hops. I have used both these in home brews and they add great aroma and flavor to the beer. Hop 15 was a good beer and really focused on the hop bitterness, Wookey Jack was just preferable to my palate. I would have either of these again. 

Wookey Jack website description  – “Wookey Jack is our first foray into the dark outer world of black IPAs. Rich dark malts and spicy rye careen into bold citrus laden hops creating a new dimension in IPA flavor. This brew has been left unfiltered and unfined to retain all of its texture and character. At 60 IBUs, Wookey Jack is gnarly on the outside yet complex and refined on the inside.” 

Hop 15  website description – “Welcome to San Diego- Home to Hop Heads on every corner and THE best place in the world to live if you enjoy Humulus Lupulus and the smell of a well hopped beer. This is Southern California, it’s the place where Blind Pig started the Imperial IPA revolution and San Diego Brewers have continued to be at the forefront of its evolution. Today, fans of Double IPA come from every corner of the globe in search of many of the world’s best and most incredibly well hopped beers. It’s no secret that you can find many of them at Port Brewing as well. Like you, we love these beers and mostly we enjoy the happiness they bring us. First brewed in 2002 to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Pizza Port in Solana Beach, Hop 15 was imagined and designed by Tomme Arthur and Jeff Bagby as a celebration of 15 years of “Good Beer Brings Good Cheer.” Hop 15 has 15 different hop varieties added to the beer every 15 minutes. Over the years, Hop 15 has racked up numerous accolades. It has won two silver medals at the Great American Beer Festival. It also was named Alpha King in 2004 and 2008, and received a first place award at the Bistro Double IPA beer festival in Hayward, CA. Hop 15 remains won of the stickiest most resinous beers we have ever tasted and for that, we are thankful it is on tap at our brewery each and every day.”

Firestone Walker - http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/wookey-jack-April-2012-
Port Brewing - http://www.portbrewing.com/our-beers/hop-15/ 

Parry’s Pizzeria and Bar - http://www.parryspizza.com/parrysbar/