Word just trickled down that another variety on the Black IPA / Cascadian Dark Ale is making its way to draught and bottles throughout the Northwest.

Its name is Wookey Jack and it’s a new release that is best described as “gnarly on the outside, yet refined on the inside.”

Described as a Black Rye IPA, Wookey Jack is another spin on the Black IPA style of beers. Brewed with Malted Rye and a hint of Cara Rye, it inspires a spicy interpretation of this dark beer. To drive home that your drinking an IPA in charred form, the brewery double dry-hopped the beer with Citra and Amarillo hops.

According to Brynildson, the vision behind Wookey Jack was to push the Black IPA style in a fresh direction. “We wanted it to be intensely flavored and hoppy, but also balanced and complex,” he said. “The rye malt makes it interesting, bringing everything together with a rustic edge.

He added, Wookey Jack is black in color, but if you close your eyes and taste it, you’ll say it’s a true IPA. The roasted character is about as light as you can get in a beer this dark.

And the name? No one can really say for sure where that came from. Some say it was born of inspiration from Matt’s favorite band Phish. While others such as co-owner David Walker believes it related to a spot in Great Britain called Wookey Hole.

Wherever the name came from, it fits Brynildson said. This is a beer that tastes like its name

Beer Geek Specifications

Wookey Jack Stats: ABV: 8.5%   IBU: 60   Brewing: 100% Stainless Steel

Hops: German Magnum (bittering) Citra & Amarillo (flavor and aroma), Citra & Amarillo (double dry hopped)

Malts: Pale Malt, Malted Rye, Dash of Cara Rye, Midnight Wheat from Briess, De-Bittered Black Malt (sourced from Weyermann, Germany and Patagonia Malting, Chile), Dash of Wookey Dust

As always, if you don’t see this on the shelves or on draft, near you, ask your grocer / server to buy some.

Cheers

About Firestone Walker

Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a regional brewery founded in 1996 and located in the Paso Robles wine country on California’s Central Coast. Firestone Walker Brewing Company is driven to produce the world’s finest pale ales. Firestone Walker Brewing Company has been awarded Mid-Sized Brewery of The Year honors at the 2003, 2007 and 2011 Great American Beer Festivals as well as Champion Mid-Sized Brewery at the 2004, 2006 and 2010 World Beer Cup competitions.