Review: Moab Desert Select Ale

Moab Desert Select Ale
8.59% ABV

Moab Brewery, Moab, UT

32.8 oz ceramic swing top bottle
Served in Duvel tulip glass
No date on bottle
Reviewed on 3/28/13

This black imperial IPA pours a fairly dark color with a thick and frothy light beige head that has quite good retention.

Smell consists of hops, malt, some citrus, spice, floral, herbal, pepper, some chocolate, rye, some bread.

Taste consists of hops, malt, coffee, chocolate, rye, bread, pepper, floral and herbal notes, slight soy sauce.

Mouthfeel as some good dryness and bitterness right at the front.  Fairly smooth and even on the palate.

Overall, this is a nice tasting black imperial IPA that has a nice flavorful profile that has shades of Heavy Seas Black Cannon and even Firestone Walker Wookey Jack. Fairly hoppy, malty with chocolate and coffee flavors, and distinctive rye and floral/herbal notes.  A nice find at Shab Row Bistro in Frederick, Maryland.  A huge bottle and somewhat pricey, but from a brewery that I haven't seen available elsewhere (so I couldn't pass it up).  The reviews online are so-so (what review there are--it's pretty much unreviewed), but I found it to be quite nice.

My score: 90

Review: Firestone Walker Wookey Jack

Firestone Walker Wookey Jack
ABV: 8.3%
Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA
22 oz bottle
Served in Dogfish Head Signature Glass
Reviewed on 10/5/12 

This black ale--identified as a black rye IPA on the bottle--pours a fairly solid brown with a beige-to-cream colored head that keeps some form.  Good lacing.  Mild carbonation evident.

On the nose, aromas of hops, pepper, floral, bread, malt, rye, caramel, and spices come through.

On taste, malt, hops, floral notes, chocolate, rye, coffee, caramel, spice, and slight ginger are detected.  It has a varied mix of pleasing flavors, making it an interesting take on an IPA.

Mouthfeel is smooth, earthy, dry.  Great balance of flavors.  Good bit of bitterness.  Nice movement of tastes across the palate.  

Overall, this is a great tasting, black rye IPA with a distinct and flavorful profile.  Nice touches of dryness and bitterness.  The tastes are quite bold on the palate.  Another superior offering from Firestone Walker. 

My score: 96