Venn Black Beer Baron Black IPA

Venn Black Beer Baron Black IPA. Limited Release. Benefit for Diversity in Brewing Scholarship. 

6 % ABV, 40 IBU.  Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

Question for no one in particular: Did I purchase this growler at the brewery several weeks ago in order to support it's cause, or to continue to indulge what just might be another Simpsons reference? 

Thorough blackness, complete opacity, large, lush brown head above. 

In the nose: Dark malt flavors, some cocoa and coffee, slightly nutty and sweet. Oncoming grassy hoppiness. Hey, who put grass clippings in my cocoa mug? 

In the mouth: Hops are more pronounced once they pounce on the palate. Slick, sweet malty flavors kept in check by a nice blast of grassy, citrusy hops. Bitterness is fairly moderate, body is medium, drinkability good. I like this. Just enough hops, just enough black malt to make it all come together. 

Beyond the draw of the charity and the Simpsons reference, there's also the fact that no one is making a Black IPA anymore, and you've got to grab them up any chance you can get. 

We teamed up with Chicago's Black Beer Baron, Jay Westbrook, to brew a beer that draws attention to the lack of diversity in craft beer. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the MN Brewers Guild's "Diversity in Brewing" Scholarship.

Malts: Maris Otter

Hops: Warrior, Amarillo, Willamette, Simcoe

Yeast: American Ale

And: Sinamar