Pretty much black, impenetrable, opaque, with a lush, creamy, light brown head.
In the nose: highly hoppy, mixed with malt. Mosaic berries dance with dark malts. Especially inviting.
In the mouth: brisk bitterness on the palate, with a clean, smooth mouthfeel. Goes down extra fine. Medium bodied, long, chocolatey finish. I’m digging this long time.
Mosaic Dry Hopped Black Pale Ale
Pipeworks Wongo Mongo IPA. With Citra, Galaxy & Mosaic hops.
7.3 % ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
Clear, bright golden hue, snowy white head.
In the nose: Citra dominates, it’s Citr-Ruffin, everything you want in an IPA. Bold fruit, bright bitterness.
In the mouth: hoppy and smooth, mild bitterness, bursting with fruity notes on the palate. Juicy citrus up front, ending on a dry note. Thoroughly delightful.
We brewed this Galaxy and Mosaic hopped easy sipper for a good pal. These suds are best shared with buds and pair well with throwing threes, unless the high hop aroma has you rolling cee-lo. Either way, here’s to a 456.
6.5% ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
Clear, bright golden hue, fresh ivory froth atop.
In the nose: zesty, fruity, popping with citrus. Orange and lemon, with a bit of berries.
In the mouth: coming in hoppy, but light on bitterness. Refreshing and flavorful. Goes down with remarkable ease. Light bodied. Overflowing with citrus and blueberries. Thoroughly satisfactory.
Infinite Lizard King is a captivating pale ale that combines the best of both worlds. This brew is a masterful blend of our two flagship beers, Infinite Citra and Lizard King. The Mosaic hops impart earthy, tropical fruit notes, while the Citra hops add a burst of citrusy freshness. This harmonious union results in a complex, yet balanced flavor profile that will leave you craving more. This one is a must-try for all of our Pipeworks fans out there!
6.5% ABV. Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, Illinois.
I was first sold on this one being a non-hazy IPA (on account of being sick of the hazies), and I was secondly sold on the label illustration. Show me a space tortoise and I am all in.
Ever so slightly hazed, bright golden hue, lasting layer of milky froth atop.
In the nose: arresting aromatics, chock full of citrus and pine.
In the mouth: brief bitter bite starts it off, with a little bit of juicy on the palate. Fruity flavors splash about. Hops aplenty here, running amok with ultimate autonomy. Vastly delicious. Medium bodied. Delightfully drinkable.
This is the sort of IPA that makes me love Pipeworks all over again.
Clear, bright golden hue, large and lasting snow white head.
In the nose: soft, floral, slightly citrusy. Nice.
In the mouth: more soft, more smooth. A bit of juicy, while still remaining dry. Not as fierce and bitter as regular. Plump with citrus, pine, a dose of tropical, without the deliciousness, punishing bitterness. Medium bodied, delightfully drinkable. Pales in comparison to the original, though. That’s progress, I guess.
Ninja vs Unicorn Double IPA but with Cryo hops. Do you feel that? It's a chill... It's a freeze... IT'S THE CRYO! The Ninja and The Unicorn have teamed up against their coolest mutual enemy... THE CRYO! Will the be able to overcome, or will they be iced out of a win...
"Cryo hops" more or less refers to a process of processing fresh hops that uses very cold temps which shatters the hops and hop oils resulting in an extremely fresh hop aroma. This beer is basically our Ninja vs Unicorn Double IPA but with a cryo hop twist! 8.0% ABV
Pipeworks Phantom Unicorn Barrel Aged Imperial Stout.
14.3 % ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
Well, I messed up with this one. I probably purchased this can, which sold for $5, a nice price these days, because I like barrel-aged imperial stouts. But, I didn't read the label, which tells us that it also includes lactose, vanilla, and cacao nibs. I tell you this, the lactose and vanilla trend has to die. Get it together, brewers, enough is enough. And get rid of marshmallow, too, while you're at it.
Solid blackness, complete opacity, big brown head that dies off immediately.
In the nose: Bigness and richness. Cocoa and char. Licorice and leather. Blackstrap molasses. All the bourbon barrel goodness.
In the mouth: Starts out heavy on the sweet stuff. Minor if any hop bitterness. Slick and slightly syrupy. Big boned and boozy. Dark fruit aplenty. Light spice. Eternal chocolate.
I don't really pick up on the lactose or vanilla. Were they necessary? Are brewers just becoming slave to habit, and adding that to everything?
Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
A curated blend pulled from bourbon barrels accented by cacao nibs, vanilla, and lactose
Pipeworks Hey, Careful, Man, There's A Beverage Here White Russian Imperial Stout.
9.6 % ABV. Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
This is a curiosity, for sure. It's nearly opaque, dark amber color, slim, but lasting off-white head. Nothing like I'd expect from an Imperial Stout, or even a White Russian. They meet somewhere in the middle. Technically, according to the label, it's an Imperial White Milk Stout with Coffee, Lactose, Vanilla and Cacao Nibs. I have no idea what color a White Milk Stout should be, but I wouldn't have guessed this one.
But, I had to try this, being a sucker for Lebowski references. (Also, Fargo references.)
In the nose: Vanilla first, and then, probably, lactose. The cream is here. Sweet, cocoa, cream. So far finding little that one would expect from a Russian Imperial Stout, but, then again, that's not exactly what this is, but what the hell is it?
In the mouth: Sweet and smooth, vanilla is king (why?). Cocoa and cream. None of anything that I associate with an Imperial Stout. They pulled a switcher, I think. Although...I am judging this against Russian Imperial Stout that I have known and loved, and yet this is a White Russian Imperial Stout, a thing that I have never heard of before, and no one else has either.
I don't know why they needed the vanilla. Is that an ingredient in a White Russian? No. Cream, Kahlua (coffee liquor), vodka. That's it. You don't even need the cacao nibs. Is that in Kahlua? I don't think so. What I think is, that I got hoodwinked. I paid $7 a can expecting something like an Imperial Stout, and I did not get it. It tastes neither like an Imperial Stout or a White Russian. I would express my opinion more strongly, but do you have to cuss so much, Dude?
This is definitely a weird beer, and maybe someone out there might like it, but it fails in so many aspects for me. Blech. I'll finish this, but I won't be happy.
White Russian Imperial Stout
Wayout West there's this beer... Dear I wanna tell ya' about. Beer by the name Hey, careful man, there is a beverage here. Beer inspired by a certain dudes favorite potable, this imperial white milk stout is brewed with vanilla beans, and abideable amount of cacao Nibs and coldpressed coffee that really tied the beer together, did it not? It is the perfect oat soda for those days when you're out of your element and all you can do is say "f it, Dude, let's go bowling."
Pipeworks Beyond Beyond Hazy Pale Ale.
6.8% ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
Yes, I broke my vow against buying more hazies with this one. Because it was only a $3 single can, so what could it hurt, and who knows, maybe I'd like it. I do like to pepper this blog with Pipeworks from time to time, and so what if it's hazy, let's drink it.
Oh, so hazy. Ever so cloudy, And yellow. With a slim white cap.
In the nose: Citrus and tropical notes, with a whole lot of fuzz on it. Very mellow.
In the mouth: Soft and gauze-like, Cotton mouth. Some say pillowy, but I ain't putting no pillow down my throat. Juicy hops flavors float on the palate. We get the mango and passionfruit, with a little lemon and grapefruit. Tropical takes the crown.
This pale ale succeeds in the way that good hazies do, but fails in my eyes. I just wasn't made for these times. I want crisp and fresh, not soft and fuzzy. That's my kind of pale ale. And this is another. Maybe I'm missing out on the next evolutionary step. No, it is the children who are wrong.
Hazy Pale Ale with Idaho 7, Cryo Simcoe and Citra hops.
What is beyond the beyond...the beyond...the beyond... the beyond? Beyond Beyond seeks to answer our most existential questions with hops. Eh, not really. But! the combo of Idaho 7, Citra and Cryo Simcoe hops are bringing tropical, citrusy and mango-forward aromas and flavors that are beyond...beyond pale ale expectations.
This beer is smooth, tropical, with ripe mango vibes.
Pipeworks Twin Speak Double India Pale Ale. With Citra, Amarillo, Cryo Simcoe, and Cryo Amarillo.
8 % ABV. Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
All clouded up. Once again, I've been tricked. Nothing on the label about it, but that doesn't matter any more. Golden hued. Slim white head.
In the nose: Soft and citric. Mild hoppiness.
In the mouth: More soft, more citrus. Fuzzy. Lacks any bite. Medium bodied. ..."smooth"...sigh...For those who like that. I must raise my objections once more. I expect double hop bitterness from a Double IPA, not just higher alcohol.
This is giving me nothing that I want from a DIPA. Should I just stick to Ninja vs. Unicorn?
Pipeworks Sundae Sauce Imperial Stout . Collaboration with Hacienda Beer Co. With lactose, cherries, vanilla, cacao nibs and natural pecan flavor.
10.5 % ABV. Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
Strict blackness, no head, complete opacity.
In the nose: Huge malt, ginormous chocolate, and where are the additives? They're playing it in a minor key right now. Very lightly.
In the mouth: Here they come. Vanilla is strong in this one. Rich and sweet. Some suggestion of cherries comes through. Cacao? Yeah. Not sure if pecans will make an impression, we'll see. Here comes the cream, and the cherry on top. Maybe some nuts, maybe...
Fullerst of fullness in the body. Not too rich, though, nor too strong, it straddles the line between doing it and overdoing it. Low bitterness, perfectly indulgent, terrifically tasty.
Collab w/ Hacienda Beer Co. Imperial Stout with lactose, cherries, vanilla, cacao nibs, and natural pecan flavor.
Pipeworks Immediate Future Hazy Pale Ale with Cryo Mosaic hops.
As advertised, it's hazy as heck, bright yellow hue, slim white head.
In the nose: Soft and fuzzy, lightly hoppy. Fruity notes abound.
In the mouth: More soft and smooth. Light bodied, lots of yeasty fuzz on the mouthfeel. Some citrus notes, a bit of berries, with minor, if any, hop bitterness. Drinkability's on the high side. Goes down like a dream. Hop flavors play well on the palate. I'm rather enjoying this.
Hazy Pale Ale with Cryo Mosaic Hops.
The immediate future is most definitely hazy. What we do know is that there will be textured and juice pale bringing massive Mosaic hop aromas of blueberries, blackberries, pineapple and grape jelly.
Pipeworks Mini Unicorn India Pale Ale. With Simcoe, Citra, Mosaic and Amarillo hops.
5 % ABV. Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
Why did I buy this beer? 1. It's from Pipeworks, and I like the beers they make. 2. It's an IPA, and I like their IPAs. 3. Nothing on this label suggests that it's hazy, or milkshake, or has lactose. Or marshmallows. 4. It was only 9.99 for the four-pack. I like to reward such things with a purchase. Anytime I'm paying less than $3 per beer, it's a good thing.
So, let's drink it, already.
Clear, bright golden, slim white head.
In the nose: Citrusy hop aromatics. Present and expressive, but rather mild, compared to it's predecessor (Ninja Vs. Unicorn DIPA).
In the mouth: Brief blast of bitterness hits the palate, and lingers on. Lightness in body, but not in flavor. Big citrus, high hoppiness.Extraordinary ease of drinkability, exquisitely tasty.
I like this a lot. Good ol' IPA, no haze, no craze, no gimmicks, just goodness.
I did not have a Trapper Keeper in the year 2000. I would have had mine in the 80's. It might had had Spider-Man on it. Not this overblown cuteness on the label. I think they're suggesting that one needs be a 12 year old girl to drink it.
IPA with Citra, Simcoe, Amarillo, and Mosaic hops
If you had a trapper keeper in the year 2000, you may know the vibes!
Mini Unicorn is a smaller, more mini, version of Ninja vs Unicorn! Instead of a Double IPA, this is a straight up 5% IPA absolutely bursting with hop aroma. This might just be a new favorite - and would you expect any less from mini unicorns?!
7 % ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
All haze-ified, bright golden hue, slim white layer of foam.
In the nose: There's the fuzz, the bold citrus and sweet tropical.
In the mouth: Grassy, piney, and slightly tropically, but altogether citrusy. Low bitterness, of course. Lemon, orange, mango, pineapple, passionfruit. Smooth, soft, and easy drinking. Medium bodied. Nails the hazy style perfectly. If you're into that sort of thing.
Soft, with tropical aromatic waves of pineapple, papaya, good cannabis and mango, bursting like stars out from these suds.
6 % ABV. Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
Clear, bright golden hue, snow-white head.
In the nose: Slightly sweet and floral, soon swallowed up by citrus and pine.
In the mouth: Soft at first, slightly bitter, but smooth on out. Citrus and pine, with trickles of tropical, bits of berries. Medium-bodied and immensely drinkable. Clean, crisp, and delightful.
This pint will be done in no time. Wonderful hop flavors at play on the palate. Bitterness lingers ever slightly. I'm enjoying this one. Just delicious. Yum, as I've said before, a dum dum.
Brrrrr..... THE CRYO HAS STRUCK AGAIN! This cold-hearted foe is not only the enemy of the Unicorn, but also The Lizard King! The cool and collected Cryo and his army of cold-to-the-bone soliders have raised their icicle swords against the legendary Lizard King. Will the Lizard King win this battle or will he be iced out from a win?
We took our Lizard King recipe, but brewed this batch with Cryo Mosaic hops instead of Mosaic hops. Cryo hops are hops that have been cryogenically frozen immediately after harvest in a nitrogen-rich environment. This process preserves the hop oils and aromatics resulting in a pure and true-to-hop expression of the hop oils.
This beer takes on an incredible berry, melon, aroma with floral and rich earthy notes.
Pipeworks Karate Cats West Coast Style India Pale Ale with Blood Orange Juice.
7 % ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
Why did I buy a 4-pack of this beer? The price was right. ($12) I usually enjoy Pipeworks, and I like to sample as much of their wares as I can. (If they are the right style and the right price.) The name and illustration sold me. But...nunchucks and swords aren't karate, you guys, and, besides, how do the cats hold them in their little, non- opposable thumb kitty cat paws, anyway? Think about it!
Clear, bright golden color, slim white head. Looking good.
In the nose: Nicely hopped. Citrus and pine. Sweet meets bitter.
In the mouth: Juicy mouthfeel at the start, accompanied quickly by brisk, sharp bitterness. Clean and smooth. Blood orange flavor starts to emerge, but remains a participant, not a player. Slightly tart, but hops are still in control. Citrus and pine at play on the palate, with a long, hoppy finish. Light-ish bodied, and effortlessly drinkable.
Another yum-a-dum-dum Pipeworks beer. Go get some!
Pipeworks Got Ya Covered Imperial Milk Stout Ale with lactose, cacao nibs, vanilla, pretzels, and sea salt.
10.5 % ABV. 16 oz. can ($7). Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
Solid blackness, thorough opacity, slim and soon-gone brown head.
In the nose: Rich, dark malts dominate. Cocoa comes out, with a dose of salt. Sweetness abides. Not getting much pretzel, though.
In the mouth: Smooth, sweet, luscious. Cocoa is king here, but now we're picking up the vanilla. And the salt. Big beer, at, what? 10% +. Big stuff, indeed. Full-bodied, long, sweet-ish finish. Delivers some of the goods, but, really, you're not going to taste the pretzels in a beer like this. Definitely belongs in the category of "pastry stout", if I ever gave credence to such an appellation. I am heartened by the lack of such a word upon this beer's label.
Imperial milk stout with lactose, cocoa nibs, vanilla, pretzels, and sea salt.
Yeah, I said that already. Though I am a fan of Pipeworks, they don't give out much information, alas.
Pipeworks Speed of Sound IPA.
7.5% ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
Clouded, bright golden hue, large ivory, lace-leaving head.
In the nose: tropical notes hit first, passion fruit, pineapple, with citrus on the side. Absolute delight.
In the mouth: juicy from the start, with a sweetness that lends to bitter, ends as dry. Super smooth mouthfeel. Murky yeast effects on the palate. Moderate bitterness. Tropical notes notes top citrus, with a splash of berries. Pretty much delicious. Am digging it.
Double dry hopped oat IPA with mosaic and cryo mosaic hops
Pipeworks Imperial Spumoni Jones Dog Imperial Milk Stout.
10.5 % ABV. Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, IL.
Utter darkness, absolute opacity, slim to no head.
In the nose: Huge chocolate, some vanilla, and then the raspberry. Strawberry? Some berry. It's there. It's nutty. Pistachio? It's there. Whoa. I'm liking this.
In the mouth: Once on board the palate, there it is: cherry, sweetness, vanilla, chocoalate. Creamy. Rich, thick-ish, smooth, delicious. All of the flavors are there in attendance. They made an Imperial Stout that matches spumoni ice cream. Ain't nothing wrong with that.
Good spumoni Imperial Stout and you can drink it. Yum. Yum a dum dum.
Imperial stout ale with cacao nibs, vanilla, lactose, cherries, and natural pistachio flavor
Pipeworks Pineapple Guppy Pale Ale with Pineapple.
Pipeworks Emerald Grouper Imperial IPA. Brewed with honey and Citra hops.
