Beer of the Week: Grim Ripper
Black Plague Brewing's skate-inspired IPA could be a poser, but it's the real deal
From the Beer Writer: Oceanside’s Black Plague Brewing has all the earmarks of a celeb-funded money-grab hustle of the side variety. A popular skateboarder equipped with sleek art and star power (ever heard of Tony Hawk?) cranking out brews in a world-renowned craft-beer epicenter. But here’s the thing. As simple as it would be for founder Jordan Hoffart and company to mail it in behind any of those easy distractions, from day one, they haven’t. Black Plague has made a name behind quality liquid, to the point where, when they craft beers honoring skate-culture icons, they come across as tributes rather than gimmicks. Such is the case with this week’s featured beer, Grim Ripper, an IPA Black Plague released in limited-edition cans featuring some of their skateboard-industry friends and associates. The beer is legit. The aroma is a melange of citrus and a rock concert as soon as the lights go down (you know what I’m talkin’ about, bruh). That dankness follows through on the palate along with tropical- and stone-fruit flavors plus a touch of pine that morphs into bitter kitchen herbs in the finish. It’s emblematic of the thoughtful approach Black Plague takes with its beers when, in all honesty, it probably doesn’t have to.
From the Brewery: “Grim Ripper IPA flies high with lofty tropical notes of Mandarin orange, with a lingering floral and resinous pine finish. It is medium-bodied, crisp and clean with moderately high carbonation that complements the moderate bitterness. Destined to be a San Diego classic, this bright, crushable 6.8% ABV (alcohol-by-volume) beer is easily paired with all-American food: burgers, fries, chicken wings… skateboarding! As an ode to the historical skate and craft-beer scenes that helped carve out the San Diego culture to be what it is today, what more befitting style than a classic West Coast IPA! Brewed with the freshest Mosaic, Simcoe and Amarillo hops available, it delivers a lemony, citrus-forward aroma packed with floral and pine notes. The artwork features three of our very own Plaguers—Nyjah Huston, David Gravette and Matt Hensley—with their iconic TransWorld Skateboarding Magazine covers in this limited collector’s edition can release.”—Jordan Hoffart, President, Black Plague Brewing