Quietly over Xmas, Calgary’s newest microbrewery, Village Brewery (which launched this past fall), launched its first beer, Village Blonde Ale. Now this week, I just learned that a second beer is heading out the brewery door. Blacksmith India Black Ale is, clearly, their take on the growing Cascadian/Dark India Pale Ale style.
I haven’t got any details on the beer at this time, nor have I had an opportunity to sample either, since they are, for the moment, available only at the brewery and a handful of accounts.
If anyone has had the beer yet, feel free to comment and let the rest of us know whether we should be making a special trip to Calgary just to sample it.
January 16, 2012 at 4:57 PM
BE prepared to be let down and in case this read by the staff at Village this was the consensus about 6 people not one personal opinion. IMHO the Blonde lacked flavour for what they could pack in for the ABV at around 4.5% ABV. The BIPA was a thin bodied stout that lacked the IBUs or the body to even to make it a stout.
Once again if the staff or ownership is reading this we all look forward to your future efforts, we all know this is just your first efforts. Good Luck in the future. Sure their will be ratings on Rate Beer and Beer Advocate soon to support this.
January 17, 2012 at 8:04 AM
Hoser. We agree with you, so thanks for the honest opinion.
Now, as the partner that happens to be the marketing guy as well I need to add a few elements to that statement. We agree with you because we know we have tasted our first batch and it was indeed had more flavour so we are fixing that degradation that we believe came as a result of the new sterile filter we purchased between batches. We didn’t believe the sterile filter would have the affect. That being said we are still really happy with the flavour but know it could be more – so we are working on it.
Also curious, and need your help here, did you drink from a growler? We are also finding that growler loses a bit of carbonation and therefor a bit of flavour notes as well. Again, working on it.
The joys, honestly, of growing a new brewery are many.
As a matter of note – we are working more towards a balanced beer than what is typically requested on beer sites. Hops are an integral ingredient but shouldn’t be the overpowering ingredient that is often sought by those enthusiastic beer fans. Someday I may write my position on my father-in-law and his desire to always put hot sauce on his food. He has gotten himself to the point where he can only enjoy food with a large dollop of hot sauce – corollary I often find that serious hop fans can only enjoy a beer if they have an inordinate amount of hops in their beer. Off balance but with a hop zing does not a great beer make. Of course, many will disagree and that is a fair opinion, just not the opinion that our partners have chosen…well, except maybe for one Hop Head partner but he shall remain nameless and only gets one vote out of 6 so he should just accept the group consensus.
Hoser, feel free to connect, I know you have wanted to come down and see the operation and we would love to have you visit. jim@villagebrewery.com – anytime.
January 17, 2012 at 12:18 PM
Good luck Jim with your new endeavour. Nothing wrong with the approach you are describing, each brewery should have a unique approach to flavour. As much as I personally loves hops, sometimes I also want something a little more balanced. Heck, sometimes I just want a full on “malt bomb.”
However, in regards to the Black IPA, stating a name/style for a beer evokes a certain impression, and it is important that the taste somewhat matches up. If there is no intention to makes this beer “hoppy” or even “black,” then calling it a Black IPA is somewhat of a misnomer and does not contribute to overall customer education of better beer.
January 17, 2012 at 1:16 PM
What truth in style names, I thought all IPAs were like Alexander Keith’s……………
January 17, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Or how about Big Rock Black Amber Ale (aka an “alberta sweet stout”)… there is enough contradiction in that one to make my head spin.
January 18, 2012 at 7:46 PM
I had it at Beer Revolution. I was really excited to try, but I have to agree with Hoser. Really watery. But, I will be happy to try again in the future. Best of luck.
January 18, 2012 at 8:29 PM
Fair comment Mark. Thanks.