(Juneau, AK) – Here are the first details for the next brew in Alaskan Brewing’s Pilot Series.
Alaskan Double Black IPA will make its debut on draft and in 22 oz. bottles beginning on September 1st. It will be the second release to don Pilot Series packaging after Alaskan Raspberry Wheat did so back in May. The website now lists Baltic Porter and Barley Wine as Pilot Series beers as well so those may see new packaging in the future (unconfirmed).
A little background on the Pilot Series courtesy of Communications Manager, Ashley Johnston: “As with our first Pilot Series release, Alaskan Raspberry Wheat, Alaskan Double Black IPA was developed and perfected through our ‘Rough Draft’ program of experimental brews created on our original 10 barrel system and released on draft only in Alaska. Any member of the Alaskan Brew Crew, from accounting to maintenance to packaging, can team up with a brewer to develop and create a recipe on our 1 barrel system that then goes on tap in our break room. We don’t have a brewpub, but if word spreads amongst the crew that there’s something good on tap in the break room – in other words, it’s not on tap for very long – there’s a good chance we will scale it up to our 10 barrel brewhouse the next year and share it on tap throughout Alaska. The Rough Draft program is responsible for everything from our bottled Alaskan Summer Ale and Baltic Porter to the Ginger Shandy and XTRA TUF Imperial IPA we currently have on draft.”
Per the website, “The specialty beers in our Pilot Series are available in limited quantities throughout the 10 western states where Alaskan beers are sold.”
For more on Double Black IPA, see below (from the product sheet):
Style
Alaskan Double Black IPA is a combination of traditional beer styles, with a flavor profile most similar to an Imperial IPA and the dark black color, rich flavor and light chocolate head usually found in heartier stouts and porters.
Flavor Profile
The aroma of Alaskan Double Black IPA consists of fresh, citrus notes from Northwest hops and the heavy, dry bouquet of roasted grains. Brewed with an array of dark malts, Alaskan Double Black IPA features the distinctive flavors of coffee and bitter chocolate with a subtle toasted sweetness. Large hop additions late in the boil, and dry-hopping after fermentation, lighten and refresh the overall perception and flavor of the beer. It finishes with a dry palate and lingering warmth and bitterness.
History
The Black IPA, also called “Cascadian Dark Ale” or “American-style India Black Ale,” is a relative newcomer to the craft beer world. We may not know what to call it yet, but we do know it’s dark and it’s hoppy and we can’t get enough of it.
Ingredients
This limited edition batch of Alaskan Double Black IPA is made from glacier fed water, the finest two-row barley, wheat and dark specialty malts and premium quality Pacific Northwest hop varieties.
Recommendations
The balance of dark malt flavors and big citrus hop characters make Alaskan Double Black IPA an outstanding pairing beer for everything from savory black beans to spicy, blackened salmon or black cod.
Specifications
Original Gravity: 1.087, ABV 8.5%, Bitterness: 70 IBU, Color: 102 SRM, Hops: Cascade, Centennial
Packaging
15.5 and 5.17 gallon Sankey kegs and the caseware packages with UPC bar codes shown here.
The Story Behind the Label
Found in creation myths and folklore from all over the world, ravens are woven into the history and culture of Alaska. Seemingly impermeable to both blistering heat and blinding cold, ravens are comfortable everywhere from the rainforests of southeast Alaska to the dry extremes of the northern latitudes, making them the most versatile songbird in the Northern Hemisphere. Big, loud, and powerful, the resilient raven is not too unlike our big, bold and boundary-challenging Double Black IPA.