Firestone Walker – Wookey Jack Black IPA

(Paso Robles, CA – 19 Apr 2012) – From the wilds of Firestone Walker Brewing Company comes Wookey Jack, a new release that Brewmaster Matt Brynildson calls “gnarly on the outside, yet refined on the inside.”

Starting today, Wookey Jack is available in 22-ounce bottles in select markets across the United States. The suggested retail price is $5.99. Wookey Jack is also now available in draft.

Classified as a “Black Rye IPA” by the Firestone Walker brewing team, Wookey Jack is a riff on the familiar Black IPA style. Malted Rye & a dash of Cara Rye impart a spicy grain quality to the palate. Wookey Jack is double dry hopped with Citra and Amarillo hops, which bring a citrusy dimension to the aroma profile. The brewing team claims to have incorporated a bit of “Wookey Dust” as well. Wookey Jack is unfined and unfiltered to retain its woolly natural texture and character.

According to Brynildson, the vision behind Wookey Jack was to push the Black IPA style in a fresh direction. “We wanted it to be intensely flavored and hoppy, but also balanced and complex,” he said. “The rye malt makes it interesting, bringing everything together with a rustic edge.”

He added, “Wookey Jack is black in color, but if you close your eyes and taste it, you’ll say it’s a true IPA. The roasted character is about as light as you can get in a beer this dark.”

The origins of the name Wookey Jack are uncertain. Some say that it’s related to Brynildson’s favorite band, Phish. Co-proprietor and British expatriate David Walker suggests a connection to Wookey Hole, an English village noted for its dark caves and resident witch.

“Wherever the name came from, it fits,” Brynildson said. “This is a beer that tastes like its name.”

Wookey Jack Stats: ABV: 8.5% IBU: 60 Brewing: 100% Stainless Steel

Hops: German Magnum (bittering) Citra & Amarillo (flavor and aroma), Citra & Amarillo (double dry hopped)

Malts: Pale Malt, Malted Rye, Dash of Cara Rye, Midnight Wheat from Briess, De-Bittered Black Malt (sourced from Weyermann, Germany and Patagonia Malting, Chile), Dash of Wookey Dust