Black IPA - Big Rig Brewing (Canada - Ontario - Ottawa)

Black IPA - Big Rig Brewing (Canada - Ontario - Ottawa) 6.2%

The first things I check when I have been served or pour a Black IPA are the obvious ones: is it dark and is it hoppy. Big Rig's Black IPA meets both those criteria. It is a very dark (and damn near opaque) mahogany colour (or maybe even darker than that) with a thick and creamy mocha coloured head of foam. It also has a very nice resiny hop aroma with loads of tropical fruit tones. To the taste the first thing I noticed was a earthy, toasted, nutty, slightly coffee-like malt flavour followed closely by a strong hops flavour of cedar and resin with a strongly bitter finish. This is a really nice Black IPA and, to top it all off, the design on the can is super cool.

Big Rig Gold - Big Rig Brewing (Canada - Ontario - Ottawa)

Big Rig Gold - Big Rig Brewing (Canada - Ontario - Ottawa) 5.0%


Pale to full gold in a glass, more on the pale side. Light pilsner-like aroma with the barest hint of green and that classic dry European hops aroma. Big Rig Gold is very tasty and actually is a lagered ale even though it could be mistaken for a great pilsner because of its use of German malts and hops. Just like the label says, it would be great on the dock during summer.