Hutton & Smith Brewing Company | Bivouac Black IPA

Two months. That’s how long it’s been since I posted last. A lot has happened in two months and I’ve had a lot of great beer. Kids, work, ya’ll know the drill. This past May though, something pretty awesome happened. Our friends at Hutton & Smith Brewing Company took home the gold at the World Beer Cup in the American Style Black Ale category. The beer that won, Bivouac Black IPA. I set one back not too long ago to write about, here we are. A month or so prior to the World Beer Cup, I was with co-owner/brewer Joel Krautstrunk and he inquired as to whether I had the beer before then, in his usual laid back way, added, “I think it’s pretty good.” One World Beer Cup later, I’d say he’s right. Let’s check it out.

This beer pours black, just as expected. It has a big, frothy brownish-tan head. On the nose I find a wonderful bouquet of hop aroma – citrus and pine. The malt notes fall in line with a light toast and light chocolate aroma. On the palate I find the hop flavors pretty quickly backed by wonderful malt undertones – moderate to low in flavor – a little chocolate. The beer coats the mouth well, medium to medium high in body, moderate carbonation and a bitter lingering finish.

Final snobs: Yes! This is a wonderful beer and checks all the boxes for what I’d expect from this style. At 8.9% ABV it’s at the top of the range but still within. The team at Hutton & Smith has done an excellent job with this one – as they do with all of their beers. Congrats on Gold at the World Beer Cup and congrats on this beer!

If you haven’t had it and this style is your jam, what are you waiting for!? What’s also great is that we get Hutton & Smith right here in fabulous Knox-vegas.

Prost!