Craft Beer Tasting – Pirate Skulls & Bones by Black Lodge Brewery

Written by – The Craft Master

Background First

So I was in Craft Booze Shop yesterday talking to Andy and looking at what new beers he had in. Having had a few breweries I have not had yet, we came up with the idea of collaborating and forming a sort of shared blog. Which I thought was a great idea, as it’s where I always saw this page going!

So here is the first one with Black Lodge Brew a brewery from over in Liverpool, just near the kings docks.

About the beer

This is Pirate Skull & Bones, an 8% DIPA which is packed full of Simcoe, Azacca and El Dorado hops. The main bitterness of this beer coming from the Simcoe hops, letting the Azacca and El Dorado jam in the fruity, juicy and pine notes. The bitter hops are usually added at the beginning of the boil, and the aromatics towards the end within the last half hour. 

The malts in this beer are also listed which is nice! Base Ale and Wheat malts provide the solid base on which the beer is brewed. Torrified wheat and the flaked oats providing the body, haziness and the long lasting head on the beer.

My Thoughts

This DIPA has a nice thick pour, and comes out a dark burnt orange colour, and as hazy as sea fret. On the nose comes the notes of pineapple, lychee and grapefruit for me. The mouthfeel is smooth, with the same juice and fruit coming through first, followed by the bitterness you would expect from a DIPA. Now as with most strong beers, this is followed by a pure alcohol taste at the end, but its not overpowering as in some, and you do get all the good taste and flavours first. 

It also maintained its carbonation, some go flat before you have had time to drink it…and you don’t want to be downing an 8% beer too quick do you! This is, again down to the malts used as described above, to maintain the body and head of the beer.

Overall an excellent beer, with some great flavours coming through. The can art on this beer is designed by Smiling Wolf so give them some love too!