Thanks largely to the runaway success of RPM, Boneyard has never gotten around to offering small packaging. They only keg. What will likely surprise most Boneyard fans is that they actually make other beer styles. Styles that are not IPA (gasp!) and have occasionally been left out of rotation, so more RPM could be brewed. That is a shame, because they are so much more than a one-trick pony.
With Widmer celebrating 30 years of brewing, it is not surprising they decided to kick off a collaboration series by adding Boneyard’s psychobilly flavor to Widmer’s tame reputation. The resulting Black IPA is much more Boneyard than Widmer, and they made no attempt at re-creating a traditional style.
Blacklight IPA offers something for every palate. It’s hop-forward with both citrus and pine characteristics. Roasted malt is present but it doesn’t show a lot of coffee or chocolate. Though billed as a session beer, it qualifies only in alcohol level (4.2% ABV). The flavors—and the hefty price tag, $8.49 for 22oz—are far too bold to drink more than one.
This black IPA is great with grilled red meat, like burgers or steaks. Blacklight is definitely worth a try and would be a great way to celebrate dusting off your grill. Finally, Boneyard beer that isn’t poured from a growler!
This article appears in May 8-14, 2014.
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Thom your article is rather uninformed as Widmer is far more experimental than Boneyard ever has been, that’s not meant as a knock on Boneyard. Widmer has brewed and even bottled beers like a “Prickly Pear Cactus Braggot” and “Marionberry Hibiscus Gose” and draft beers like Oyster Stouts, Pumpernickel bread based beers, Pomegranate Berliner-Weisse and has been brewing and bottling a Black IPA for something like four years.
I appreciate your mention of Widmer’s experimental beers, Ezra, but is that what they’re known for? I was writing specifically of their reputation which is little more than their hefeweizen. I have also seen them explore more range, but that’s not what they are known for. Just as most RPM fans have no idea how great some of Boneyard’s other beers are. In fact, the success of RPM has ham-stringed Boneyard, preventing more exploration. (Gotta pay the bills.)
At any rate, this article wasn’t a comment on Widmer’s abilities; only a comment about their reputation.
the reason they might not be known for experimental beers is because articles like this say so. Also you don’t mention how Widmer has been brewing a Black IPA for years instead giving credit to Boneyard. It is articles like this one that don’t give credit to Widmer’s experimental brewing that perpetuate the myth they don’t do anything but Hefeweizen.