Here’s a great little beer I stumbled on at Total Wine: Uinta Rise & Pine Hoppy Dark Ale. OK, Uinta, let’s set the record straight: you had me at hoppy dark ale. Now, when I think of a hoppy dark ale, I think of an India Dark Ale, and I believe that is what this is. With juniper added. You could make an equal case for an American brown Ale, of course. With juniper added.
Either way it’s all good; I love both. Uinta beers have been sold in Georgia since at least 2008, and on average they get 4.25 stars from me. That’s not bad at all. As a result, I had high expectations for Rise & Pine, and I was not disappointed.
Ingredients from the website:
Malts: Carafa, Chocolate, Munich, Caramunich
Hops: Chinook, Simcoe, Exp. #07270
Uinta Rise & Pine Hoppy Dark Ale has an alcohol content of 7.5% by volume with 73 IBUs. It runs $10.99 a six-pack at Total Wine, about a dollar more than I like to pay for a six-pack, but I would pay it for this one.
They say:
Juniper and piney hops build the framework for this bold dark ale. With its assertive bitterness and smooth malt finish, this beer stands tall above the rest.
I say:
Uinta Rise & Pine Hoppy Dark Ale pours to a murky dark brown color with a thick rocky head of tan foam and a rich fragrant nose like a walk in a pine forest. Taking a sip, the beer is smooth and dark malty with hints of gin-soaked chocolate chip cookies and lots of resiny pine. The beer also brings forth notions of Christmas Trees dipped in chocolate. It finishes a tad roasty, and a lot bitter, lingering long and dry on the tongue.
I think I have a new favorite here, folks, this is a beauty! 4.5 stars. It featured thick lacing and tasty hop burps, too! Tastes almost as good coming back up as it did going down…..
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler