Black Hog Brewing Company - Break Time

This IPA pours a yellowish golden color with a prominent off-white head that displays some lacing as it recedes and we drink the beer down. Very lush tropical notes jump out to us right away, offering complex facets of mango, passion fruit, and very ripe pineapple, along with soft stone fruit impressions, juicy citrus, and sliced pear. On the palate, the pale malts provide a straightforward backbone of support while those hoppy contributions continue on as the stars of this show. Look for prominent citrus notes tending toward mandarin and lime to lead the way alongside the more tropical elements, with hints of apple flesh and a full array of other subtle fruity impressions making themselves known, as well. We found this IPA remarkably multifaceted, with our perception wandering from flavor to flavor with each sip. For pairing options, the brewery recommends grilled cheese sandwiches and poutine. We’re also thinking spicy Indian curry dishes, roasted chicken with lemon and rosemary, grilled shrimp with an orange & chile sauce, or lobster rolls with chives and lemon aioli. Cheers!

Black Hog Brewing Company was founded in the summer of 2014 by brothers Jason & Tom Sobocinski and family friend Tyler Jones. The Sobocinski brothers had made their mark in the New Haven, CT area, first with Jason’s cheese shop and restaurant known as Caseus Fromagerie Bistro, and then their joint food truck called The Cheese Truck (now Crispy Melty), and their bar called Ordinary which focuses on fine wine, beer, and cocktails. Jones had earned a degree in chemical engineering and got into homebrewing before attending the highly respected brewing school at UC Davis. After this, he spent several years brewing at Mercury Brewing Co. in Massachusetts, and Smuttynose Brewing Co. and Portsmouth Brewery in New Hampshire – becoming head brewer at the latter. After moving to New Haven to be closer to his wife’s family, he and the Sobocinskis joined forces and founded Black Hog in the former location of Cavalry Brewing.

Roasting a Berkshire pig has been a family tradition – from Jason’s wedding to kids’ birthdays – so the name Black Hog was chosen in homage of coming together in a communal, celebratory way… something good beer most certainly does as well. The brewery currently produces an array of year-round and seasonal brews covering a wide spectrum from pilsner to IPA to stout to wild ales. Their tap room in Oxford boasts a dozen taps along with plenty of additional bottles and cans, along with bar snacks and a rotating supply of food trucks to meet guests’ gastronomic needs. For more info, visit them at blackhogbrewing.com.