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Piney River Brewing Co. – Masked Bandit IPA

Brewery: Piney River Brewing Co.
Location Bucyrus, MO
Style Black IPA
 ABV 7.0%
 IBUs 70

 

Best Quote During Tasting

Turns out, I'm amazing at grilling.

Justin:

Aroma - The hops pop on this one with notes of spicy resin and citrus (orange peel, grapefruit) coming out strong. The malts are bread crust and toffee with a noticeable rye presence.
Score: 10/12
Appearance - Masked Bandit pours a clear, deep brown with amber highlights around the edge of the glass. The thin, mocha head starts fluffy, but resides to a tightly bubbled film atop the beer, leaving lacing with each sip.
Score: 3/3
Flavor - A complex mixture of flavors crash on to the tongue when first sipped. The spiciness of the rye and hops is matched by the chocolate, toasted and slightly roasted malts. A soft, brown sugar that's not too sweet arrives just before swallowing. The citrus character shows up big in the aftertaste.
Score: 17/20
Mouthfeel - The body is just above medium with the medium carbonation matching it nearly perfectly to create a slightly velvety texture.
Score: 4/5
Overall Impression - This might be my favorite Piney River offering to date. We've reviewed our fair share of their beers and have been pleasantly surprised with a majority of them.  I think it's time I stop being surprised. Don't be fooled by the dark IPA during the summer either. You'd be amazed at how great this would go with a medium steak right off the grill.
Score: 9/10

 

Blake:

Aroma - Lots of aromas from the roasted malts. Coffee and chocolate, followed up by a bit of pine from the hops.  Hops give a slight citrus character as well that blends nicely with the dark malts, and with the spice of the rye.
Score: 10/12
Appearance - Deep dark brown with mahogany highlights when held to the light, and a tall mocha head.
Score: 3/3
Flavor - So well balanced. You have tons of rich flavors like chocolate and coffee coming from the dark malts, citrus and pine from the hops, and a bit of spice with the rye. 
Score: 17/20
Mouthfeel - Mouthfeel is thicker than you'd think, and the carbonation with the healthy body create a creamy smooth finish.
Score: 4/5
Overall Impression - My favorite Piney River beer I've tried yet. There just isn't anything to dislike about this beer. I could easily drink this with a main course or with my dessert. It's a very versatile beer, and one you should try if you haven't yet.
Score: 9/10

 

Masked Bandit IPA Final Score
  • Aroma
  • Appearance
  • Flavor
  • Mouthfeel
  • Overall
4.4
User Rating: 0.0 (0 votes)
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Justin Phelps

Justin Phelps

Co-Founder at Saint Brewis
Justin Phelps is a Certified Cicerone® who was born and raised in St. Louis. His passion for beer goes beyond just drinking it as he is also an award-winning home brewer. While he may be a marketing professional by day, he's a blogger, brewery hopper, and beer enthusiast by night.

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