N10 Imperial Blended Ale – Ninkasi Brewing Co. – 97 Rating

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
N10 was developed in collaboration by our brewing team. We knew we needed something special to celebrate our 10th Anniversary and so we decided to embark on a blended beer—something we hadn’t done before.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
We worked on the blend itself for a couple months refining how much we wanted of each to make
the right blend. The blend makes for an incredibly smooth beer for all the flavor that is in there. There are so many distinctive flavors that come to play and as the beer warms different aromas come out. There is a lot of great caramel flavor as well as roast and a touch of smoke. The hop flavors are bold yet blend really well into the whole of the beer.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
The name N10 stands for Ninkasi 10, in honor of our 10th anniversary.

BC: Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?
We selected five beers for the blend that each represent significant milestones in our history:

1. Inspired by our past and celebrating our future, these Imperial Stouts feature a rich complexity paired with a sizeable hop profile, giving the final blend deep, roasted notes that better with age. Imperial Stout, 50% of blend Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, 50% of blend
2. Our history of crafting highly-hopped beers began on day one. N10 incorporates two Imperial versions of our cornerstone IPAs, Total Domination and Maiden the Shade, offering a big, citrus and floral hop hit. Imperial Total Domination IPA , 12.5% of blend, Imperial Maiden the Shade IPA, 12.5% of blend   
3. A nod to our nerdier side, Critical Hit Barleywine possesses an impressive level of port-like characteristics. As it ages, the caramel flavors and bitterness intensify to create a complex finish. Critical Hit Barleywine, 15% of blend

Read Review  |  Beer Details