SMELLS LIKE SAUSAGE (Kelso of Brooklyn’s Industrial IPA at Jimmy’s No. 43)

My search for the best beer in New York continues….

SADLY, JIMMY’S NO. 43 IS NOW CLOSED.

Every time I’ve been inside the subterranean craft beer enclave Jimmy’s No. 43, it’s smelled like sausage. That’s not a bad thing, mind you. In the back of this maze of a bar is a small little kitchen and they’re turning out some upscale bar food that can easily measure up to the wide variety of microbrews on offer. The first time I ever came to this popular bar was indeed for a sausage tasting and perhaps the memory of that still lingers in my mind (and nostrils).

I didn’t get any food on my most recent visit, but instead sat with one of their current draft beers. The rotating selection of 12 taps always includes some interesting options. And while I was pleased to see that they currently had four local breweries represented, it made my decision of what to drink a bit more difficult.

I finally settled on Kelso’s Industrial IPA, which I had not encountered yet on my beer journey. It’s a strong Imperial IPA coming in at a whopping 11.5% ABV (Alcohol by Volume). Maybe I should have ordered some food to soak up the booze.

The beer was poured in to a goblet and gave off a hazy apricot color. There was no head but some nice bubbles that quickly congregated to the top. Lots exploded on the nose: grapefruit, flowers, and hops! The flavor matched the strong aromatic smell – it really packed a punch. Every adjective I would use to describe hops could be attributed to the taste here. It turns out that they use five different hops for this monster and you can certainly taste it.

That being said, there was still some sweetness that lingers and off-sets the bitter components. I did find it a little syrupy and the chewy mouthfeel was almost too thick like a medicine (but a full-bodied flavorful medicine). It was clearly a strong beer, but the alcohol was not overwhelmingly present. I don’t know how many of these I could drink, but I appreciated the intensity and the balance.

And as I stumbled out of Jimmy’s (after one drink, thank you very much!) with the sweet hop flavor of beer on my lips and the smoky sausage smell on my clothes, I smiled fondly with the anticipation of another visit.

Is Kelso of Brooklyn’s Industrial IPA the best beer in NY? There’s no backing off of flavor on this one and even though it is extraordinarily hoppy, it’s well-balanced and enjoyable, although the thick texture keeps it at an 8 out of 10.