The brewery: “First Chop the award winning brewery sprung from humble beginnings. Created by chef, creative and restauranteur Rik, the beer was originally born from his acclaimed bar and restaurant of the same name in North Manchester……..First Chop initially settled under a Salford railway arch and combined the fledgling brewery with a rootsy live music, club and arts space at the heart of the Manchester scene. After many events, the site was sadly wiped out by a fire but Rik was on a roll with his beer and set up a new (permanent) home for the brand in nearby Eccles.”
The beer: “IPA plus hopping levels give big citrus, spice and herbal notes to this dark IPA which also has that rich spicy bitterness you only really achieve with first wort hopping.”
Black beers always appeal to my inner goth and thankfully I didn’t find this overtly hoppy. Not my favourite black beer but very drinkable. Gluten free, as is the whole range. 6.2% A.B.V. August 2020.