Trickster

Black Raven Brewing — Woodinville, WA

8 Nov 2021 · Stephen

IPA Black Raven Brewing

6.9% ABV

68 IBU

Contributing Factors

Presentation ✓

Character ✓

Experience ✓

Return –

3 / 4 I'd recommend trying it

Tasting Notes

Appearance Golden to light amber, clear with a persistent white head. Pacific Northwest IPAs from this era lean clean and bright rather than hazy — Trickster delivers a classic IPA pour that looks as confident as the bird on the label.

Aroma Light and inviting — the trickster at work. Citrus and tropical fruit up front, soft and approachable, with a piney resin note building underneath. The fruit is present but restrained — this isn't a juice bomb. The pine character is the Pacific Northwest signature, a nod to the Douglas fir forests that surround the Redmond brewery. Clean grain underneath keeps everything grounded.

Palate This is where the trick lands. The light, fruity aroma gives way to a full, assertive hop flavor at 68 IBU — citrus and tropical fruit carrying through the middle, followed by a building piney resin bitterness that's unmistakably Pacific Northwest in character. Medium-full body for 6.9%, well-supported by the malt backbone. Not harsh, not astringent — just firm, deliberate, and completely satisfying West Coast bitterness.

Finish Long, dry, and resinous with that piney Pacific Northwest character lingering well after the sip. The citrus fades more quickly, the pine staying with you the way the forest stays with you after a walk through it. Clean at the back end despite the sustained bitterness — Trickster resolves properly and makes the next one inevitable.

The Verdict

Black Raven's flagship and their defining statement — a well-balanced Pacific Northwest IPA that tricks you with its aroma and delivers with its palate. Fruit and citrus on the nose, full hop flavor through the glass. The raven plays its game. You lose. Cheers.

— Stephen · Contributing Factor Brewing · 8 Nov 2021