After making its triumphant return early this year with a special limited release, Wookey Jack is back again for an encore release this holiday season.
Indeed, Wookey Jack is available in a small-batch run of 16oz 4pk cans to thirsty Californians. Only available through our online store and three California locations. Get this legendary Black Rye IPA before it’s gone.
In the video above, Brewmaster Matt Brynildson takes us behind the beer with our style-defining black rye IPA, Wookey Jack.
A Gold Medal Winner at GABF 2020
Wookey Jack made waves at the 2020 Great American Beer Festival, where it earned the lone gold medal in its category. It is now returning from the wilds again to celebrate the honor with this limited Propagator release that remains true to the Wookey Jack mantra: “Gnarly on the outside yet refined on the inside.”
“This is a really hoppy beer but has good balance and is dangerously drinkable with an ABV of 8.3 percent,” says Propagator Brewer Sam Tierney.
Wookey Jack was initially created in 2012 as Brewmaster Matt Brynildson’s answer to the emerging “black IPA” style of the day—essentially dark malts added to a bold IPA recipe.
“There were a few beer geeks out there saying that Firestone Walker still had yet to really make a truly over-the-top hoppy IPA, even after the release of Double Jack,” Matt recalls. “So we decided to take the gloves off and make the biggest, boldest IPA we could at the time. Our twist was the addition of rye malts, which complements the aggressive hop character coupled with the dark malts.”
The name of the beer also raised eyebrows. “The name Wookey Jack is a reference to the hard core Phish fans I used to see on tour,” Matt says. “Dreadlocked, blurry eyed tour wizards who smelled a bit dank, made their living on shakedown street and never missed a show. It was a fun way to describe a beer that was a reaction to folks saying we didn’t make a dank and gnarly enough IPA.”
— Brewmaster Matt BrynildsonWookey Jack is all about being intensely flavored and hoppy, but also balanced and complex. The rye malt makes it interesting, bringing everything together with a rustic edge.
After blazing an impressive trail (including gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival in 2012 and 2013), Wookey Jack was discontinued in late 2016—but occasional sightings have persisted.
This new batch of Wookey Jack remains faithful to the original recipe, which Matt describes as follows: “A nice addition of rye malt; midnight wheat (roasted wheat) and Carafa III – so loads of dark malts with the rye adding a spicy grain element (think dark rye bread.). Two hops: dank sticky Citra and pungent Amarillo.”
What’s different is the packaging, which features new visuals by Juan LeMarante, a Cuban-born artist who nailed the Wookey Jack vibe.
The new package reflects Matt’s affinity for music and art. “I love the new label and think that it perfectly merges the soul of Wookey Jack with the offbeat artistic sensibility that we have cultivated with our Propagator can releases,” he says.
Adds Sam, “American Black IPAs faded in popularity, but Wookey Jack was always considered a benchmark of the style. It’s cool that we now have an outlet to bring it back semi-regularly for the hard-core fans.”
You’ve been messaging us on social media, emailing and demanding we “bring back Wookey Jack.” We’re excited to say it’s back, and available now in 16-ounce four-pack cans. And you can even snag a Wookey Jack t-shirt to match.
Stock up before it sells out (because it will). Shop online through our online store or visit one of our three California locations in Paso Robles, Buellton, and Venice.
