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Score
9048
OVERALLStyle
Serve in Shaker, Tulip

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution

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RATINGS: 108   WEIGHTED AVG: 3.43   SEASONAL: Spring   IBU: 65   EST. CALORIES: 192   ABV: 6.4%
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COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Alaskan’s spring seasonal release is a new beer experience created from a combination of traditional beer styles. Alaskan Black IPA has the appearance of a porter or stout but combines the roasted malty characters with the refreshing flavor and bright aroma of an American IPA.

Alaskan’s spring seasonal features the hop-forward profile of an IPA with the dark black color and flavors of a fuller-bodied porter. A burst of fresh, citrus notes from Cascade and Centennial hops balance the hints of coffee and bitter chocolate with a subtle toasted sweetness and dark fruit highlights leading to a pleasantly dry finish.

The Black IPA style is also known as “American-style India Black Ale” or “Cascadian Dark Ale,” and though we still may not know what to call it, we do know it’s dark, hoppy and we can’t get enough of it. Alaskan first shared their take on this new style with the limited Pilot Series release of Alaskan Double Black IPA. This spring release is a more sessionable version with the same surprising balance between hops and roasted malts.

Alaskan Black IPA is made from glacier-fed water, generous additions of Cascade, Centennial and other Pacific Northwest hops, and an array of eight different pale, caramel and chocolate malts.

The combination of big citrus and dark malt flavors make Alaskan Black IPA an outstanding pairing beer for dishes that combine sweet and savory. This includes everything from chocolate & ancho-chipotle rubbed pork, fried chicken and waffles or curried chocolate.


3.9
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 17/20
poisoneddwarf (975) - Rathdrum, USA - FEB 2, 2012
12 oz bottle. Pours black but shows reddish tints when held up to the light; has a medium dissipating tan head that falls after a few minutes; leaves some lace. Aroma is piney hops intermingling with bready malts; I also smell coffee. Taste is sweet for a brief second but quickly turns bitter; this is one of the most bitter black IPAs I’ve had. The hoppiness and roastiness coexist nicely. Carbonation is pretty high and the body is medium-full. Has a lingering bitter finish. Really good.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 17/20
craftbeerdesign (1979) - Alpharetta, Georgia, USA - MAY 22, 2012
12 oz bottle. pours black with ruby highlights and a tan head. roast nose with citrus hops. med body with deep roast and black malts layered with citrus hop bitterness. bitter finish that lasts throughout with chocolate and light coffee notes.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
esjaygee (2581) - Oak Creek, Wisconsin, USA - MAY 20, 2012
Clear mahogany with a three finger brown crown that fades slowly. Aroma of citrus, dark and roasted malts, caramel and toffee. Taste of dark malts, pine, toffee, roasty notes, caramel with moderate bitterness.

4.2
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 18/20
bshotbox (11) - Wisconsin, USA - MAY 19, 2012
caramel, bread, chocolate, brown, rocky head, medium sweetness, medium bitterness, full body, creamy, lively, bitter, very good example of a BIPA, will definitely go for another, please bring it back next year

3.1
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 5/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 13/20
womencantsail (3927) - Home of Rebecca Black, California, USA - MAY 13, 2012
Very dark brown in color, nearly black, with a light tan head. Nose is a bit sweet with licorice, dark chocolate, roasted malt, and very light hoppiness. There’s some caramel and molasses in there, maybe a bit of an earthy hop note. The flavor is quite sweet with lots of molasses and toffee. Decently roasty with a light hop bitterness on the finish as well as some chocolate. Not a huge fan of this kind of Black IPA.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
BeerandBlues2 (6095) - Lone Tree, Colorado, USA - MAY 11, 2012
Bottle. Pours clear black with an average to large, frothy tan head, medium to long retention with good lacing. Aroma is roast, dark chocolate, and earthy coffee malt with minty and woody, herbal hops, licorice, prunes, and dates. Flavor is bitter malt and hops with supporting malt backbone and hop flavor, dark fruity esters and a dry finish. Medium body and carbonation.

3.1
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 5/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 12/20
after4ever (4500) - Brier, Washington, USA - MAY 6, 2012
22. Pours a deep murky ebony with a dense and creamy tan head that slowly settles to a moussy ring. Big roasty sharp ashy bitter chocolate nose. Creamy medium body with soft carb. So ashy and sharply resinously bitter that it’s almost sour. Not the right approach here. Finishes shampoo-y and still nearly sour.

3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
zizzybalubba (968) - Elizabeth City, North Carolina, USA - MAY 6, 2012
On tap at the Alaska Lodge at Sea-Tac Airport, Seattle, WA. Pours dark brown with a foamy khaki head. Aroma of floral and piney hops with light coffee notes. Roasty flavor with a light floral hop finish. The hops become a bit more pronounced the more I drink and tend to become more assertive. A good black IPA.

3.6
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
XmnwildX12 (457) - Farmington, Minnesota, USA - MAY 4, 2012
Has a faded chocolate scent, pours dark brown with tan head. Has a decent malt roast, an ok lasting bitter. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

3.4
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 12/20
bnoel09 (271) - Elk Grove, California, USA - APR 29, 2012
Poured into a shaker. Dark brown, almost black, with a sudsy tan head. Aroma is chocolate malt, some dark fruit, and some light floral hop notes. Flavor is too mild for my tastes - some light chocolate and roasted malt notes with low hop flavor. The hops are noticed on the palate with some bitterness and astringency, they just don’t show in the flavor well. Well balanced and extremely sessionable, just a little boring compared to other examples.

3.5
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
jake65 (2161) - Williston, North Dakota, USA - APR 29, 2012
Bottle: Dark brown pour with a creamy brown head. Sweet aroma is citrus, pine, and caramel. Roast comes through more in the taste and some chocolate malts. The citrus and caramel stands out. Enjoyable.


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