Black Diamond Fracas

Brewed by Black Diamond Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Concord, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

Location: 22 oz bottle from State Line, 4/22/13

Aroma: The nose of this one is a nice mix of caramel, fruit, pine, and grapefruit
Appearance: Pours a dark reddish color with a small, bubbly, beige head and some medium lace
Flavor: The taste is medium-sweet, rather malty, a little fruit, and medium-plus hoppy/bitter
Palate: The body is medium-full, with mid-plus carbonation, some stickiness, and a dry finish
Overall Impression: I thought this was a pretty solid hoppy red. It isn’t one of the best of the "style" but it plenty solid with a nice mix of hoppiness and maltiness. This one isn’t perfect, but I enjoyed drinking it.

22oz bottle, from my local Kroger for $6. Shared with Anthony during a grillout at his place. Kind of hazy dark red color. Good thin off-white head. Plenty of lace. Medium, kind of bigger body. Smooth, lighter crisp carbonation. Malt forward, good amount of fruity, spicy hops balance out the caramel malt, though. Nice,more bitter taste, light sweet. Alcohol is only slightly noticeable, but works pretty well with the flavor. Fine red ale / American strong ale. Worth a try, for $6

Yeast, hops and milk on the aroma. Deep reddish color with decent foam. Flavor is strong hops and herbs upfront with a significant milky/yeasty taste afterwards. Overall, pretty decent. Somewhat unbalanced flavor. I’d give this a B- rating.

Draft @ SF Beer Week Opening Celebration 2013, Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco, CA. Pours a dark amber color with a small off-white head. Has a fruity malty piney hoppy caramel aroma. Fruity malty bitter piney hoppy caramel flavor. Has a fruity malty hoppy bitter caramel finish.

Bomber from trade with michaelinwa. Pours a murky orange-amber color with a small head that fades quickly. Aroma is pretty faint for a hoppy imperial beer. Getting some pine, caramel, and tropical fruit. Taste is a bit off and I’m not sure why. Definitely getting pine and tropical fruit but the taste seems a bit stale or artificial in a way. Finish is really rough and abrupt. Mouthfeel is kinda thick and oily but also foamy. This beer is kind of a mess but I’ve definitely had worse beers.

Large tan head with good retention and lace. Clear amber color. Big, malt nose is a lil fruity and earthy. Med/full bodied, oily and a little resiny. Chock full of malts, caramel, grain,malts i can enjoy. Subdued citrusy hops. Fairly large finish, hint sweet and thick maltyness. Not bad! Bomber from statelineliquors.

Tap at Buckeye Beer Engine. Orange-amber pour with a white head. Very ripe hops in this, with some caramel malt. Just okay. Finishes quite bitter.

Bottle:   Deep reddish amber, moderate frothy sandy head, nice lacing.   Odd top ramen aroma, like the dry noodles.   Otherwise an astringent hopiness.   Very green on the tongue, astringent, almost like the hops weren’t ready to be picked or something.   Husky maltiness doesn’t help much to contribute to this one.   Body and mouthfeel are moderate.   Rough finish, not a clean/crisp example of a Strong Ale.   Just seems really unfinished.

on tap at vintage estate, nice place, friendly help and some are very knowledgable while others are newbeez waiting for you to talk beer. Clean beer aroma, fresh. Darker looking beer. Big strong hop iniitial flavors, wew. Bitter green grapefruit rind. Barely any co2, but its there. Nice lacing. Long bitter finish, at times astringent. Yes, if you like alk-eed beers, this is 4 U.

Tap - pours cloudy dark copper with frithy white head. Aromas of piney caramel and resiny malted notes. Tastes round and delicious with hoppy finish, malted overtones, and long duration. Very nice easy drinker.