4.4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
UPDATED: SEP 6, 2010 I admit I am a hop head and enjoy IPAs the best. This effort by Blackstone really puts them on the map for me. When someone can take a brown ale and make it satisfy me, well you are a winner! I tried this on tap at the brewpub and ended up buying a growler to go. Smells of earthy and grapefruit hops, hop taste is the same but the malts really back this one up well. In my travels I have found it hard to find a good dark beer that actually has a good hop taste. I only hope this is still on tap during my next visit. Good luck at the Great American Beer Festival!
*edit- I re-rated this and adjusted the overall score due to having this on cask. Simply wonderful and hoppy goodness! This should be a full time offering on cask.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Draft at Brewpub. Pours a very nice deep brown with a tan head. Aroma of citrusy hops and nutty malts. Lighter side of medium bodied with average carbonation. The malt profile is nice- lots of cocoa powder and nutty malts. This is countered by a very aggressive piney and grapefruit bitterness. Long, dry bitter citrus rind finish that lingers. Really more of a Black IPA in my book. I am hit or miss on black ipas. I am a hop head, but using dark malts and lots of hops can be challenging, because I don’t think the combination always works. I think this one is overhoppped for this malt profile, or perhaps does not have the ideal variety for it. They just don’t quite mix together perfectly for me. It’s still a respectable beer and worth a try. I am just extremely picky with this style
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Smells like syrup and agave nectar, almost an opaque color, brunt umber color when held to light. Very minimal lacing, tastes very hoppy bitter, earthy. On tap at the Brew Pub.
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Very citrusy hoppy aroma with burnt caramelized sugar. Flavor is malty at first, then strong citrus hot hop phenols come in and leave a big presence in your mouth. Long lasting hop flavor, but malt is there for but a moment. I really like this, but wished it was sweeter, maltier. Growler from the brewpub.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Clear ruby black color/ tan head. Big ass fresh pine, floral, tropical fruit hop aromas with mild roast. Rich, smooth mouthfeel. Very good pine sap, floral, citrusy hop flavors with mild roasted malt, sweet caramel. Fits the Black IPA style better than the Brown Ale as now listed...
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
Pint at the brewery. Pours a very murky brown with a long lasting off-white head head. The aroma is nutty with a citrus bite and hints at green wood. Once I take a sip, I can’t believe how tasty this is. Blackstone has made a really bold and clean Texas brown with Bad Leroy. The hops really come to live in the flavor with notes of cedar,melon and lasting grapefruit. The acidic notes work very well with tasteful malt flavors of toffee and bread. This is really well done.
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