RateBeer

Cigar City Either Black Ale

Score
99100
OVERALLStyle
Serve in Shaker, Tulip

bottled
available

on tap
unknown

Broad Distribution

Add Distribution Data
RATINGS: 291   WEIGHTED AVG: 3.89   SEASONAL: Special   EST. CALORIES: 336   ABV: 11.2%
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COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
High gravity black ale brewed with Ty Ty honey, copious amounts of hops and aged on toasted Spanish Cedar. Part 1 of a 4 beer collaboration between Cigar City, Hill Farmstead, and Grassroots. A note from Joey Redner: "The beers are basically black IPA’s brewed with lots of Citra, Mt. Rainier and Simcoe along with Ty Ty honey from North Florida aged on medium toast Spanish Cedar. There are different hop additions in the Hill Farmstead/Grassroots version (Or) and the 2-row base malt in the CCB version (Either) is replaced with Pilsner malt in the Vermont/Denmark version (Or). There are also some process differences which is one of the purposes of a collaboration; allowing breweries to learn from each other. The goal was to make two beers that were alike, but slightly different due to preferences in regional approach and access to ingredients. The four beers in this collaborative series will be named: Either, Or, Neither and Nor. Either and Or will release first and the other two will follow. Both Either and Or were brewed at CCB, but Neither and Nor will be brewed as single batches in both Vermont and Denmark.


most recent ratings

4
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 17/20
Anvil99 (12) - - MAY 7, 2013
Pitch black in colour, almost black foam. A bit hoppy but a lot of licorice and a nice sweetness makes this ber quite well balanced though the high alcohol level

3.4
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 16/20
MF666 (148) - FAROE ISLANDS - APR 30, 2013
Black as hell, brun skum, dufter af honning, smager sødligt, kaffe, ristet malt, let bitter eftersmag med kaffe Free Føroyar!!!

4
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
sepia5 (230) - Connecticut, USA - APR 18, 2013
Pours jet black with no head and very little noticeable carbonation. Nose is molasses, toffee and vanilla. Flavor is dark fruit and toffee. There is almost no indication of the high ABV. A really nice beer. I’d forgotten about this one in my cellar and am unsure whether it has changed over time by virtue of the hops fading. Even if it has, it is still a solid beer.

3.9
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
bytemesis (1413) - Sunnyvale, California, USA - APR 13, 2013
Bottle. Pours Deep opaque ruby black with very little head, even after a vigorous pour. Mostly just a ring of brown foam, although it does contribute some lacing. Aroma is very stouty with roasted malts, chocolate, and molasses. Flavor is very chocolate and roasty, with notes of citrus and pine mixed in. Quite sweet, medium bitter, lingering bitter aftertaste. Medium to full body, creamy, tongue coating oily mouthfeel. Flat carbonation. Very interesting beer, not sure why its not a hoppy stout tho.

3.7
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
pentaz (460) - Frederiksberg, DENMARK - MAR 8, 2013
Bottle. Pours dark brown with a short lasting small tan head. Aroma is intense with cedar, hard roasted malt, plum, raisin, honey, licorice, Taste is moderate+ sweet and near heavy bitter. Body is medium, texture is syrupy, carbonation is soft+. Finishes caramel sweet, alcoholic and malty astringent.

3.7
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
SlackerMads (525) - DENMARK - MAR 8, 2013
Bottle. Dark brown with a minimal beige head that leaves lacing. Aroma is vinous, cedar, honey, sweet grain, bubblegum, citrus, black pepper. Taste is heavy sweet and medium bitter. Close to full body, thick oily texture, soft carbonation. Sticky vinous finish with warming alcohol.

3.4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
jcartamdg (1144) - Spring Hill, Florida, USA - NOV 28, 2012
pours jet black with a thin white head, aroma of dank resinous hops, citrus and pine as well as a roasty characteristic. Taste follows, bitter yet slightly sweet. not bad

4
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
kermis (2484) - The Hague, NETHERLANDS - SEP 3, 2012
Bottle shared at Delirium Hoppy Loft, side by side with Or. Pours black with a small thick tan head. Aroma of rich chocolate, roasted malt, molasses, light coffee and a touch of vanilla. Flavour is heavy sweet and moderate to heavy bitter. Mouthfeel is thick and oily. Full bodied with soft carbonation. A little fuller and more intense than the Or.

4.1
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 15/20
Aniela (1490) - Skövde, SWEDEN - AUG 18, 2012
Bottle at CCB Day, Sätila 2012-07-07. Black beer with a small beige head. Raisin, plum and malty aroma. Similar flavour. A nice beer.

4
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
daje (1291) - NORWAY - JUL 28, 2012
Bottle at Mikkeller Bar, july 19th 2012. Black colored, small breamy brown head. Aroma of chocolate, wood, citrus. Roasty taste with american hops, honey, dark fruits. Warm and vicious body, lasting dry bitterness. A really good beer.


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