4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Rather like a thick, hoppy porter. Chocolate-heavy nose, green plant aroma, hop oil and hefty malt flavor. It was the best thing on the menu at the time - surprising that it’s rockin’ a sub-3 average...
3.4 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
On tap @ the brewpub in Champaign. Very dark brown, creamy tan head that leaves sheets of lace. This almost looks nitro but it’s not. Very roasty aroma, with background hops. In a blind tasting I wouldn’t guess this to be a black IPA by the nose. The palate is well hopped however, mostly conifer and citrus pith with a nice roasty malt base. Balanced, enjoyable.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Sampled on tap at the brewpub (Normal, IL). Pours a blackish brown hue, a darker brown edges that show some glow and clearness, frothy tan head dies to a film, laces well. Aromas are roasty and cocoa, dry florals and some faint grapefruit, florals, and some biscuits. A decent hopping grows on the nose. Initial is a medium bodied offering a healthy bitter hopping up front, dry florals and grapefruit mix, essence of pine, moving into some toasty and roasty malts, some cocoa, biscuit sweetness. Into the middle, the bitterness and hop essence grows, remaining good and dry, bitter citrusy and earthy florals and piney hops. Touches of toast and roast, some mellow sweeter malts, nothing getting into that Black Patent area. Finish throws good bitterness, cocoa, lingering solid dryness. Very nice, lighter and drinkable. Really nice.
3.6 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
draft... dark brown beer, a bit of and off color, perfect head and lacing... the aroma is good but too light, only a little roast, a lot of soap, residual pine... tastes better than the nose, more roast with chocolate... crushable
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
UPDATED: OCT 1, 2011 4oz sample at the Bloomington location... Pours a darker semi-stouty, more akin to a deeper toffee brown, and topped with a creamy light beige head... Aroma of citrusy hops upfront reinforced by enough dark roasted malt to make a presence ... Earthy pale dark roast base accentuated with some light a bittering citrusy hop profile. Smooth texture with a more than adequate bitter finish. Nicely executed for the style and not too heavily roasted which maintains a good balance between malt and hops.
3.9 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Draft and cask at Destihl. Pours a blackish-brown with an offwhite head. Nose is fresh Amarillo hops. Notes of peach and tangerine with a hint or roast. Clean fermentation. Taste is a strong bitterness, both from hops and a touch of grain bitterness. Nice body to it, full and malty with more of the citrusy hops present. Much better than most of their other beers. Very solid.
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