4.8 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 20/20
I’m always a little intrigued when a friend describes something as a "black IPA," bit usually a little on the disappointed side when I try it. Both descriptors set an expectation that is a touch contradictory; something that is hoppy-sweet and citrusy while at the same time roasty and malty. The two tastes are powerful ones, and balance between the two is frequently perceived by me as a touch boring. And RIS’s that shout about their hop content don’t usually taste hoppy to me - just too much going on to pick up the more nuanced note of bitterness, even if they dumped bushels of high-alpha hops into the mix, my tongue just can’t seem to enjoy them for everything else going on.
Wow - that is a long lead in to say that this beer is unique to say that it does this integration very well. It pulls off the balancing act without being boring; in fact it pulls it off so well it does the opposite - this beer is intriguing. It is dark and there is a dark-roasty-malt note to it, but it is also lightly sweet and citrus-y with pronounced bitterness. Both notes are there, but Stone has figured a way to make them play well together. If anything, the hops are more pronounced than the roast, which is the outcome I would’ve chosen (if given a choice). Appearance is quite pretty with a black-red body and tall white head. Aroma is as I’ve described flavor, and mouthfeel is like a solid IPA - not slick like a DIPA might be or cloying like a RIS frequently is.
All the way around - this is a heck of a beer, and I need to see if I can find some of it here in C-bus.
I bought my bottle down in KY, at Party Source in Newport.
4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
It tastes pretty good at room temperature. Imagine this: someone whispers and asks you to come here, they motion their finger so that you lean in listen, then they punch you in the face. This beer has a high abv that’s not forceful at first, but it packs a wallop with the big floral smell and the eventual effect on your senses. Smooth and still bitter, I give this an "A" grade.
3.7 AROMA 4/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 15/20
Pours almost opaque red with massive head that persists. Mild smell of smoke, alcohol, and wood. Thick, bittersweet smokey flavor with coffee, caramel, chocolate, hops, charcoal, butter, lots of citrus, and much more. Light, sticky finish.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Appearance: A deep brown color pours from the bottle but becomes absolutely once it’s in the glass and light isn’t getting through this at all. Very deep and solid looking. It’s almost a little intimidating. There’s a great dark beige head that towers at three fingers. The bubbles are massive and they stick around forever. Looks great in the glass.
Smell: The hop profile is strong on top but this beer has got secrets. There’s caramel, malt and a smooth breadiness that are lying just under the surface, playing over a strong smoke scent. Stone really knows how to make some aromatic beers and Self-Righteous teases the nose with the best of them.
Mouthfeel: Rich. There’s a refreshing, crisp quality here that still manages to be creamy.
Taste: Hops hit first and refresh more than anything. I was expecting a much more bitter hop expression and while there’s bitterness here, it’s just smooth and clean. The tartness of them help hold the beer together. Lots of grapefruit and tangerine. A bit of lime is hiding in there too. As it passes the center of the mouth, the caramel, malt and smoke steal the show. Really, really well balanced. As it warms, I start to sense a coffee flavor. The beer ends as refreshingly as it began with a tart hop profile. Very enjoyable.
Overall: A well balanced but still hop forward black ale that surprises with it’s complexity? Check. Decent price? Check. The fun of Stone brewery? Check. Another hit from Stone and another delicious hop-heavy black ale for the world.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
Appearance was clear root beer black with creamy diminishing off white 1 finger head, no lacing. Aromas are wild here with coffee ,caramel, coco and nutty malts. Hops of citrus pine, with herbal spiceyness and yeasts of dark fruits of cherry and fig. Taste where sweet chocolatly coffee roasty malts. Hops are shinnig through with lemons and herbal spicy citrus orange and cherries, complement the hops and malts well together. Palate was silky creamy carbonation with a medium-full like feel. The glorious rich,full, and hoppy average length balanced finish. Yummy, yummy love in my tummy...
3 AROMA 4/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 14/20
Nice dark brown color with a long lasting foamy white head. Fairly bold bitter taste with a smooth long cola coffee finish.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Bottle from Phictor, fuck you!! Pours dark brown, nice two finger dense brown head. Aroma is lovely hoppy with grapefruit, citrus, zest, a good malt profile with cocoa, caramel, very simple, but very balanced. Taste is very bitter and hoppy, lots of alpha acid. Exquisite malt profile - sweet caramel and cocoa notes without providing bitterness - that's up to the hops, the malts are merely complementary, which is exacty what it should be in a black IPA. This is the best black IPA I've had so far. This rocks!
4.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 10/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 19/20
Immense flavor! Hard to call this simply a Black IPA because it is so much more. The richness approaches some of the best Imperial Stouts while the hop-balance is on par with a great Double IPA. One amazingly complex beer and highly recommended.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
22 oz. bottle pours a very dark brown with a lasting tan head and good lacing. Smell is all piney and citrus hops. Aroma also has roasted malts, pine, rye bread, peach, and a bit of coffee. Taste is slightly sweet at first with the hops kicking in on the bitter finish, with alcohol evident soon after. Full bodied with an almost creamy mouthfeel and not too much carbonation. An excellent black IPA/IIPA which almost lives up to Stone’s usual hype printed on the back of the bottle.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
Let this guy warm up a bit and you’ll be able to appreciate the interesting hop profile that hides behind the bold malts. Flavors of hops, roasted malts, pine, coffee, and rye bread. Very nice aroma of dank hops and tropical fruits. Good stuff. Share with a friend because a whole bomber gets to be flavor overload.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Bottle. Color brown with big brown head. Aroma malt, caramel, chocolate, hop, grapefruit. Taste sweet, hop, peach, bitter, grass.
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