Fish Tale Swordfish

Brewed by Fish Brewing Company/Leavenworth Beers
Style: Black IPA
Olympia, Washington USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

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Bottle shared with Parksy. Dark brown with a medium light tan head. Luscious citrus and pine aroma, juicy and fresh. Nothing in the aroma suggests dark malts, only because the fresh hop load is overwhelming. Hops also dominate the palate, but here the malts provide the essential balance that makes this beer such a treat. It isn’t that dark traits are prominent in the flavour profile because of the hop domination, but rather the roasted malt provides a less sweet, less sticky base, allowing the hops to shine without becoming astringent or harsh. A truly unique balance, and probably the best example of the style I’ve yet tried, next to Stone’s Sublimely Self Righteous. But at nearly $11 per bottle, I probably won’t be enjoying it often.

Putting this up head to head with a bottle of Hopworks Organic Session Cascadian Dark Ale. Poured out an ultra dark brown with a thick light brown head that is quite compact and leaves plenty ’o lacing. The aroma powered out of the bottle once I tore the cap off and damn, it is excellent. Soooo fresh! Gotta thank the local distributor for getting this so freaking fresh. Massive citrus hit hard and made me forget all about the HUB CDA sitting in the glass mere inches away as that one was no where near as awesome. Oranges, rrgf, sweet lemon, pine, resin. The sweet part morphs into the well balanced malts, roasty, toasty and a touch of cold coffee peering out on occasion. finishes out the aroma with a peachy nectarine richness. Just poured the second half of the bottle in and the cap is of stout quality in compactness and how it bends along the rim. Excellent flavour! Huge, fresh hop citrus wonderfulness, plenty of pine, rrgf, light chocolate, light roast, peach, rich, lots of fruit, wonderful taste. Medium bodied, long finish with plenty of bitterness and a malty base that has no caramel in it, praise his name.Very very good beer. For once I get a hold of a very fresh hoppy American beer and I’m loving it. Drink this as soon as you can buy it. A top end IPA with a softer, darker malted background which works very well for me. Got to drink the last third of the bottle without thinking about reviewing and it holds up big time. A highly satisfying beer with plenty of complexity. As for the direct comparison? There is no comparison. This beer is far superior to me - bolder, fresher, better and lacking coffee. I’d take this beer over the Hopworks 10 out of 10 times.

well laced and almost jet black colour. Huge hoppy aroma, roast, some corn mash/ketchup chip note and grapefruit. BIg fruity aroma are met almost perfectly by alcohol and roast. very rich, complex and super tasty!

UPDATED: SEP 28, 2012 Bomber at The Fishery Restaurant in San Diego.....how ironic. Never heard of this brewery before but they nailed this one. Great beer....maybe I’m biased because I’m a huge CDA fan.....oh sorry ratebeer.com, I mean Black IPA....lame.

Bottled sample from Garrison Ale House. Delicious chocolate smell. Brown black in appearance. Little carbonation. Nice hop finish. Great chocolate taste

22oz Bomber- Fish Tale Brewery - Olympia, WA
Dark brown in color, clear with a thin head. Tons of hops from the opening of the bottle. Huge dark malt and hops flavors. This was big Double IPA/malt madness. Awesome dark roast flavors big hops flavor and finish this was a great beer.

Pours a very dark brown with a big tan head and a lot of lacing. Nose of citrus and flowers. Full body and a smooth cream mouthfeel. The flavor is roasted malts with chocolate, and and long hop finish with bitterness. A really well crafted Black IPA.

650ml brown bottle. Very dark brown pour, small tan head which leaves almost no lacing. Nice hoppy nose, pine, citrus, chocolcate malts. Flavour is of chcoolate malts up front, spicy grapefruity and piney hop flavours. Nice long, lingering bitterness with a grapefruit aftertaste and some slight roasty notes. Medium body, gentle carbonation, general good mouthfeel, enjoyable.

Ruby black color with tan foam. Floral, pine sap, ganga bud, grass, fruity chocolate aromas. Smooth medium body. Dark chocolate, pale malt flavors with floral, pine sap, grass--very good

Bomber from Hayduke. This poured opaque black with a nice beige head. Hops lead the aroma. This was as nice a black IPA as I have had. Some very nice west coast hop notes mixed well with anise and pine notes. Some roasty and toasty effects along with rich malts. A very nicely brewed beer.