Hoppin Frog Bodacious Black & Tan

22oz bottle from WLV....pours a dark cola brown accompanied by a light brown head that was quick to dissipate.... aroma favored much of the oats, roastiness, and chocolate of BORIS and the hops have essentially subsided over time.... from a flavor perspective, both base beers make their presence known first with the assertive roasted flavors of the stout and then a slightly bittering hop finish from the ipa. creamy and oily mouthfeel added to the quality of this beer.... all in all, pretty nicely done.

Chalice. Thank god I used glassware with such a wide mouth, for this bodacious beast pours nearly black with huge frothy three finger head that bolliows far above the rim of the chalice. Aroma evident upon opening- lots of grassy and floral hops with some chocoalte and oatmeal. I’m glad to have tried B.O.R.I.S. last night so I can pick up on the subtleties of the stout in the aroma. Hops dominate aroma, but roasty malt come though to show itself just a tad. Flavor is quite interesting and flat out tastey. I have an affiity towards super hoppy dark ales, so this one was quite a treat. Flavor is super hoppy- dry grassy and citrusy with lots and lots of roasty malt considering its only 1/3 stout. Hops balance out the chocolate sweetness of the malt whilst still maintaining a low enough profile to not be cumbersome or overbearing. Balance is superb. After taste is of sweet malt with a slight hop tinge. Flavors are not incredibly powerful by any means, but balance makes up for it. Palate is think and oily, which is eye opening at first given the hop character. Should a such a hoppy brew have such a silky and rich mouthfeel? I don’t know, but Fred managed to pull it off nicely. Pretty drinkable despite its thickness and hoppyness. A unique and well crafted brew- Interesting tactics lead to interesting beer- nice job.

Semi-thick sienna brown. Aroma is a muted amalgam of hops and deep chocolate malts; herbal and citrusy while at the same time luxuriously sweet in tones of graham cracker, fudge and black cherry. The most prominent characters of each individual component, namely the quiet but zesty herbal quality of the IPA and the dense creamy oats of the stout, are likewise most prominent here. Somehow the reservation of its impression doesn’t seem so fitting as it did in those individual experiences, though. A punchier bitterness and a more thorough malt depth is in sight, but doesn’t quite pan out.

Floral hops are a bittersweet framing. Nutty, cookie like malts and a silken oat texture provide depth and structure underneath. Generally still quite resigned flavors; refreshing and comforting while remaining substantive. Rich and dusty dark chocolate. Quiet coffee. Citrus punch and cantaloupe. Throughout, the hops are sunny and lighthearted, while the malt is carefully rich and warmly sweet; never an astringent moment of bitterness of either type.

Silky palate. Woodsy. Medium body with soft carbonation. Lingers at the finish with a dried caramel and graham cracker brownish sweetness. The blend works well enough and it’s very easy to drink, but it keeps suggesting that more stout in the blend and more hops at the other end would really push it past its simple pleasantry, and it must be a strong impression made to come from a person who’s rarely high on higher gravity. Thanks Chris!

22 oz. bottle - thanks to fiver29 for the trade; deep, dark brown and clear along the edges with off white head; expected mix of roastiness and hops; texture on the thin side, but very smooth; dry finish, no bitterness; a style that more folks should produce to maximize certain IPA and stout characteristics; very nice

From a 22oz bomber, pours a dark brown, nearly black color. Coffee, dark, chocolate, piney, citrusy hoppy aroma. The hops and dark maltyness of these 2 beers work great together. a nice flavorful complex beer