Karl Strauss Blackball Belgian IPA

Brewed by Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
San Diego, California USA

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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[Bottle] Lightly hazed pale yellow appearance, good heaf formation. Caramel malt, candy and coriander on the nose. Sweet crystal malt, sugarry palate. hoppy citrus kicks in early and while there’s plenty of it, it kind of loses out to the sweet sugarry malt. The Belgian side never really shows up in the flavor, appearing more as a mix between an IPA and a red ale.

Pours a medium yellow. Aroma is sorta blah for an IPA. A bit of licorice an Belgian yeast taste here but to me it is working against the Hops. Better than the average Karl Strauss though.

650 ml bottle from Bev4less. Pours a translucent copper color with a big foamy white head that has good retention. The aroma is characterized by classic Belgian yeasts, coriander and floral hops. The taste is that of a Belgian style dubbel first and foremost--there is coriander, yeast, biscuit, mango, papaya and musty oranges. The palate is silky smooth with soft carbonation. The finish is medium in duration and dry with an odd spicy aftertaste. Overall: More of the character of a Belgian dubbel than that of a DIPA. Tasty, but a bit experimental.

Bottle from E street Liquor: Poured a dense golden brass color and was topped by a frothy layer of foam head. As for the aroma, my nose is instantly gratified with a heavy dosage of Belgian yeast that is decked out with spices and has scents of coriander, black licorice, and crushed peppercorn while also having a strange smell of dried out dank. The flavor is much more subtle in its delivery, however, it still does have a spicy profile of yeast that suggests all of the same ingredients that I mentioned in the aroma, but comes together well with the thick syrupy Karl Strauss malts and light background of zesty citrus like hops. This is an okay beer that’s meant to only be tasted once since I know I won’t be purchasing another bottle or ordering it in a bar unless they don’t have anything better.

Appearance: Pours a vibrant copper with a dense fluffy white head that retains for some time.

Aroma: A big bouquet of citrus (grapefruit, tangerine, lemon). Spicy Belgian yeast.

Taste: A mouthful of spicy, fruity yeast, bitter juicy grapefruit and piny hops. Finishes with spice and big bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Fairly fizzy, full bodied.

Overall: I often times don’t care for Golden Ale, Tripels, and Belgian IPAs do to the associated yeast profile. I do, however like a west coast double IPA style Belgian IPA. This was a real tasty beer that I can put into the like column as far as pale Belgian’s go. Drink this fresh to enjoy this with all of its citrusy goodness, that bouquet is what made the beer for me.

22oz bottle thanks to bu11zeye. Deep amber pour with a good amount of off-white head. Aromas of candi sugar, bready malt, and Belgian yeast. Flavor has some rye spice with citrus and spicy Belgian yeast.

On tap at urge in poway. Ruby amber with disappearing head. Nose honey Belgian and hops. Taste thick Belgian gooey thickness and mid hoppiness. Candy alcohol. Just ok.

Taster at Sorrento Valley location: Dark amber color with a small off-white head. Aroma is belgian spice. Flavor starts lightly sweet and peppery followed by a hint of coriander, a grassy bitterness with a faint trace of bubblegum and a little alcohol heat in the finish. Medium body is smooth with moderate carbonation.

Pour from a bomber. Hazy orange color, good combo of hops and citrus sweetness. A nice Belgian IPA.

Bottle. Pours gold with a bit of white head. Aroma is fruity, orange, yeasty, bit of spice. Light bodied with a faint bitterness, pretty solid.