Phillips Black Toque India Dark Ale

22 oz bottle brought back to MI from victoria, BC. definite reminders of stone’s 11th and founders black rye. roasted barley and hops abound; it pours with a beige head (surprisingly sticky) and has a huge cascade and green citrus presence - definitely dry-hopped. flavor is roasty and a bit sweeter, interesting blend of stout and IPA flavors. it doesn’t quite achieve the desirable characteristics of either, but at the same time it gets enough of both styles to make this an enjoyable drinkable brew.

Numerous bottles in Whistler, BC to cop a buzz in the winter weather. Dark brown with whispy head and lace. Smoky aroma with toast and caramel. Medium bitterness with a tiny floral character over the cocoa. Lots of carbonation finish the beer nicely. A good session beer that can be drank all night. I’m right there with the numbers on this one J.

Bottled in Whistler, BC. Aroma and flavor wrap up a combination of toasted caramel malts, pine hops, and earthy undertones. Some chocolate in the middle with a bittering pine finish. A nice brew, especially considering the selection we had.

Pours dark brown with a tan fluffy head. Smells earthy with some hints of lemons and spices. Tastes of caramel, spice, some pepper, lots of sweet malt. Reminiscent of a schwarzbier.

In short: Superior India Dark Ale combining rich roasted malts and citric hops with strong bitterness
How: Bottle, probably 2 to 3 months old
The look: Dark ruby body with a long-lasting large beige head leaving good lacing
In long: Attack of toffee and citrus moving into a chocolate and citric finish. A touch of smoke and quite a bit of roasted wood. Roastiness level in the medium-high range. Fresh leafy hops are citric/lemony and pine-needles. This beer offers a lot of contrast between the rich maltiness and the citric hopping. Fruity notes are light with distant fruit cake feeling. Balance is slightly towards the hops and that’s ok. Strong bitterness that is both resinous and citric. India Dark Ale and I are like baggy pants and a rap singer, it’s a new trend that suits me just fine.

Thanks to Carl for this one--From a 22 oz. bottle--Poured a dark black-amber body with a big tan head. Bright floral hoppy and sweet malt nose. Quite fruity with a big bitter finish. Nice notes of chocolate and faint raisins and caramel. Yum!

Bière noire, claire, qui donne une superbe mousse beige meringuée surabondante et tenace. Les arômes sont terreux, presque ferreux. Le goût est celui du thé fort, du café torréfié, de la farine brulée. Comme c’est une IPA, il y a un houblon très présent. La bouche est ronde, la maousse est un peu trop présente. C’est ma toute première ’dark IPA’, le résultat est intéressant mais pas renversant. Selon moi, une plus forte teneure en alcool aurait aidé.

Deep well balanced flavor but a bit too bitter in the finish. Beautiful Chocolate color and delicious scents of floral and hops.