Phillips Black Toque India Dark Ale

Tasted in Vancouver ending a trip for the 70th IETF meeting. Appearance is dark black, slightly dark reddish hue when held up to the light. Thin wispy white head, sustained. Hoppy bitter aroma, soapy. Flavour is well balanced between burnt caramel / malt and bitter hop finish. Simple but pleasant.

Aroma:strong fruity hops aroma.... Appearance:clear dark brown,mega huge head... Flavor:stronf fruit hops flavor,light chocolate...

Bottle: Poured a deep black color ale with a huge foamy head with some great retention and some lacing. Aroma of medium bitter roasted malt mix with some dry bitter hops. Taste also consists of roasted malt with some bitter dry hops which is not the most interesting combination IMO. Body is about average with some great carbonation. Interesting but not necessarily something I would go for regularly.

650 ml bottle from BC liquor store Burnaby: Dark brownish amber color with a rocky light beige head. Aroma is dark roast malt and chocolate. Flavor starts burnt coffee and bitter dark chocolate with a light chicory bitter finish. Medium body is smooth and creamy with medium-soft carbonation.

I was disappointed when i first tried this Phillips beer but am eager to try it again given my impressions are so much lower than the average. Found that the balance of malt and hops was off, as if the type of malt was inappropriate for the hop variety used (or vice-versa). Has potential but this just didn’t do it for me.

Date: October 20, 2005
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
Appearance: clear dark brown, headless
Aroma: sweet grapefruit aroma
Flavor: big malt flavor with lots of hops, touch of chocolate, light lingering bitter finish
Overall: great idea but needs a bit more body and sweetness

Date: September 12, 2009
Mode: bottle
Words: central city liquor
Appearance: dark brown, fine beige head, sudsy lace
Aroma: sweet chocolate and pine aroma, touch of caramel
Flavor: dry chocolate flavor, touch of roasted, light hops, some caramel sweetness shows up after a bit and enrichens the chocolate

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Bomber from BC Liquor Store, shared with Blair, cold in a small pint glass. JN0207

App.: Rootbeer brown, clear with a frothy tan head. Aroma: Strong black coffee, cacao, bitter-sweet chocolate, herbal hops and resin. Palate: Medium body and carbonation. Flav.: Chocolate, codl coffee, some of the hops aroma; very dry with solid bitterness and slight lingering hop flavour.

Lovely stuff.

Hazy almost opaque brown with a kahki head. Aroma is roasted malts, citrus hops. Flavor is roasted malts, a hint of chocolate, with a light bitter hop finish.