Phillips Black Toque India Dark Ale

Deep mahogany brown with a foamy tan cap that stays around for the duration. The aroma is all IPA-- lots of resinous hop aroma, some citrus and tropical fruit. The palate is initially very roasty, a little earthy, but then the bold hops take over with delicious graperfruit, ending in a bittersweet finish. I had some roasted almonds while drinking this and it really drew out the faintly smoky roasted character. A complex beer that is a little beguiling, but extremely enjoyable and delicious.

Black with an off-white head with some lace but poor retention. Wonderful hoppy aroma! Wonderful roasted, dark taste, stout-like but with huge hop character. Grapefruit & espresso. Wonderful creamy, full body with good carbonation. Definitely a winning beer, dark enough for winter, refreshingly hoppy enough for a cool summer evening. Bold and satisfying.

Bottle, 650 ml, brewed in January 2004; eye: black, espresso head; nose: roasted malt, freshness, hops, grapefruit, citrus; mouth: acridness, nice finale in roasted malt, foamy texture FRANÇAIS Bouteille, 650 ml, brassée en janvier 2004; oeil : noire, mousse espresso; nez : malt rôti, fraîcheur, houblon, pamplemousse, citron; bouche : âcreté, belle finale en torréfaction, texture mousseuse

Very dry, burnt tastes, coffee and a dryish pear or even starfruit note up front. Slight metallic notes, but mostly dark coffee/cocoa with a very long bitter finish. The finish just wouldn’t quit, although it’s weakened by the thinness of the body. Good try, anyway.

"Aroma of Forest Floor" That is a great way to describe it. Nice combination of dark ale characteristics and the more hoppy IPA. Thanks to Piscator for the sample.

Bottled sample from Oakes. Shared with mnurda during one of our Friday afternoon "tastings" at the office. Dark brown in colour with hints of orange. Medium carbonation. Aromas of citric American hops, pine, forest floor, and some dark caramel. This one has a really unique flavor profile: starting with a juicy orangey and tree bark hop + caramel combo, and then drifting into the drying cocoa powder black malt territory of the porter style. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical of a porter/IPA combo, but the two styles work together REALLY well.

Bottle at Café Volo, august 2006 Great mix of a porter, and an IPA. Wonderful chocolate/smokiness of a porter, but at the end you get that great butterness of an IPA, great beer.

Reddish brown ale with a thick light moka head. A sweet caramel malt in aroma, with light fresh green hops. In mouth, a roasted torrefied malt with smooth hopping. A mix of porter and IPA. Nice. Bottle from JM in Port Coquitlam, BC. Nov. 3 tasting at Marc’s.