 WeeHeavySD (1711), San Diego (Hillcrest), California, USA
Apr 15, 2008
Tap @ O’brien’s. Pour took a long time, I guess the tap had just been put on. Pours black with a tan ring. Nose is malty and sweet, not really much hops on the nose. Taste is malty and hoppy and sweet, slight bitter, very nice, very tasty.
hopscotch (4477), Vero Beach, Florida, USA
Sep 1, 2008 Draft... RBSG... Almost pitch black with a burnt orange hue when held up to the So Cal sunshine. Nice, creamy, off-white head with terrific retention and thick, creamy lacework that clings tightly to the side of the glass. Hoppy, fruity, roasted aroma. Full-bodied with a skim-milk mouthfeel and tickling carbonation. A lot of bitterness with low residual sweetness, but near-balance is somehow attained. Deeply roasted finish provides moderate bitterness with a pinch of salt.
BrotherGrendel (135), San Diego (La Jolla), California, USA
Aug 23, 2008 On draft at O’Brien’s for CBC/WBC.
Appearance is a pitch black hue, thin layer of off-white head dissipates, minimal lacing.
Smell is big grassy and pine hops, subtle roast and caramel malts, alcohol, and sweet candy.
Taste is big hops and alcohol burn initially, opens up to coffee and roast malts, pine resin and caramel linger, finishes bitter and dry with moderate alcohol presence.
Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, watery smooth texture, amped up carbonation.
Drinkability is moderate and hampered mostly by the alcohol presence which seems larger than the 8%, overall a nice balance of malts and hops, more of a sipping beer.
DA (2419), Portland, Oregon City, Oregon, USA
Aug 16, 2008 RBSG 2008. I really enjoyed this beer, very nice floral flavors that worked off the malts up front. The malts had a nice depth, layers of caramel and cherry, hints of chocolate, all balanced against the hop finish. One of the better "black ipas" i’ve had.
RunDWP (158), San Jose, California, USA
Aug 13, 2008 Updated: Aug 17, 2008On tap. Wow! What an experience. Flavors of licorice(!), grapefruity hops, and a little roasted malt. Dark brown color with a persistant tan head with excellent lacing on the glass. A little hoppy aroma. Completely unique and original. Liked it a lot.
riversideAK (1579), Shoreline, Washington, USA
Aug 12, 2008 Dark brown with a thin tan head. Aroma is strong and hoppy with West Coast prerequisites of grapefruit and pine. Darker malts hit first on the flavor with an interesting roast and a little fruitiness. This is trumped by huge hops. Pine and grapefruit take over and kick my mouth’s ass. Bitter and resiny. Dry and tasty. Unique mix between roast and hops. I liked this one a lot!
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