R.J. Rockers Black Perle

Brewed by R.J. Rockers Brewing Co.
Style: Black IPA
Spartanburg, South Carolina USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

THOUGHTS: OK, so if they hopped this one 8 times how come it didn’t seem hoppy? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very tasty, but don’t tell us it’s hoppy when it’s not. Tell us about the malts, since that’s what we’re tasting. Very nice, but not at all like what they are promoting. Coffee flavors were the real star here. Americna hops are more interesting in this style, but this is a unique take on the style. Personally, I would put this in the American strong ale category. Opposite of most beers in that the bitterness grew as it warmed instead of the malt. Hid alcohol incredibly well. Perfectly balance, especially in the aroma. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a very dark read that looked nearly black in the glass with a small, off-white head that mostly diminished to a point of only tiny spots and a thing ring around the edge that somehow left good lacing. The aroma was moderate to heavy roasted malt and mild coffee; lighter dark chocolate; and light to moderate citrus hops. The initial flavor was rather sweet, lightly bitter and lightly acidic; while the finish was very sweet, better and acidic with a long duration. There was coffee, roasted malt, black cherry, citrus, dark chocolate, piney hops, and resinous hops. It had tons of initial flavor, but it dropped off a little in the finish. The slightly more than medium body was rather syrupy and then dry with fizzy carbonation and a slightly alcoholic and lightly dry finish.

Recommended by Jamie of the Wooden Keg. Pours almost black very dark brown hues with almost no head. Aroma of choc and a blend of hops malts, a little weak though. Not reminiscent of an IPA at all, it has a bitter chocolate flavor, nuts, some maltiness, Full body, soft carbonation, it has a long finish that is actually rather sweet. Gets better as it warms.

Location: 22 oz bottle from Norm’s, 1/28/10

Aroma: Nose of chocolate, roasted malts, toast, caramel, pine, citrus, and nuts
Appearance: Dark brown beer with a minimal tan head and spotty lace
Flavor: Taste is roasted malts and bittersweet chocolate mostly, some bitterness
Palate: Medium-full bodied beer with soft carbonation and a bit astringent, booze are well-hidden
Overall Impression: This one only has a few ratings thus far, looks like a relatively new offering. I wouldn’t describe this as a DIPA/IIPA at all. It kind of has the feel of a porter, it isn’t what I would call a hoppy beer. I think I would like this beer more if they hadn’t tried to sell it to me as an IPA, so I’m taking off a bit from the overall for that. It doesn’t fit the style at all, but it is pretty good.

The Dan Journal #323. Tasted 1/18/10. 22oz bomber. Dark with a ruby brown hue. Trace ring of khaki head. Aromas of caramel and cinnamon buns with a backseat of grapefruit. Medium bodied with a cocoa and cola flavor. Dark toasty malts and very dry on the finish. Hops are bitter but with a higher astringency.

Bomber. Dark brown, small lightly tan head. Looks really nice. Nose is roasted chocolate, slight alcohol, not a lot else. Pleasant, but not very zippy. Initial taste is a big dose of slightly bitter chocolate, leading to a little brown sugar and an ashiness that surrounds a nice, prickling bitterness. Just a slight citrus as it warms. Noticeable alcohol warmth finishes. Finish is mouth coating with some milk chocolate sweetness. Pretty decent, first half of the glass was really tasty, though the sweet chocolate and slight boozy finish were a little much towards the end of the glass.

Small tan head with good retention and a thin coating lace. Near black in color ceptin for some ruby highlites. Nose is nice light roast and citrus. Medium bodied, lightly oily and chewy, good carbonation level. Funky roast flavors, light grassiness, light chalkiness and maybe a hint of black patent, orangey citrus notes as well. Fairly dry roasty finish, decent bitterness. Better than expected. Waxed bomber procured @statelineliquors.

22oz bottle. Small tan head atop cola-brown body. Aroma is medium sweet, roast, chocolate, light grapefruit. Taste is moderately sweet, roast, grapefruit, some bittersweet chocolate, light alcohol warming. Smooth medium-full body, alcohol fairly well contained.

Bottle. Pours a dark brown with a very thin head and aromas of brown sugar, peat, a little bit of resin. Flavor has quite a bit of dark malt sweetness-- chocolate, brown sugar, peat-like smokiness, a bit of resiny hops and a nice chocolate aftertaste. This is one of the more interesting black IPA style beers I’ve had.

Black IPA’s are fun. This one was not really aggressive on the hoppage was more like a slightly hoppy porter. I think these things fare better with an american hop profile....but that’s just me.

UPDATED: DEC 19, 2009 22 oz. Deep chestnut with ruby highlights. Small creamy disc of foam lasts and laces well. Nose is espresso, popcorn (no butter), and oak. Flavors of coffee, oak, citrus, dark-roasted walnut and bitter chocolate. Medium-heavy body is smoothly carbonated, roasty dry and thinned out well by the alcohol.