Samuel Adams Dark Depths

Brewed by Boston Beer Company
Style: Black IPA
Boston, Massachusetts USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

22oz Bomber Batch #1 Purchased at Libbie Market on Ridgefield. This was a disappointment. The IPA poured an attractive black and with a huge frothy tan head. There was plenty of lacing. This is the positives. Not much in the IPA area and the ale just missed the mark. There was a faint teriyaki type taste and possibly soy. It is just not other Black IPAs. Not very floral or citrus for an IPA. Contrasting flavors maybe the problem. This is difficult style of beer to be successful. Average carbonation with a finish that had some hints of bitterness.

Bottle. Rich roasted malt aroma reminiscent of some Baltic porters of eastern Europe such as Baltika 6. Hint of molasses and an even more subtle hint of lactose. Dark reddish brown body with a thin tan layer of head. Much drier than I expected and not hoppy at all. Baltic porter yes, Baltic IPA no. So when the description says, "confounds definition ."

Pours with almost no head. Dark amber you can just barely see light through. Hops hit you right away and then give way to a molossasy malt. These two styles are "brought together" according to the label, but I'm not sure they work together. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Dark brown and murky with red at the tinges. Pours a thick, lumpy head with lacing that stays around like beige whipped cream. Smells strongly of citrus hops and some pine as well. Tastes almost like a stout with coffee, dark malt and chocolate and hits you with a very strong citrus/pine hops. Some dark fruit on the tongue and more of the stout flavor in the finish. I was not expecting much and got a very good brew.

500ml bottle from Bottleworks. Clear, dark red-brown pour with a tall beige head which fades slowly and leaves heavy lace. Nose is light chocolate, roasty malts and resinous hops. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Chocolate milk, licorice, toffee, pine and citrus hops, burnt toast and hints of tropical fruit. Finish is of medium length and balanced like the aromas. Let this one warm up a bit and it’s very enjoyable. A great value in craft beer.

Pours a clear, but nearly black red-brown with a 2 finger, fluffy tan head that has great retention and leaves some very nice lacing. Aroma is very roasty and mineral, some toast and harsh, planty hops, and dark caramel on first sniff, a decent amount of pine, some citrus, toffee and a hint of smoke after that. Flavor is very nutty and roasty up front, then some chocolate, burnt sugar, earth, lots of odd, fruity, berry-like sweetness (like somebody decided to drop a little mixed berry and grape flavoring in it, weird), pine and sweet citrus, light vegetal notes, toasted wood and a hint of smoke. Palate is medium bodied with a lightly creamy entry, chewy middle, light, but somewhat sharp carbonation and off dry, oily finish. Not bad overall, but the fruity/berry notes don’t do anything good for me.

pours a clear maroon with a large tan head, and very good lacing. smell is of caramel, hops, malt, a slight roastiness, and a touch of cocoa. taste is of hops, a bit on the funky side, come cocoa, malt, a tad roasty, and a little smoke in the back. ends slightly bitter and a little funky aftertaste.

Bottle... Pours pitch black with a large, creamy, mushroom-colored head. Terrific retention. The nose is a swirl of dark mocha and leathery-earthy-lightly piney hops. Full-bodied and ultra-creamy with soft carbonation. Tasty lupulin takes a bit of a back seat to robust, malty notes of dark chocolate, espresso, molasses and caramel. Finishes singed and bittersweet, much like a singed campfire marshmallow.

I will have to agree with previous posts. Very disappointed. This is more of a creamy stout than an ipa. A mediocre stout at that. Bland and generic.

Pours burgandy black with a cocoa head. Nose spicy with bittersweet chocolate. Medium and bold on the tongue with ample carbonation and balanced brown bread and cinnamon mixed with light toffee and cider vinegar.