Marduk (21900) - Reval, ESTONIA - APR 5, 2023UPDATED: APR 5, 2023 330ml bottle (thanks martjoobolut). Black color. Citrus, fruity, juicy, spruce tips in aroma/taste.
Alengrin (11013) - Gent, BELGIUM - FEB 18, 2023UPDATED: FEB 18, 2023 Black IPA by this craft brewery in Alicante in Spain, longneck bottle bought at De Apotheek, a new craft beer boutique in Ghent. Thick and foamy, pale mocha-beige, pillowy and regular, dense, stable head, initially clear very dark chocolate brown robe with mahogany edges - black in general appearance, but a storm of swirling bubbles is visible in the mahogany glow near the bottom of the glass. Powerful aroma of grapefruit peel, toasted onion, pine resin, roasted walnuts, black coffee, wet leather, black peppercorns, dried blackcurrants, burnt raisins, toasted rye bread, fresh bayleaf, marmite. Cleanly fruity onset, vague dried blackcurrant and fig sweetishness, touches of porcini-like umami and a thin sourish undertone, medium carbonated with rounded, soft, resinous mouthfeel; oily bitter black-chocolatey and toasted rye-bready core with notes of hard caramel and eventually black coffee, the latter supporting a piney and peppery hop bitterness with some leafy extensions as well as a grapefruity retronasal aroma - providing long, stretched-out bitterness, which nevertheless remains relatively soft and smooth for the style. The classic piney and oniony hop aromas are there, however, more so than in many other European BIPAs I had through the years, and while the hops could have been more outspokenly tonic-bitter, they do last for a long time and deposit a spicy-bitter coating on the root of the tongue, matching well with the roasty coffee-like malt bitterness. Quite classic in its make-up, the rye adding smoothness and spiciness and the hops being sufficiently aromatic, I cannot but conclude that this is a more than decent 'Cascadian' - I had many more disappointing examples than this one. Quite delicious if you are into this style, if this is Althaia's general level of quality, then I cannot wait to taste more of their beers.
mike_77 (14387) - Breda, NETHERLANDS - JAN 26, 2023UPDATED: JAN 26, 2023 Black with creamy head. There is an element of dark forest fruit, especially blackcurrants. That's giving a juicy bittersweet note. Quite low bitterness overall for the style.
oh6gdx (44883) - Vasa, FINLAND - DEC 31, 2022UPDATED: DEC 31, 2022 Sample (thanks omhper!). Very deep brown colour, small off-white head, even though quite lively carbonation. Aroma is caramel, some roast, mild dried fruits and some toffee to it. Nice fruity and roasted aftertaste.
rawelon (360) - CZECH REPUBLIC - MAR 23, 2022UPDATED: MAR 23, 2022 Dark brown colour with lower beige head. Aroma of lemon, pine, rye bread, licorice. Taste starts with fruity bitterness of grapefruit and melon sweetness. Taste evolves with coffee tones to licorice finish. Stays more on the ipa side than anything actually dark. Great beer nevertheless.
melush (14633) - SPAIN - FEB 7, 2022UPDATED: FEB 7, 2022 33cl Can @ LaBIRRAtorium, Madrid, Spain.
Dark brown colour with a thin tan head.
Aroma is roasted malt, coffee, hops, pine.
Taste is roasted malt, coffee, licorice, hops, citrus, resin.
Medium body, average carbonation.
mzaar (7454) - Varberg, SWEDEN - NOV 8, 2021UPDATED: NOV 8, 2021 Flaska från SB. Mörkt brunfärgad med ett medelstort beige skum. Dofter och smaker av citrus, lakrits, rostad malt, choklad och tall. Just den här kombinationen som jag önskar av en BIPA, och här snyggt gjort.
NordicV (4866) - Malmö, Sweden, SWEDEN - OCT 21, 2021UPDATED: OCT 21, 2021 Flaska från Systembolaget. Mörkare brun öl med ett ljusbeige skum. Doft och smak av rostad malt, tallbarr, citrus, grapefrukt och lättre lakritstoner.
AndySnow (16554) - Huddinge, SWEDEN - SEP 1, 2021UPDATED: SEP 1, 2021 How: Bottle.
Where: Systembolaget.
Appearance: Dark brown colour with a tan head.
Aroma: Roasted malt, grapefruit, pine, liquorice, citrus, caramel.
Body: Medium body and carbonation.
Flavour: Roasted malt, citrus, grapefruit, caramel, liquorice.
EerieDrinks (1416) - Malm�, SWEDEN - AUG 2, 2021UPDATED: AUG 2, 2021 3 finger beige head. Stays for a long while. Bits of lacing all over.
Very dark brown coloured beer.
Aroma of coffee, lightly metallic note, rye bread, dark chocolate and a hint of citrus pith.
Taste of exactly the same without the metallic note and with a soft, peachy finish.
Mouthfeel is light but with a rather creamy body. Medium bitterness. Medium-low carbonation. Dry finish. Very drinkable.
Overall: I may love this style and as such I may be biased but it's also really hard to nail the balance a Cascadian Dark requires. Very good stuff!