12 oz bottle. Batch 352 which I think says 12/19/10 as the bottled on date, but I bought this way before that so that cannot be correct. My suspicion is that is a best before date. Anyway... Black pour with some brownish highlights. Not much head, very little lace, but it settles to give a spotty, creamy film on the surface. Nose offers plenty of hop character, and it is typically aggressive for the style and the two breweries involved. That carries forward to the taste where the hops could be...
Notes on beers in the style
American Black Ale
Midnight Special India-Style Black Ale
So, I had heard about the new limited, special series that Glenn at Jailhouse was going to release and this one popped up at Green's on Buford yesterday. $8.99 for the large (bomber like) bottle. Part of the new, Solitary Confinement Series; Cool! Not sure that I understand the label with the train bearing down on the convict in his bed, but, hey...whatever! The pour is a very rich looking, dense, totally black affair that pours with a real, 'gloop, gloop' noise as it comes out of the bottle....
Iniquity (Imperial Black Ale)
It seems as though Southern Tier has decided to jump on the IBA bandwagon since the tap handle for this now proudly displays the letters "iba" in a very prominent fashion and "Iniquity" in much smaller font. On tap, Taco Mac Douglasville, GA, USA. I've never seen this on tap before, but then again I've never really looked for it since this is a style that generally does not interest me much. Pour has a couple of interesting aspects. Firstly it is black but definitely has some reddish brown...
Hoppy Feet (Black I.P.A.)
OK, big props to Gregg for taking the time and the trouble to hook me up. I truly appreciate the gesture. Firstly, the style or name "Black IPA" is ludicrous and I am glad that American Brewers Association agrees with me and calls this type of beer, "American-Style India Black Ale"! Anyway, back to this particular ASIBA! Pour is a dark, dark chestnut (bordering on black) brown body with a lovely, creamy, thick mocha head. A few orange/red highlights at the extremities which are enhanced by the...
Terrapin Capt’n Krunkles Black IPA
22 oz from Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. Gold foil on the neck as the remainder of the Side Project series, but reflects Depth Charge rather than the 1-9 side project label. Pour is great looking, Inky black with a resplendent head that is thick and big with great retention and lace. The look is by far the best part of this beer - by a mile! Nose is a hop based one but is light and reminds me of an anesthetic - think a visit to the dentist. The tastes are nasty bitterness upon nasty bitterness....
Yakima Glory
12 oz single from Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. Heard various descriptions of this, including "Black Pale Ale" (which I cannot abide) so I was interested (and anxious) to see what this looked like before anything else. The beer pours with a deep, granet, reddish hue with great clarity. Nice head and lace considering the ABV, it looks good in the glass. Semi-sweet nose with some sinus clearing, tea-like hops. Tastes are obviously hop-forward and quite dry, but there is a degree of balanced...
Dark Hops
New entrant to the Atlanta market that I picked up at Hop City, Atlanta, GA, USA. Didn't really fancy this much, but Kraig persuaded me and I am delighted that he did. Pour produces a MASSIVE, and I mean MASSIVE, dark, dark mocha colored head and a jet black body. Amazingly looking pour! Nose is maasive (again) hugely malty and sweet, followed by a tiny, medicinal, herbal hop finish. Much the same is experienced in the tastes. This largely feels like an English, relatively sweet stout until...
Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale
Thanks go out to RustyDiamond for the chance to sample this one at The Brick Store, Decatur, GA, USA. 22 oz bomber. VERY dark pour, almost black with a substantial head. This "looks" like a stout. Plenty of roasted malts present, even with some burned character. A little cooking chocolate in there too. Couple that bitterness with an extremely hoppy taste and aroma and you have a beer that drinks with some stout characteristics. Not really my cup of tea for an American Strong. I prefer the...