270. Bunker Brewing Belgian Black IPA

Made my first visit to Bunker Brewing Co in Portland last week while visiting some customers. Bunker is just starting to fill growlers and I believe they will have regular growlers hours starting this week. While I was there they had 2 options available; a pilsner and this Belgian Black IPA. This is another example of a style that probably doesn't truly exist but it is a black IPA brewed with a Belgian yeast strain.


Color is a deep brown not quite black with solid tan head. Beer seems to have a mild sweet smell but not much of a nose at all. Taste is sweet to start and finished with a nice bitterness that last a bit too long. This is an interesting combination of styles but not sure it works as well as I had hoped. ABV is in the mid-7s and is well masked by the smooth taste. 


Overall not a bad beer but completely average by my standards. Looking forward to trying other options from Bunker Brewing and will surely get this growler filled many more times. 
Pros: Smooth and easy to drink
Cons: Odd combination of styles
Alcohol Content: 7.3% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 
Brewers Website: Bunker Brewing (Facebook Page)

Brewers Description: No description available

219. Thornbridge Raven Black IPA

This is another one enjoyed at Ebenezer's Pub in Lovell, ME. Not sure it is actually from Thornbridge as I do not recall it listing the brewery on the menu. If someone from Ebenezer's happens across this post please let me know and I will update accordingly. 

Appearance is nearly black with slight tan head. Aroma has more malt than hops and is fairly subtle overall. Taste goes in the opposite direction with lots of hops with some hints of dark malts; chocolate, coffee that lingers a bit. Overall a quality black IPA but as I mentioned in my prior review of the Pitch Black IPA from Widmer I still prefer a nice double IPA to the new black IPAs coming on the market. 

Pros: Great dark color

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 6.6% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating:  
Brewers Website: Thornbridge Brewery

Brewers Description: website does not appear to be working today. 

216. Widmer Brothers Pitch Black IPA

I am not really sure why the beer industry felt the need to create a black IPA but they did and I will drink them just like any other IPA. The theory is the black IPAs will blend the chocolate, coffee taste of the malts with the hops from the IPA but most I have tried are still hop heavy just darker than the normal IPA or DIPA. 


The Widmer Pitch Black IPA follows this pouring a deep black with thin tan head, a very nice looking beer with only light aroma of citrus and pine. The second glass had a bit more malt smell as the beer had warmed slightly. Taste follows the smell with plenty of hops and a some malts coming through. Nothing too special here but a solid black IPA. Worth a try but don't spend any time seeking out a bottle of it. 

Pros: Appearance

Cons:  

Alcohol Content: 6.5% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 65
Rating:  
Brewers Website: Widmer Brothers

Brewers Description: Pitch black IPA takes you to the dark side with our take on Cascadian dark ale. Debittered black malt lends a midnight hue along with rich, toasty malt flavor. Generous doses of alchemy and cascade hops provide a complex herbal aroma and subtle citrus note, balanced perfectly by a smooth Widmer Brothers finish. Embrace the dark side.

205. Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Black IPA

This is my fifth beer from Harpoon but the first from their 100 Barrel Series. This series is designed to give their brewers a bit more freedom with a little more freedom starting out on a pilot system and then moving it to a limited production. This is the 40th from the series but first for me. I do have #41 already and will review that in the coming weeks. Harpoon makes quality beer so I am sure I will continue to enjoy the 100 Barrel Series.


This one is the Black IPA which pours almost black, only slight hints of red in the color with a thick tan head. Aroma is minimal but there are some hops and roasted malts (as you would expect form a black IPA). Taste is good but nothing that makes it stand out from other run of the mill IPAs. Easy to drink with a fair amount of carbonation. Overall a good beer just not very exciting. 
Pros: Appearance

Cons: Average taste

Alcohol Content: 7.0% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 67

166. New Glarus Black Top

This is the first of 12 beers I received as part of my first beer trade. I found someone on ratebeer.com that was looking for Maine Beer Company offerings and I shipped a mix of 12 beers from Maine, NH and Mass and he shipped me 12 beers from Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana. It was great to get home from work to a package of beer from another part of the country. Included were 4 options from New Glarus. Their Black Top is a Black IPA and it is excellent.Pours an almost black color with tan head that leaves excellent lacing on the glass. Aroma has a bit of everything starting off with some roasted malts and hops and a bit of citrus, pine in the end. The hops are up front in the taste but quickly balanced out. The beer is smooth, easy to drink and I enjoyed every last drop. A great start to my beer trading. 
Pros: Color, aroma, taste

Cons: 

Alcohol Content: 6.9% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): ??
Rating: 
Brewers Website: New Glarus

Brewers Description: We invite you to discover this newest beer style Black IPA. Political debate rages over the origins of this jet black beer as both coasts feel they deserve credit. Our Black Top is a pleasant road connecting Villages and Communities statewide on a ride of Black IPA discovery.
Expect this beer to pour a hop forward jet black glass brimming with aromatic bitterness. Brewmaster Dan skillfully weaves molasses and chocolate malt undertones with a soaring rush of clean citrus and pine hop notes, to deliver a drinkable Black IPA. Savor Black Top, like Wisconsin’s miles of licorice ribbons of ink that meander through armies of corn and bovine mowed fields. Enjoy the journey on a road less traveled.

117. Otter Creek Black IPA

Found this one at my local convenience store while picking up pizza for the family. Had not tried anything from Otter Creek and the style of Black IPA is fairly new so thought i would give it a try. The beer pours a very dark (not quite black) color with a thick tan head. Very little aroma but there is a slight hop, pine smell. Taste is about what you would expect with an IPA although there is a bit of a roasted taste to it before the hops kick in. Hops linger longer than some of the other IPAs I have reviewed but overall this is a decent beer in a style that many brewers have tried yet. 
Pros: Color, different

Cons: Hops linger a bit too long

Alcohol Content: 6.0% ABV
Calories: ???
IBU (Bitterness): 60

Rating: 

Brewers Website: Otter Creek Brewing

Brewers Description: Dark in color and character, this unfiltered Black IPA exudes caramel and roasted notes while highlighting a bold hop bitterness and citrus aroma. Apollo, centennial and citra hops intermingle with the deep complexities provided by copious amounts of caramel malts and de-husked roasted barley.