Cabin Fever Imperial Black Ale
Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.

Cabin Fever Imperial Black AleCabin Fever Imperial Black Ale
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From:
Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.
 
British Columbia, Canada
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.06 | pDev: 7.39%
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
56
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 15, 2015
Added:
Mar 08, 2013
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  7
No description / notes.
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Ratings by bros:

  None found.

 
Rated: 4 by GoHabsGo from Canada (ON)

Nov 15, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.12 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Nov 01, 2015
Photo of Omnium
Reviewed by Omnium from Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bomber > SA Sensory Pint
A - Blackish brown with a big two finger rich dense tan head with a thick lattice of lacing.
S - Really neat, lots of earthy and herbal hop tones, toasted caramel and big roasted malt, some dark chocolate, a little coffee.
T - Great balance for a good Imperial Black Ale. Smooth hop flavors up front, pine, a little mint, grass, light floral notes, then you get a rich maltiness that is roasty and very lightly sweet with some toasted caramel, bitterness hits you more at the back end.
M - This doesnt feel or taste like 8.5 at all, its rich and slightly more viscous than your average ale, but its creamy, has a light chew to it, and some mild lingering bitterness.
O - First time I had this I wasnt impressed. I'm glad I got to try it again, this is a really solid IBA.
Aug 22, 2015
 
Rated: 4.01 by 4ster from Canada (ON)

Jul 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.84 by Coronaeus from Canada (ON)

Jul 09, 2015
Photo of peensteen
Reviewed by peensteen from Canada (ON)

3.62/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Jet black with 2.5 fingers of tan head with some lace. Smell is hoppy with roast and chocolate, black liquorice, mostly piney in terms of hop profile with just a bit of fruity-citrusy hops. Taste is roasty with cocoa powder, dry lingering bitterness, piney hops with a chocolate and anise finish. Light-medium carbonation, light body. Just OK, admittedly this is a style I don't love in general and this was not one of the few examples that I have really enjoyed.
Jun 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.09 by Molson2000 from Canada (ON)

Jun 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.27 by Electros from Canada (ON)

Jun 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.16 by Ultrarunner100 from Canada (ON)

May 27, 2015
Photo of thehyperduck
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

4.24/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bomber picked up at the LCBO; best before July 22 2015 and served slightly chilled.

This one pours a dark blackish-brown colour; impenetrable to light, and capped off by two fingers of highly resilient, frothy light beige-coloured head. It requires the better part of ten minutes to fully seep away, eventually leaving behind a lumpy, foamy cap and a generous collar, in addition to multiple rings of sticky lace. This beer is gorgeous, but the aroma is somewhat less, well, attention-grabbing - I am getting a lot of citrusy orange, candied grapefruit, pine resin and some tropical fruitiness. This is alongside molasses and caramelized sugar sweetness, overlying a muted roasted malt backbone - hints of chocolate and coffee come through, but in a very subdued manner.

Things get kicked up a notch once this stuff hits my tongue - the tastebuds are immediately bombarded with big blasts of roasted malt and molasses sweetness. Cocoa powder, dark-roasted coffee and rich dark chocolate are quite dominant, with the (somewhat less-robust, but no less appealing) hop flavours featured next. Pineapple, pithy grapefruit citrus and pine resin provide a last-minute surge, with the profile finishing upon a lingering, earthy hop astringency that really clings to the palate. Medium-full in body, with light carbonation levels and a seriously smooth, creamy feel that makes for a fulfilling, hearty presence on the palate. This is the sort of beer that would clearly excel during the winter months, but there's certainly no reason I can't enjoy it in May, either - it's holding up very nicely, and this batch should remain yummy well into the summer.

Final Grade: 4.24, a high A-. Phillips' Cabin Fever is a very well-made black ale that I am really digging right now. In a bit of a twist for this style - the malt bill really takes command here, but that's not to say that the hops don't provide a sizeable punch on the back end. There's plenty of citrusy, resiny bitterness to satisfy the hop fanatics. Quality black IPAs are not particularly commonplace at the LCBO, so this is a highly-welcome addition that I hope to see back next year. Definitely worth a pick-up if you spot it locally, and I will likely be purchasing another bottle, as the price point is pretty good too.
May 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.99 by papat444 from Canada (QC)

May 07, 2015
 
Rated: 4.19 by Derek from Canada (BC)

May 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4.27 by Long813 from Canada (ON)

May 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.54 by Sammy from Canada (ON)

Apr 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.21 by SenorBiggles from Canada (ON)

Apr 13, 2015
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

2.7/5  rDev -33.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Bottle: Poured a clear black color ale with a large dark brown foamy head with OK retention and some lacing. Aroma of dry roasted malt with some light astringent notes. Taste is dominated by dry roasted malt notes with some astringent notes and some citrus hoppy notes with subtle tart notes in the aftertaste. Body is slightly below average with good carbonation. I thought this one balance and was too astringent for my own taste.
Apr 10, 2015
Photo of taxandbeerguy
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)

4.27/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
650 ml bottle served cold into a pint glass. Purchased from LCBO for $6.30 CDN. Excited to try yet another black ale, this seems to be a style I just can't get enough of.

Appearance - virtually the darkest shade of brown I've ever seen, as close to black as you can be without being black. Opaque with an ominous three finger tan head and an incredible amount of frothy lacing left behind. Great retention that lasts a while and leaves behind a thin layerof foam on top.

Smell - big nose that starts with a juicy fruit aroma of pineapple and orange then a wallop of roasted malt with a slight burnt edge comes into play. A touch of coffee an chocolate for good measure. Great nosethwt transitions back to fruit before the end and a bit of a burnt sugar aroma.

Taste - like the nose this starts juicy with pineapple and other citrus blends then goes roasty with some coffee and leather. Mixture, before fading to a slightly sweeter burnt brown sugar, and molasses finish. Very tasty and well rounded. Finishes bitter.

Mouthfeel - smooth with good carbonation, fairly creamy but not syrupy and a hefty body that retains refreshment. Good feel for the style.

Overall - awesome beer, with lots of flavours, juicy fruit flavours and dry roasty grain and malts mixed into with an aroma that backs it up. The 8.5% ABV is undetectable at least until you realize you've finished the bottle and then it hits you. Very well rounded and certainly a beer I'd love. To see more of here in Ontario.
Apr 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.08 by Slongie from Canada (AB)

Apr 06, 2015
Photo of Cramshawbar
Reviewed by Cramshawbar from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
While not a big fan of stouts, I have to declare this one to be one of my favourites. A lovely balance of smoky malt, hops and coffee - the latter of which usually ruins it for me. Not this one. Highly recommended!
Apr 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.54 by connorhenry from Canada (MB)

Mar 31, 2015
Cabin Fever Imperial Black Ale from Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 56 ratings