Alpha Blackback
Round Guys Brewing Company

Alpha BlackbackAlpha Blackback
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From:
Round Guys Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
7.2%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.5 | pDev: 14%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
29
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 19, 2014
Added:
Aug 15, 2012
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeerPowered:
Photo of BeerPowered
Reviewed by BeerPowered from Pennsylvania

2.85/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
A friend brought a growler home to me after visiting the brewery. I was excited to try it because I'd been hearing a lot about Round Guys lately. It poured out a pretty mahogany color. The head was thin and very bubbly.

Aroma was pine, floral, coffee. Mouthfeel a little thin, and a bit too carbonated. Rich roasted malt flavor battling with citrusy hops.

This beer seems off to me. The aftertaste had a twinge of something floral and bitter. For some reason, it makes me think of a farmhouse ale. It's not bad, but its a bit off style.
Feb 04, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.67 by JNForsyth from Pennsylvania

Dec 19, 2014
Photo of BigBry
Reviewed by BigBry from Canada (AB)

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%
Another can tht has been hanging around in the refigerator.
As previously mentioned by other reviewers, lots of carbonation and ended up with half a glass of foam (even when I thought i was prepared and pouring carfefully).
Very dark reddish brown, light tan head, lots of foam.
Slight chocolate or cocoa smell.
Taste has good roast base, but a lot more hoppy bite than expected. Lots of piney bitterness throughout.
Mouthfeel was medium, slightly thin body.
I have had better Black Ales, but no complaints from this one. I would have again.
Aug 31, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by CasualSoup from Pennsylvania

Jul 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by graphdesbmxer from New Jersey

Jun 19, 2014
Photo of tone77
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania

3.59/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Yes, this is another canned beer courtesy of woodychandler. Poured from a 12 oz. can. This beer came gushing out of the can, with a black color and several inches of head. Smell is of roasted malts, a bit of chocolate. Taste is well balanced malts and hops, some bitterness, a bit of chocolate as well. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a solid beer.
Apr 26, 2014
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Another CAN from the kings of CANs here in Lancaster, PA - The Friendly Greek bottle shop! Man, they have really stepped up their game and we are getting some great beers as a result.

From the CAN: "A black India Pale Ale: Contains four types of malt and six types of hops. While we change the hop aroma and flavor with the seasons, we CAN promise you 'No monkey business, just well rounded beers'".

The Crack! was loud and although it did not unleash a gusher, it did allow a little bit of foam to peer out through the opening. This led me to utilize a gentle Glug as I do not need foam all over everything. Be advised: their CANned beers seem to be highly, if not over-, carbonated! I still would up with a glass mostly filled with dense, light-tan head, but on the bright side, it was falling pretty quickly. Subsequent pours caused it to foam back up, at one point creating a puffiness that looked like to top of a coffee ice cream cone. Hee hee. Color was a deep, dark-brown with ruby/garnet highlights (SRM = > 34, < 44) with NE-quality clarity. Nose kind of reminded me of mint chocolate chip ice cream - minty and chocolaty and I have no idea why I am obsessing on ice cream tonight. I have developed a mild lactose intolerance as I have grown older and so I rarely indulge in ice cream. I guess that it just makes for a good simile. Mouthfeel was medium and the taste was actually more hoppy than roasty, giving it a chance in my book. I usually eschew the style as the dark roasted malts tend to overshadow the beloved hops. Not in this case! Here, the malts imparted more of a dark chocolate flavor that worked really well with the minty, piney hops. I was put in mind of a York Peppermint Patty, especially on the cool finish. Alpha Blackback: Get the sensation!
Apr 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by BeerForMuscle from New Jersey

Mar 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Bikeboy1 from Pennsylvania

Feb 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Bdel34 from Pennsylvania

Nov 29, 2013
Photo of blackie
Reviewed by blackie from Oregon

3.78/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
at Local 44 during a summer night thundershower

a: served in a shaker pint, deep brown in color, black in the dim barlight, a deep mocha head with great retention

s: the nose opens with dry cocoa, burnt sugars, and roasted barley with a medium current of earthy pine hops, nice start

m: medium bodied with a medium, smooth carbonation

t: burnt sugars sweeten flavors of dry cocoa and deeply roasted barley, porter-like malts at times, deep pine hop flavor, earthy, well bittered but with balanced intensity, long char finish

o: a nice version of the style, not as refined as some versions, but the flavors hit well and the hops are totally satisfying
Sep 01, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Phillyz from Pennsylvania

Jul 07, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

Jun 17, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Barleycorn from Pennsylvania

Jun 17, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by orangesol from Pennsylvania

Jun 16, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by HarmonMW from Missouri

May 15, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

May 02, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by tedho21 from Pennsylvania

Feb 24, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Blanco from Pennsylvania

Feb 19, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Scott1970 from Pennsylvania

Feb 16, 2013
Alpha Blackback from Round Guys Brewing Company
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 29 ratings