Black Betty
Beavertown Brewery

Black BettyBlack Betty
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From:
Beavertown Brewery
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
Black IPA
Ranked #33
ABV:
7.4%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,979
Avg:
4.04 | pDev: 7.92%
Reviews:
42
Ratings:
176
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 15, 2024
Added:
Feb 18, 2013
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  33
A big fat contradiction, jet black but light and hoppy. Heavy-handed use of Columbus, Chinook and Citra, with some clever German malt makes Betty a big, stinky brew.

Malt: Simpsons Best, Caragold, Caramalt, Carafa II & Carafa III.

Hops: Magnum, Columbus, Chinook & Citra.

IBU: 75
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by kwjd:
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Rated by kwjd from Canada (ON)

3.81/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Feb 13, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by Dethark from England

Jan 15, 2024
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.77/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
330 ml can, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.4%. Black colour, creamy tan head. Aroma of fruity and piney hops, hints of roast malts and chocolate. The flavour has plenty of piney hops with some fruit, medium dry, also roasty notes of coffee and dark chocolate.
Jun 11, 2021
Photo of Snowcrash000
Reviewed by Snowcrash000 from Germany

4.02/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark mahogany coloration, with an amber sheen when held up to the light, and a large, creamy head. Smells of roasted malt and citrus hops, with notes of grapefruit and lime peel, as well as just a hint of pine. Taste is an excellent balance of roasted malt, lighter chocolate and bitter, fruity, slightly resinous hops, with strong, zesty citrus notes of grapefruit and lime peel, as well as some pine also coming through. Finishes with a medium/strong bitterness and some roasted malt, citrus and pine lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth, soft mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

Well, what can I say, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. While I have been boycoting Beavertown ever since they sold out to Heineken, I couldn't help but grab this can of Black Betty, as great Black IPAs are just so fucking hard to come by and I dearly love them. Also, for some reason I failed to review this back when I had it for the first time before they sold out. You know what, I remembered it better, but not sure if that is due to freshness, nostalgia or my aversion to Heineken. The focus seems to have shifted from the roasted malt to the zesty citrus hops a little, but overall this still makes for a very enjoyable example of the style.
Feb 02, 2021
 
Rated: 3.74 by DvdP from Netherlands

Oct 10, 2020
 
Rated: 3.83 by StoutColdAustin from Spain

Jun 22, 2019
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.95/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
very much an american style black ipa, richly dense on the dark malt, as roasty as they get, with a very northwestern hop profile, piney and exceedingly bitter with the roast here. its a big beer, and even a single can feels like a lot to drink, but the flavors are awesome, it warms up well, and it was really enjoyable overall. really nothing about it is english to my palate, and i am fine with that, these guys have always done more modern stuff anyhow. i wish i caught it a little fresher, but i liked this one a lot, heavy black coffee in the dark grain, earthy with a trace of smoke, lots of caramel middle, and a sort of burnt taste on the whole, but a deep and appropriate one with these piney hops, like a forest fire in a can! some bitter citrus to the hops too, and not all at the end, but all the way through this. a hint of black licorice and marijuana at the finish too, tons of body, a little residual sugar that isnt out of place, and a palate coating dark malt intensity and linger. cool beer overall, really robust, a good example of the style, hope to snag a fresher one next time around...
May 17, 2019
 
Rated: 4.24 by icemanls4 from Switzerland

Jan 25, 2019
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Reviewed by vinicole from England

4.02/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Can. Almost black. Thin head with good lacing.
Rich and balanced aroma of fruity hops and malt.
The malt becomes darker roasted upon tasting. The hops lead to a fine bitter completion.
Mid to full bodied. Softish carbonation.
Very enjoyable. The hop/malt harmony is just right.
Jan 13, 2019
 
Rated: 4.53 by Houborg1 from Denmark

Dec 05, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by kdown from California

Sep 16, 2018
 
Rated: 3.59 by georgeanthorpe from England

Mar 11, 2018
Photo of jazzyjeff13
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England

3.99/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A 330ml can with no visible BB date. Purchased a while back from the Brewdog webshop. The label calls it a black IPA.

A: Poured into a tulip. A dark ruby-brown hue that appears virtually black in the glass. Intense carbonation visible when held to the light. Produces a large head of creamy tan foam that lasts for a minute or two before reducing to a persistent surface layer. Slight lacing.

S: Aroma of resinous hops with hints of pine, weed, citrus peel, roasted malt, subtle coffee, mild molasses, faint dried fruit and ale yeast. Rich, intense and balanced - very nice.

T: Tastes of bitter pine resin with notes of dank weed, citrus rind, herbal leafiness, dark malt, roasted grain, mild coffee, a touch of molasses, faint dark chocolate, ale yeast and earthiness. Slightly sweet, followed by a robust hop-driven bitterness upon swallowing.

M: Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with lively carbonation and good body. Hop oils stimulate the palate. Aftertaste of bitter resinous hops, pine, roasted malt, subtle coffee and ale yeast.

O: Nice - an intense flavour-bomb from Beavertown. Looks good, while the aroma and flavour are stuffed with pine, bitter hops, dark malt and ale yeast. Lovely body; rich but not overly so. Goes down a treat. A must for lovers of dark, hoppy brews.
Mar 07, 2018
 
Rated: 3.93 by Margogo from Rhode Island

Feb 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4.12 by Dreyski from England

Feb 12, 2018
 
Rated: 5 by OzmanBey from Massachusetts

Feb 06, 2018
 
Rated: 3.28 by CreightonSM from New York

Nov 19, 2017
Photo of josanguapo
Reviewed by josanguapo from Spain

4.52/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
From. Decervecitas. Can. At Elba Costa Ballena, in hotel's tubular glass. Really, really, smooth, well balanced and drinkable. The black and IPA characters mix surprisingly well.Looks good even in this shitty glass. Leaves a really nice and long aftertaste
Aug 03, 2017
Photo of kitch
Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A 330ml can with a best before date of 1st September 2017. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.

Appearance: It was a dark dark brown colour with a one and a half finger tanned head that had good retention and left some nice spotty lacing.

Aroma: Citrus peels with some nice roasty malts and cocoa.

Taste: It’s pretty much what you would expect from the aromas with nice citrus flavours, balanced with roasty malts and hints of chocolate and coffee. There is also a lingering grapefruit finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall: A good Black IPA that is very easy to drink. It’s 7.4% ABV but feels very sessionable. Quite a dangerous combination.
Jul 13, 2017
Photo of Vader444
Reviewed by Vader444 from Scotland

4.44/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Can poured into tulip.

I've been a regular drinker of the rest of Beavertown's core range over the last year but, for some reason I've always passed on this one. Feel like a bit of an idiot now; this is fantastic. Looks exactly like a stout, jet black with a really creamy white head. Lovely hop aromas compliment bittersweet liquorice on the palate. Beautiful soft mouthfeel. This strikes me as a highly versatile black IPA, suitable for all seasons, with food or enjoyed on its own. Recommended. Cheers
Jul 10, 2017
Black Betty from Beavertown Brewery
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 176 ratings