Black Ale
Summit Brewing Company

Black AleBlack Ale
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From:
Summit Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 11.7%
Reviews:
71
Ratings:
152
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 12, 2015
Added:
Oct 31, 2011
Wants:
  16
Gots:
  7
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From tasting notes. Had this on tap at the Bryant Lake Bowl. It pours brilliant black with a hefty cream to light tan foam collar. Tastes like an ale version of a Schwartz beer with the dark roast flavors and aromas of a stout or a porter but none of the body. Nothing burnt or harsh. Very drinkable.
Aug 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by Powderhornphil from Minnesota

Nov 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by assman79 from Wisconsin

Jul 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Mealhouse from Minnesota

Jun 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by billhelm from Minnesota

Jun 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by redleg411 from Wisconsin

Jun 28, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by jarrgal from North Dakota

Jun 10, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by twenty5 from Pennsylvania

May 17, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by spycow from Illinois

May 02, 2013
Photo of LCB_Hostage
Reviewed by LCB_Hostage from Pennsylvania

4.62/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
served from a 12 oz. bottle into an imperial pint glass

A: Deep, dark black with so much head I thought it might be infected. Even with a glass giving and extra 8 oz. of space, it took me 10 minutes to pour this all in the glass. strong lacing throughout.

S: Had precisely the effect you want a beer's aroma to have -- an instant desire to tip it back and taste some more. A rich, heady combination of coffee, vanilla and caramel.

T: Glorious. So rich it transcended an ale and jumped straight to stout. A marvelously complex blend of coffee, vanilla and caramel with a bitter bite on the back end.

M: The head did not eat all the carbonation, which made the amazingly rich taste of this brew refreshing and surprisingly light. A heavy tingle on the tongue and a clean, crisp aftertaste.

O: I'm thoroughly disappointed to learn that this was a one-off and won't be available again. A thoroughly unique and tremendously enjoyable beer. If you happen to stumble across some left on a shelf, snap it up. The carbonation and complexity indicate it should survive some age and it's well worth trying if you haven't already had the pleasure of doing so.
Apr 23, 2013
Photo of matjack85
Reviewed by matjack85 from Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I got this as part of a build-your own six pack for $9.99 at the Binny's store in Bloomingdale, IL. No freshness date.

The beer poured a very dark brown color with a huge 4-finger fast rising tan head, so be careful with the pour. Frustratingly long retention with an incredible amount of lacing on the glass.

Nice roasted malt aroma with some orange citrus in the background.

Dry cocoa powder flavor along with roasted malt and lots of citrusy orange hops.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. More on the dry side than sweet.

A very hoppy and bitter black ale. Decent, but not my favorite beer of this style.
Dec 27, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by archi348 from Minnesota

Nov 12, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by JJWIGHT from Minnesota

Oct 30, 2012
Photo of happygnome
Reviewed by happygnome from Minnesota

3.91/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed from tasting notes dated March 3, 2012

A: Pours a nice jet black color with about a half inch of creamy tan head that disappears slowly leaving a good amount of lacing around the edge of the glass

S: Roasted nutty and cocoa malts, piny hops balance the aroma

T: Cocoa/caramel malt sweetness in the backbone, nice piny hop bitterness.

M: Medium bodied beer with good carbonation

Overall, a real tasty brew
Oct 29, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by bscalt from Minnesota

Oct 27, 2012
Photo of bnes09
Reviewed by bnes09 from Illinois

4.06/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Translucent black color with brilliant ruby hues. Mountainous ivory colored head which coats the glass in creamy waves of lacing. Gorgeous beer!

Bitter pine and floral hop aroma with just a hint of roasted character.

Toasty malt in the background with a touch of roastiness. Pine and grapefruit bitterness. Great balance.

Medium bodied, dry feel, well carbonated.

Solid black ale. True to the style.
Oct 20, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by millelacsmark from Minnesota

Oct 11, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by stortore from Illinois

Sep 09, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by doucmehu from Oregon

Sep 08, 2012
Black Ale from Summit Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 152 ratings