Capricorn Black Ale
Rubicon Brewing Company

Capricorn Black AleCapricorn Black Ale
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From:
Rubicon Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.59 | pDev: 17.83%
Reviews:
20
Ratings:
37
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 01, 2016
Added:
Nov 19, 2007
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Floydster:
Photo of Floydster
Reviewed by Floydster from California

4.06/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pint at Beachwood BBQ in Seal Beach for six dollars

This was the second black IPA I have add along with Stone's 11th Anniversary Ale and it was impressive as well

Color was opaque black and resembled a porter with a 1/2 vanilla colored head, left sticky lacing the entire time

Smell was a variety of hops and small accents of citrus, had a sweeter smell, more like a DIPA in my opinion because of the syrup-like aroma

Taste was very dry and bitter like a good IPA should be, small hints of grapefruit and oranges are present but not near enough to say this one tasted like an imperial like the smell might make somebody believe, starts off bitter and mellows into a dry charcoal-like aftertaste, went perfectly with the food and all three of the people I was with enjoyed this one as well

Very carbonated and had an impressively thick body, all around good mouthfeel

Could have drank three or four of these with no problem, light on the stomach and the alcohol percentage did not seem to be too high even though the bartender was not sure about it

This was my first beer from Rubicon and it did not disappoint, probably will buy a bomber of their normal IPA next time I see it at a BevMo or something
Nov 19, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.16/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L: A 5” persistent , very rocky tan foam cap that fills the entire glass takes and over 5 minutes to recede to 1/3 its original size, leaving behind a brilliant brown body with ruby highlights.

S: Rich malt aromas with some dark bread crust, dark dried fruit, brown sugar and spice.

T: Rich malty flavors of dark dried fruit, dark sugars, some grain and bread crust leading to a moderate, lingering hop bitterness. The malt flavors are medium high, the hop bitterness is medium.

F: Very creamy with a medium body and medium high, soft carbonation.

O: A pleasantly flavored beer that is grossly over carbonated and foamy.
Jan 01, 2016
Photo of elNopalero
Reviewed by elNopalero from Michigan

4.36/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This pours a rich black with a creamy cocoa colored cap of foam. There's a great bit of piney-grapefruit hop aroma mixed with a mild roast on the nose, and an inviting slightly herbaceous, medicinal grapefruit-pine flavoring. Pleasantly bittered. I'm enjoying this.
Feb 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by Alpha309 from California

Dec 02, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Aug 11, 2014
Photo of CarolinaCardinals
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Picked up a bomber in late May from Total Wine for $4.89.

Beer poured black with a huge tan head that is lasting longer than most brews.

Nose has hints of roasted malts and citrus.

Taste is roasted malts dominate with the citrus hops taking a back seat.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and pretty smooth.

Overall not a bad brew but the roasted malts are a bit too overdone for the style.
Aug 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by dertyd from California

Jul 04, 2014
 
Rated: 1 by LakerLeith from California

Jun 12, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by GRG1313 from California

Jun 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by ac22rush from California

Mar 01, 2014
Photo of ronniebruner
Reviewed by ronniebruner from Arizona

3.32/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
The first thing I noticed with this brew is the burnt wood aroma. When poured though, it was a consistently smooth throughout blackened cream color. The beer retained just the right amount of lace and head and minimal carbonation. The taste is a bit overpowering of either lemon or citrus of some sort mixed with burnt coffee beans. The mouthfeel reflects the overall taste with a lingering aftertaste and heaviness. STill, Rubicon has brewed a slightly better than average black ale and look forward to trying more products from Rubicon.
Jan 26, 2014
Photo of Fatehunter
Reviewed by Fatehunter from Oregon

3.74/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours two fingers of light tan head on a dark brown body.
The aroma is roasted malt, burnt lemon and pine.
The taste is burnt malt with a little coffee and some lemon bitterness.
The texture is quite soft and pillowy with moderate carbonation.
An excellent black ale.
Jan 25, 2014
Photo of lordofstarside
Reviewed by lordofstarside from Nevada

3.85/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bomber to a pint glass, no dates

Pours black with a finger of slightly brown foam, red hues at the bottom on the glass and when I shine an led through it. Retention isn't too bad, the lacing is okay, very mild carbonation stemming from the sides

Smell's not too thick. Upfront citrusy hops, orange, mango, and pine. A pretty strong chocolate malt holds it together with notes of coffee and caramel. Just a little bit of alcohol on the finish. Not bad, but not very complex

Taste follows the nose pretty well, citrus and tropical hops up at the front followed by all the darker flavors of toffee, caramel, chocolate, and coffee with a sweet malty finish. Again, pretty simple but this time much more solid

Feel is a moderate body with a wet finish. Not a ton of carbonation, leaves a nice tingle. No alcohol really, mild bitterness, very drinkable

Overall this really isn't a bad beer by any means. It's definitely not a bold take on the style, but easy to appreciate for what it is. Very balanced, would buy again
Jan 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by casapy from Idaho

Jan 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by AaronOp from California

Dec 29, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by rhino54 from California

Oct 26, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by GraduatedCashew from California

Aug 29, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by jakecattleco from California

May 30, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by tgeorgf from Maryland

May 13, 2013
Photo of JeffreyJDavis
Reviewed by JeffreyJDavis from North Carolina

3.86/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Rubicon Capricorn Black Ale
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/5337/39685

Got this beer via a sweet beer trade , and it is A very nice Cascadian Ale which I have never seen before.

A: Pours Jet Brown with a very active khaki / beige head which is very active. I over poured first shot. Very lovely creamy head which laces like Grandma's tablecloth.

N: Smells typical for the style, dark roasted malt well balanced with some nice hoppiness, and maybe citrus or green minced onions a bit.

T: Deliciously balanced yet the taste is more dominated by the charred easy bitternes of the malts and the hops take a back seat a bit. Very earthy flavors.

MF: Lovely creamy mouthfeel which coats the mouth just like it does the glass. I would say body is a little on the light side for the style and carbonation level is middle of the road. Refreshing and sessionable.

O: A nice beer which I would definitely buy again, even though I'm not a huge Cascadian fan. Very enjoyable.
Apr 26, 2013
Capricorn Black Ale from Rubicon Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 37 ratings