Belgo Black
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
 
United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Ale
ABV:
6.7%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.77 | pDev: 5.57%
Reviews:
4
Ratings:
7
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 20, 2013
Added:
Jan 09, 2010
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
A medium-bodied, Belgian-style porter with a strong black malt flavor up front and finishes with fruity characteristics.

45 IBU
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews.
 
Rated: 3.75 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

May 20, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

Feb 13, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by ROGUE16 from Delaware

Dec 07, 2011
Photo of ColForbinBC
Reviewed by ColForbinBC from New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On-tap, served in a globe

Arrived at the table a pitch black with ruby highlights around the edges and a thin, tan head. Moderate retention with some minor dots and lines of lace.

Some faint roast and bittersweet chocolate fill my nose, but is not overwhelming. The Belgian yeast strain adds a slight tang and a subtle fruitiness. Mild ethanol rounds out the aroma.

Bittersweet chocolate and some gently roasted coffee are more aggressive on the palate, without being overbearing. The yeast strain adds some fruity esters that meld everything together quite well. Some bittering hops allow for a smooth, roasted transition in the finish.

A medium body with soft carbonation provides a smooth mouthfeel. I wouldn't call it creamy, a little too thin for that.

Drinks fairly easy and light, much to my surprise. A solid effort and a unique take on a Belgian porter.
Feb 15, 2010
Photo of Kegatron
Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap @ Iron Hill Maple Shade on 1/10/09. Served in an oversized mug. ABV was listed as 6.0%.

Pours a DEEP clear amber, with thin covering of off-white foamy froth. This stays rich around the edges, leaving a fairly robust looking cascade of lacing behind. The chocolate roast of the Porter comes out fairly strong to me here in the aroma at first before the nuances of the Belgian yeast come out to play. I'm not to keen on picking up bubblegum in some of these styles but it comes out very strong to me here, along with some softer fruity tones that nicely compliments the sweetness of the malts. The nose has a bit of a raw floral hop feel going on with it as well.

Chocolate roast and a touch of coffee appear to make up the bulk of the flavor, with those yeasty esters definitely some softer fruity character to this that mellows some of the sharper aspects of this out. Some earthy feeling hop activity adds just the right amount of balancing bitterness to this. Finishes VERY dry and roasty feeling, with some lingering spice in the very back. The mouthfeel is overall medium bodied, with a bubbly and softer carbonation to it that seems like it is a result of the accompanying yeast. This was actually much more drinkable than I initially thought it was going to be and got easier to work through the more I got into it.

While I'm not positive that this marriage of the Pig Iron Porter and Belgian yeast came out completely outstanding or anything, this still wasn't too bad. While I don't think that the yeast flavors could quite compete with the dark roasted feel of the Porter, I do think that enough came through to make this a more of a good introduction to patrons that may not be familiar with what type of character that it can bring to a beer. An interesting concoction here for sure.
Jan 11, 2010
Photo of beerthulhu
Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
- Served in a chalice on 1-9-10. This is actually considered a Belgian style porter by the brewer.

A: Poured a midnight black with a dirty beige ½ finger capping that was moderately lasting. The slightest bit of carbonation was distinguishable along the sides of the glass of micro bubbles. Overall the beer was black, hard to argue with that, while the lacing covered a good portion of the glass walls.

S: On the nose was alcohol fusels and not much else. Was expecting a bit more roastedness due to the coloring but came off much like their Schwarz. Same recipe different yeast? (after further investigation I found out they use a Chimay strain here).

T: The roasted malting appears in the flavor with fairly good results. Alcohol fusels also are present as well however. Basically I tasted a mixture of dark roasted malts and alcohol fusels. I didn't get a good sense of the Belgian yeast quality of the chimay with only faint hints of dry apricot fruitiness. I was expecting more from a beer with the word Belgo in its name and perhaps the chimay yeast didn't lend enough strength and fruity character due to the roasted malts which may have overwhelmed it a bit. Overall lacked complexity though the malting was decent enough.

M: The mouthful had a medium consistency, smooth but offered little excitement to hold or enjoy. Average regards at best.

D: Ok drinkability, but offered little in the way of excitement or Belgian-like quality. Wouldn't rush out for a second glass but could offer a see for yourself recommend.
Jan 09, 2010
Photo of drcarver
Reviewed by drcarver from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
To start off, they claim this is a Belgian Style Porter which wasn't under the list so I picked American Style Porter instead.

A - A thick black color with a very small offwhite head. What little head sits atop the body clings to the side of the glass as it is consumed.

S - The aroma is very burnt, but there is some fruitiness towards the back. Little aroma of yeast.

T/M - Very nice flavor and full bodied. Starts out fruity followed by an ash/charcoal flavor. The alcohol follows and it is finished with a clean fruitiness. The aftertaste of roasted malt clings to the back of the tongue.

D - A very nice beer that goes down slowly, but smoothly. As a seperate word of warning this beer does NOT go with acidic foods (lemons, tomato sauce, etc). The acid bring an asphalt flavor (if you don't know what that takes like think of a newly paved road in the middle of July.
Nov 08, 2009
Belgo Black from Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Beer rating: 3.77 out of 5 with 7 ratings