Pitch Black IPA
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

Pitch Black IPAPitch Black IPA
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From:
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.79 | pDev: 12.4%
Reviews:
319
Ratings:
805
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 29, 2018
Added:
Nov 21, 2009
Wants:
  33
Gots:
  41
Originally brewed as a 2010 one-time release called W'10, now a seasonal called simply 'Pitch Black IPA'

availability: January - April
bitterness: 65 IBU
alcohol by volume: 6.5%
original gravity: 16° PLATO

Malts:
Two Row Pale, Caramel 10 L, Special Roast, Carafa Special II

Hops:
Bittering: Alchemy
Aroma: Alchemy, Cascades
Dry Hop: Cascade T-45
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Kegatron:
Photo of Kegatron
Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

2.85/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
On tap @ the Widmer Gasthaus (Portland, OR) on 9/4/11. Served in a pint glass.

Pours a pitch black in the glass, with a ½ finger of light mocha head. This retains mostly with a foamy ring but does have a decent looking flare-up to it, leaving back some light spotty froth. The aroma smells very floral, with an extra touch of spice and pine embedded in the nose as well. Grapefruit and sweet malts combo to add a green twang to this; while darker roast finishes things off in the back. I think that this is focusing a little too much on that green twang here overall.

Malts are prominent up front of the taste, with chocolate character and some tangier feeling caramel as well. This melds into that green citric bitterness before finishing with a roasted backend. Dry pith, spice, and pine all linger fairly strongly. That green bitterness here is just coming on too strong and really throws the profile here off at times. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and sharp on the tongue but is a bit creamier and smooth feeling on top, which helps this go down. For 6.5%, the alcohol here is very well hid.

I just wasn’t digging this one. That flat tasting green citrus flavor just controlled too much of the taste here and ultimately made this a fairly bland drinking experience. It’s too bad to, as the nose showed some promise.
Sep 27, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by csfcmitchell from Texas

May 29, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Jan 22, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Jan 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.73 by Squire from Mississippi

Jun 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.48 by IceAce from California

May 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by MasterRigger from North Carolina

Apr 02, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.08/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
A lighter shade of black. Mild viscosity. Aroma didn't give enough hops, gave more roasted qualities.

Taste once again puts it in the average category, most black ipas simply come off like thinner, hoppier porters, merely schwarzbiers with ale yeast instead of lager.

Plenty bitter. I dunno, not enough aroma, flavor, more than enough bitterness and roast.
Feb 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.98 by RBorsato from Virginia

Dec 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.18 by TheRamie from West Virginia

Dec 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.52 by Brandon632 from North Carolina

Nov 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.28 by kuishinbo_tantei from New York

Oct 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.54 by andrew8626 from Minnesota

Sep 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.54 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Sep 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.87 by Ravenz98 from Iowa

Aug 31, 2015
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had at the Bryant lake Bowl on tap. This pours bright black with a ½” off-white to tan foam collar. Citrusy, grassy hops in the aroma and taste. Not a lot of roast flavors, more dark malt, some unassertive chocolate and a lingering sweetness are met by a mild hop accent. Medium body and carbonation. Does not push any boundaries but is very smooth and drinkable.
Aug 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by jpuetz from South Dakota

Aug 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.89 by Jmikepow from Georgia

Jul 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Eziel from Ohio

Jun 15, 2015
Pitch Black IPA from Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 805 ratings