Black IPA
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Black IPABlack IPA
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From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
6.9%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.86 | pDev: 7.51%
Reviews:
77
Ratings:
238
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 09, 2021
Added:
Jan 01, 2017
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  48
There is a debate raging in the beer world: dark vs. hoppy. Never ones to be bound by convention, we're combining them both in our newest Black IPA. Bright citrus and pine hop aroma and a hint of roasted malt flavor come together in this all-American beer mashup.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cbutova:
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Reviewed by cbutova from Massachusetts

3.96/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- Black ale pours from the stubby bottle to a tulip glass with a thick, creamy tan head. The cap ascends to about three inches high with amazing retention. Very thick sheets of lace coat the glass with each sip.

S- Dark malts and fresh hops leaning a bit towards the malts in the overall balance but still in IPA territory. Grains give chocolate, roast and toasted nuts while the hops donate hints of citrus, pine and floral cones. Has an orange chocolate feel.

T- Roasted barley leads the way with semi-dark chocolate, slight burnt grain, toasted nut, coffee and cereal forming the base for the plentiful hops. The hops bring grapefruit, orange, floral, herbal and pine resin into the equation. Overall the two worlds join in harmony creating a dessert feel with a twang of citrus and bitterness.

MF- Medium bodied with a texture that is both creamy and frothy. Has a slight chew to it. Moderate level of carbonation and the finish has bitterness from both the zesty hops and charred barley.

Sierra Nevada may not go all out to the extremes and ride the trendy style waves but they always make solid brews that contain their signature flavors. A harmony between rich dark chocolate malts and piney citrus hops.
Mar 01, 2017
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by JamesLeung from Florida

Sep 09, 2021
Photo of fedt
Reviewed by fedt from Arizona

4.04/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sierra Nevada Black IPA, 6.9%
Sampler pack, 2017
12oz bottle poured to glass

L: Black, opaque, very thick light brown head
S: Piney hops, caramel, roasted malt, nuts, sweet aroma
T: Initial bitter hops of pine/citrus, raisins, chocolate, very pleasing.  Good taste.
F: Medium thickness, higher ABV at 6.9%, well balanced overall
O: Some dark malts that are made into IPAs are flops. This one actually worked. Not the best around, but it was good. Little sad they discontinued this.
Jan 05, 2020
 
Rated: 3.91 by stephenjmoore from Maryland

Apr 21, 2019
Photo of drdiesel9483
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio

3.86/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look - black color Good tan head and sticky lacing
Smell - toasty slight caramel a little pine and citrus
Taste - just like the scent
Feel - medium body light carb
Overall - pretty tasty
Apr 19, 2019
 
Rated: 3.91 by DigitGrowler from Kentucky

May 23, 2018
Photo of cyclonece09
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin

3.71/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Beer poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours black with slight red tint with a light brown head. Smells of citrus hops with some darker grain notes. Tastes of smooth dark grain with citrus hop notes. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation and very smooth. Overall, an above average beer.
Feb 25, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by a77cj7 from South Dakota

Sep 16, 2017
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.96/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured into an English pint glass, the appearance was a nice dark black color with a thin eggshell white foamy head that slid off at a moderate pace. Sly lace ran here and there.
The aroma melded around some roasted malts, somewhat rugged with a stiff bitterness roaming all in and around the smell. With some warming, a light grapefruit bitter edge came in slightly and then a light pine underneath.
The flavor was moderately bitter and roasty with an ample amount of sweet, but somewhat underneath. Aftertaste was mildly bitter pulling in the roast to amplify the total flavor pretty nice.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a good sipping quality about it. Carbonation felt fine. ABV felt appropriate. Some dryness along my tongue.
Overall, pretty nice as a black IPA with not too much normality of the "palate wrecking" capabilities of most ones of this style. It's one I could come back to.
Aug 23, 2017
Photo of BlackBeerPirate
Reviewed by BlackBeerPirate from Illinois

4.21/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Taste: toasted, malts, mix with tropical grapefruit hops, smooth finish. Rich roasted malt, nose. Black/Brown, mostly opaque, tall tan head, with ring of lace. Medium/Full body. Tangy easy drinking IPA. 60 IBUs
Aug 21, 2017
 
Rated: 4.18 by adam36 from Illinois

Aug 12, 2017
 
Rated: 4.08 by OriginalWayOut from North Carolina

Aug 06, 2017
 
Rated: 2.85 by TheBrewsky from California

Jul 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.65 by Zazzi82 from Tennessee

Jul 17, 2017
 
Rated: 3.72 by OKbrew89 from Oklahoma

Jul 05, 2017
 
Rated: 3.61 by DanGeo from Michigan

Jun 25, 2017
Photo of Everydayoff
Reviewed by Everydayoff from Thailand

3.79/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
355ml bottle poured into a pint glass.

Very deep brown to almost black in color, the pour builds up very thick foamy light khaki head that stands with good retention before gradually subsiding to a long-lasting foamy sheet atop and leaving some spotty and patchy lacing on the glass-side.

The aroma has a quite balance blend of roasted malt and IPA. The IPA side lends its citrus, lime, pine, and spice while the roasted side provides notes of roasted malt, dark bread, black coffee, brown sugar, and black dough.

The taste is at the same time disclosed the flavors of both fruity hop and roasted malt with notes of citrus, lime, and pine, all from hops while roasted malt with its dark bread, black coffee, brown sugar, and black dough. The end and aftertaste is wrapped up with upright bitterness together from both roasted malt and hop.

The body is medium with rather smooth mouthfeel and quite lively carbonation. The feeling is crisp and refreshing with a very dry finish.

Not my ideal Black IPA, it is a little bit less on the richness of dark and roasted side for my liking. Anyway, still a pretty good one.
Jun 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.92 by cbcrunch from Wyoming

Jun 13, 2017
 
Rated: 3.63 by Patriciag90 from Illinois

Jun 12, 2017
 
Rated: 4.07 by OklahomaBeerDrinker38 from Oklahoma

Jun 09, 2017
Black IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 238 ratings