Dark Crystal IPA
Carolina Brewing Company
- From:
- Carolina Brewing Company
- North Carolina, United States
- Style:
- Black IPA
Ranked #141 - ABV:
- 7.1%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #24,956 - Avg:
- 3.82 | pDev: 6.28%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 17, 2025
- Added:
- Jul 03, 2014
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
Coming as a second Winter Seasonal in Jaunary! The Crystal in the name refers to the hop that is the focus of this beer. We used Caramel, Carapils, and Blackprinz malts combined with Nugget, Cascade, and Crystal hops. Crystal is the aroma addition and then used again to dry hop. The result lets the spice, herbal, fruit, and floral aroma and flavors shine through.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by detgfrsh from Texas
3.83/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From a bottle dated 2/3/16. Maybe a bit past it, but we'll hope it's still ok. Pours a very dark brown with a finger of tan head. Smells of chocolate. Medium feel. Rich, slightly syrupy malt taste and a dry hop finish. Pretty good.
Jan 06, 2017
Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland
3.89/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.89/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Was curious about this new offering from the brewers just down the road. Nose is dark malt with chocolate, west coast hops and maybe a touch of salt.
Flavors are there as far as malts and hops. Chocolate and citrus/pine. It really is pretty good, just not terribly exciting. Maybe feel is off a little although aftertaste is solid. I never say this but maybe it could use a touch more carbonation.
Not a bad beer, but not something I'll be hunting down any time soon.
Apr 24, 2016Flavors are there as far as malts and hops. Chocolate and citrus/pine. It really is pretty good, just not terribly exciting. Maybe feel is off a little although aftertaste is solid. I never say this but maybe it could use a touch more carbonation.
Not a bad beer, but not something I'll be hunting down any time soon.
Reviewed by dbrauneis from North Carolina
3.78/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: Pours an opaque but still clear extremely dark cola brown (approaching jet black) in color with light to moderate amount of active visible carbonation along the edges of the glass and a moderate amount of garnet red highlights. The beer has a two finger tall sudsy foamy tan head that slowly reduces to a couple of medium sized patches of thick film surrounded by a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.
S: Light to moderate aromas of roasted malts with light to moderate aromas of earthy + herbal hops.
T: Upfront there is a moderate flavor of roasted malts with minimal amounts of sweetness. That is followed by moderate flavors of earthy, herbal, and spicy hops which impart a moderate amount of initial bitterness with a light lingering bitterness in the finish.
M: Medium bodied with slightly heavier than moderate amounts of carbonation. Crisp upfront with a light amount of dryness in the finish.
O: A pretty decent Black IPA... not always my favorite style as sometimes I struggle with the combination of roasted malts + some hop profiles - though I like a lot of different coffees which can have similar profiles, so I prefer the Black IPAs that remind me of coffees. Enjoyable with a nice combination of hop flavors + aromas that pair well with roasted malts.
Apr 11, 2016S: Light to moderate aromas of roasted malts with light to moderate aromas of earthy + herbal hops.
T: Upfront there is a moderate flavor of roasted malts with minimal amounts of sweetness. That is followed by moderate flavors of earthy, herbal, and spicy hops which impart a moderate amount of initial bitterness with a light lingering bitterness in the finish.
M: Medium bodied with slightly heavier than moderate amounts of carbonation. Crisp upfront with a light amount of dryness in the finish.
O: A pretty decent Black IPA... not always my favorite style as sometimes I struggle with the combination of roasted malts + some hop profiles - though I like a lot of different coffees which can have similar profiles, so I prefer the Black IPAs that remind me of coffees. Enjoyable with a nice combination of hop flavors + aromas that pair well with roasted malts.
Reviewed by cmq103 from New Jersey
3.52/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A solid dark IPA. Just enough lightly sweet malt beginning followed by a moderate hoppy bite finish. The ABV is well hidden with all of the flavors going on.
Oct 03, 2015
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