Cheater Slick IPA (dark)
Termini Brewing

It’s not an IPA. I’ve listed it as such because the brewer insists on calling it an IPA along with the qualifier “dark” in parentheses after it. Ask him about it and he’ll tell you, “It’s like a stout pimped out with a lot of hops.” Black patent malts and roasted barley take this ale to within a few shades of black, though the best light at the bar reveals it as opaque brown.

Cheater Slick’s flavor delivers good shock value and quickly abandons all style designations. Its closest cousin is perhaps an amped up nut brown ale. But it’s like drinking a question mark – you won’t want to turn your back on it. The beer peaks with tang and attitude, then canters to a clean, dry–hopped finish that transcends its rogue quirkiness and makes for an easy session. A hop salad of eight varieties produces sharp, angular bittering.

I have a tough time relating to a “dark IPA”. (A dark pale?) But I’ll get over it. This is a fine and curious beer with notable originality. The name refers to a style of no–tread wheels used on drag racers in the 60’s.