Black Eye PA
Hollister Brewing Co.

Brilliant stuff, brewed with dehydrated malts. I loved everything about this one, especially the uniqueness of it. A tasty full bodied and well hopped IPA looking pitch-black. You would have thought it was a dry stout if you didn't smell it or taste it. Please: Make More!!! This brewery makes nothing but good stuff, and lots of it is both creative and excellent. One of my favorites in Southern Cal.

First had a pint of this at the brewpub - and it was good enough I got a growler of it.

So, a brewpub in Goleta (suburbs of Santa Barbara, and my hometown) doing a black IPA? Awesome! Not only that, but they had an 8% smoked beer on tap as well (which was quite tasty!). Anyway, this beer pours a wonderful black color with a 1 finger head that leaves some lacing. Initial smells are of piny hops with a bit of a roasted character.

Taste is very much about the piny hops. While most of the flavor is directly in line with a good, solid piny American IPA, there is just a bit of roasted flavor in the malt that is very nice. Good balance as well.

Mouthfeel is nicely carbonated and fulfilling. Drinkability is excellent on this one!

Highly recommended. Pretty sure this was a one-time brew, but Hollister is putting out some excellent brews for such a new brewpub. Goleta is not a town most people stop in - but if you find yourself going to Santa Barbara, you owe it to yourself to stop by Hollister - I'd say their beers are better than SB Brew Co and SB Brew House - and that's with only a few months of being open.