Hop Villain
Big Al Brewing
- From:
- Big Al Brewing
- Washington, United States
- Style:
- Black IPA
- ABV:
- 6.4%
- Score:
- 82
- Avg:
- 3.46 | pDev: 10.4%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 7
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 21, 2015
- Added:
- Feb 15, 2011
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington
3.26/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
3.26/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
A nice looking dark brown brew poured in the Kasteel chalice, with a frothy foam and plenty of lacing. Spritzy on the tongue. Body is light and refreshing. Some malty and grainy sweetness on the lips.
Flavor is that classic dank, gummy, and bitter. It's funny, but there is a distinct chocolate taste in the midst of the bitter hops. Some burned caramel taste. Long herbal tea aftertaste. I thought this tasted more mellow at first, but after some sipping the Cascadian cat is out of the bag and it's a black and bitter one-eyed stray.
The sudsy mouthfeel is the nicest feature. For enthusiasts only. From the 22 oz bottle bought at Ken's Market in north Seattle.
Jun 08, 2014Flavor is that classic dank, gummy, and bitter. It's funny, but there is a distinct chocolate taste in the midst of the bitter hops. Some burned caramel taste. Long herbal tea aftertaste. I thought this tasted more mellow at first, but after some sipping the Cascadian cat is out of the bag and it's a black and bitter one-eyed stray.
The sudsy mouthfeel is the nicest feature. For enthusiasts only. From the 22 oz bottle bought at Ken's Market in north Seattle.
Reviewed by ssteakley from Washington
3.71/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This is my first Cascadian Dark Ale, I bought a Bombere since I recently toured Big ALS brewery and loved the small funky brewery, very cool. This beer fits that experience. Pored slow into a.glass with big foamy head. Had to be patient and let that calm down but I enjoyed the chocolate/ coffee aroma and taste. Great for a cold seattle night.
Nov 26, 2013
Reviewed by woemad from Washington
3.71/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
22oz bomber purchased at Jim's Homebrew in Spokane for $4.42. According to the label, which also lists the hops, malts and yeasts used for brewing the beer, the abv percentage is 6.4. It also states that it has 65 IBUs and 25 SRM. It does NOT indicate when it was bottled, but I'm thinking it was fairly recent as I see no other reviews from a bottle.
Poured a very dark brown that looked black until held up directly to light, which brought out a very dark rubyish tinge. Big, creamy tan colored head that left a fair amount of lace.
Initially the aroma was of faint, piney hops. Soon, as things warmed up, there was also a coffeeish, chocolaty malt aroma, also rather faint.
Thankfully, both hop and malt aromas came through much better in the flavor department. Things are pretty equally balanced between hops and malts, except at the swallow, where a hoppy dry note finshes things off.
Medium bodied, with a mouthfeel that is creamy and slightly oily.
While it's not the most flavorful "Cascadian Dark Ale (I have to admit that while I like the style, I really don't like that name - too stuffy sounding)" I've ever had, it has more than enough flavor to be an enjoyable one, with none of the infection issues of my last bottled beer from Big Al. I would drink this again.
Jun 24, 2013Poured a very dark brown that looked black until held up directly to light, which brought out a very dark rubyish tinge. Big, creamy tan colored head that left a fair amount of lace.
Initially the aroma was of faint, piney hops. Soon, as things warmed up, there was also a coffeeish, chocolaty malt aroma, also rather faint.
Thankfully, both hop and malt aromas came through much better in the flavor department. Things are pretty equally balanced between hops and malts, except at the swallow, where a hoppy dry note finshes things off.
Medium bodied, with a mouthfeel that is creamy and slightly oily.
While it's not the most flavorful "Cascadian Dark Ale (I have to admit that while I like the style, I really don't like that name - too stuffy sounding)" I've ever had, it has more than enough flavor to be an enjoyable one, with none of the infection issues of my last bottled beer from Big Al. I would drink this again.
Reviewed by ncfranklin from Alabama
3.83/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.83/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Growler into a pint glass.
A: Deep dark brown to black. Nice frothy finger head.
S: Roasted malt and coffee, some citrus underneath. Also sweet sugar smells present.
T: Bitter from both burnt malt and hops, but a flavor full of coffee, sweet chocolate and grain. No real citrus tones here, fairly dominant in malt.
M: Medium in the mouth with some average carbonation. Some remaining flavors from the grain stick to the gums.
D: More malt than hops for sure, as the hops seem to only be present in the bittering notes and not so much in flavor added. But, if you enjoy sweet notes with some bitter balance (and not orange, grapefruit hop flavors), this is right up your alley. A very drinkable brew, might i add.
Aug 10, 2011A: Deep dark brown to black. Nice frothy finger head.
S: Roasted malt and coffee, some citrus underneath. Also sweet sugar smells present.
T: Bitter from both burnt malt and hops, but a flavor full of coffee, sweet chocolate and grain. No real citrus tones here, fairly dominant in malt.
M: Medium in the mouth with some average carbonation. Some remaining flavors from the grain stick to the gums.
D: More malt than hops for sure, as the hops seem to only be present in the bittering notes and not so much in flavor added. But, if you enjoy sweet notes with some bitter balance (and not orange, grapefruit hop flavors), this is right up your alley. A very drinkable brew, might i add.
Reviewed by LazyL from Canada (BC)
3.85/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.85/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A murky dark brown served in a pint glass with a thin off white head. The nose is very much like a stout with a roasted malt and coffee style. The taste is very much coffee and only slightly bitter. The mouthfeel is silky smooth with low carbonation and a soft bitter finish. There is descent retention and is a very easy drinker.
Mar 14, 2011
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati
3.8/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.8/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Served in straight pint glass. Poured a lightly translucent dark brown with about a half-inch of light brown head that low retention and light lacing.
The aroma is mostly roasted malts some citrusy hops in the background. The flavors as well were fronted by the roasty notes. The hops were secondary, but solidly present. Mostly citrus, but also bits of floral and pine.
The body was fuller than average, but not heavy or sticky. Drinkability was good, I'll revisit this beer while it's around.
Overall, a decent but not special beer, worth a shot if you see it.
Feb 16, 2011The aroma is mostly roasted malts some citrusy hops in the background. The flavors as well were fronted by the roasty notes. The hops were secondary, but solidly present. Mostly citrus, but also bits of floral and pine.
The body was fuller than average, but not heavy or sticky. Drinkability was good, I'll revisit this beer while it's around.
Overall, a decent but not special beer, worth a shot if you see it.
Reviewed by barleywinefiend from Washington
2.71/5 rDev -21.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.71/5 rDev -21.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A: Poured black with good carbonation leaving a tannish cap to it
S: Not much on the nose to speak of. Smell some roasted notes but not much in the hop category
T: Believe this beer is far from being a hop villian. It should have stolen alot more hops. No fruit, floral, citrus notes as I from any average Black IPA/CDA. Instead any bitterness seems to come from the burnt black malt. The body was there, hops were not.
M: Not bad, mouthfeel was average, no issues but the lack of taste had me underwhelmed
D: Pass
Feb 15, 2011S: Not much on the nose to speak of. Smell some roasted notes but not much in the hop category
T: Believe this beer is far from being a hop villian. It should have stolen alot more hops. No fruit, floral, citrus notes as I from any average Black IPA/CDA. Instead any bitterness seems to come from the burnt black malt. The body was there, hops were not.
M: Not bad, mouthfeel was average, no issues but the lack of taste had me underwhelmed
D: Pass
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