Barley Brown's Black IPA
The Caledonian Brewing Company

Pint at JDW Sutton.

A: very dark chestnut, 90% opaque after the initial haze rose like a textbook pint of Guinness, one little finger off white head, very good retention, lots of lacing.

S: Roasted hops with a note of diacetyl.

T: Lots of bitter roasted cranberries, finish is long and bitter.

M: Smooth, medium body, low carbonation.

O: Black IPA seems to be a contradiction in terms, a fairly decent pint, I just don’t really know what it was trying to achieve.

 

 

 

Half pint on cask at 'spoons in Helensburgh (had ordered one a couple of weeks earlier but it wasn't close to black so I was suspicious and the second attempt seemingly confirmed the first was another beer entirely). Peaty black colour with an offwhite head which left lacing. Slightly smoky but rather medicinal smell with maybe a hint of celery. This is warm with a somewhat syrupy feel. There are two distinct flavours which don't really go together: a smoky, earthiness with a hint of coffee and a sweeter flavour with an acidic tang. While the two clash somewhat, this does not prove as problematic as with most Black IPAs I've tried. I'm still yet to find one which works well for me.