Dark Side Of The Hop
Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling

Dark Side Of The HopDark Side Of The Hop
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From:
Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling
 
Texas, United States
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
7.1%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 12.6%
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
41
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 07, 2021
Added:
Oct 29, 2014
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  21
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by agraves643:
Photo of agraves643
Rated by agraves643 from Texas

3.13/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Jan 14, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.87 by Gagnonsux from Texas

Sep 07, 2021
Photo of IPAs_for_days_13
Reviewed by IPAs_for_days_13 from Texas

3.82/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
L: Pours black as night like a stout, tall beige head with great retention.
S: Smells sweet of toasted malts, dark chocolate, milk, espresso, earthy hops, cocoa.
T: Follows the nose, super toasted, bitter, but not from hops.
F: Full-bodied, biting, medium carbonation, warming.
O: IMHO, this isn't a black IPA, not enough hop presence in this brew, better off labeled a stout or a rich porter.
May 16, 2021
 
Rated: 3.88 by SicemWT from Texas

Apr 18, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 10, 2020
Photo of Atlas1
Reviewed by Atlas1 from Texas

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I'm always a bit hesitant when I see beers like "Black IPA" on the shelf. I'm curious, sure, but is that really even a style? Is it an IPA? Is it a schwarzbier? Maybe it doesn't matter. Despite my hesitation, I do like to try new beers. So when my wife recently brought a few of these home the other day I was excited.

Pours a very dark brown color with a dark cherry red hue around the edges when held up to the light. Decent, one-finger light brown head. Some lace as the beer recedes. The nose is bold, with notes of coffee and toast combined with dark fruits (cherries, plum). I really like how this beer smells. The taste follows suit, with a sweet dark fruit flavor up front, followed by some hoppiness, followed by distinct unsweetened chocolate biterness that lingers in the back of the mouth for a while. Not a traditional IPA flavor, mind you, because the dark roasted malt has a very interesting balancing effect, but I like it. Mouthfeel is smooth, but a bit tinny.

Overall, I like this beer. I wasn't sure what to expect, except from other "black IPAs" that I've had, but Ranger Creek brews good stuff and this is no exception. It won't surpass Red Headed Stranger on my favorite Ranger Creek beer list, but it's a solid alternative to some of the other stuff that you see out there. Cheers.
Jul 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.88 by GarbageMan10 from Texas

Jun 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.79 by Jodio from Texas

Jun 04, 2017
Photo of Thomas_Wikman
Reviewed by Thomas_Wikman from Texas

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
I think this was a great beer to drink outside in the Texas heat.

L: Very dark brown almost black with a thick light brown head.

A: the aroma was of roasted malts, coffee, and a little bit of dark fruit.

T: Roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, some dark fruit.

F: Light, creamy, a bit fizzy.
Jul 06, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by tfrog3030 from Texas

Jan 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.84 by ASirahSyrah from Texas

Aug 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.97 by mikeloconte from Texas

Jul 01, 2015
Photo of HipCzech
Reviewed by HipCzech from California

3.7/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Serving: 12 oz bottle poured into an IPA glass.

Appearance: Deep, dark reddish brown. Billowing, overactive head of khaki bubbles; leaves dense, clumpy lace.

Smell: Full, roasted grain aroma with earthy hops and hints of dark fruit.

Taste: More roasted grains, fruity chocolate, bitter coffee and hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body, creamy smooth, but a bit too foamy and fizzy.

Overall: More a hoppy porter than black IPA, but enjoyable in its roasted and hoppy character.
Apr 27, 2015
Photo of Austinkrat
Reviewed by Austinkrat from Texas

4.28/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Impressive looking beer! Great smell too. Taste just as described on the bottle, peppery taste, bitter hops, dry finish, slight chocolate taste. I bet it would be great with blue cheese or bacon cheeseburger...or both as recommended. Will seek Ranger Creek out next time at the store, well done!
Apr 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.09 by Eddiehop from Texas

Mar 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by kylehay2004 from Illinois

Mar 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.57 by Karibourgeois from Texas

Feb 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.97 by jdhasse from Illinois

Feb 16, 2015
 
Rated: 3.77 by zonker17 from Texas

Feb 11, 2015
Photo of Brevbin
Rated by Brevbin from Louisiana

1.51/5  rDev -60.4%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.5
It was a bad bottle.
Feb 10, 2015
Dark Side Of The Hop from Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 41 ratings