-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Dark Side Of The Hop
Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling
- 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:
- 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:
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
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:
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
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, 2021S: 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.
Reviewed by Atlas1 from Texas
4.03/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
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, 2017Pours 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.
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
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, 2016L: 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.
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
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, 2015Appearance: 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.
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
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, 2015Rated by Brevbin from Louisiana
1.51/5 rDev -60.4%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.5
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
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!