Squid Ink
Pacific Brewing Laboratories

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From:
Pacific Brewing Laboratories
 
California, United States
Style:
Black IPA
ABV:
7%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 10.51%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
35
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 26, 2016
Added:
Dec 09, 2011
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
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Rated: 4 by MonkeyPilates from Minnesota

Nov 26, 2016
Photo of Covocali
Rated by Covocali from California

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Great black IPA just enough bitter with a easy smooth bringing feel. Would drink again
Jul 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.83 by tomb_ride from California

Dec 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4.24 by Rmbuns from Idaho

Sep 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by GClarkage from California

Jul 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by BarleyMacDaddy from California

Jun 16, 2014
Photo of StJamesGate
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York

3.99/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On draft at Toronado, San Francisco.
Jet with white sheets.
Big leaf nose with some ash.
Deep chocolate truffle then squeaky lemon candy hops.
Powdery Lemsip finish and lean linger.
Medium, oily, chewy.

Splits the difference between a black-in-color-only IPA and a hoppy porter. Lots of lemon rind. Serious stuff.
May 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Paccamacca from California

Apr 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by SamuelR from California

Apr 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by sansho from California

Feb 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by jaydoc from Kansas

Feb 12, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by hayesjw from California

Jan 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by GraduatedCashew from California

Aug 28, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Garrett from California

Aug 08, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by buzzword from California

Aug 03, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Aug 03, 2013
Photo of magictacosinus
Reviewed by magictacosinus from California

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I had not heard of this brewery beforehand, but I consumed this out of their tap at the Academy of Sciences during one of their late night expositions - that's SF for you! Poured into a 12oz plastic pint out of their tap system, but it was over-sudsing so badly by the time I got there that they gave me two 2/3rd pints for the price of one. Sweet.

Pours a dark, near opaque color with an off-brown head that was about 3 fingers high. When I escaped the brutal crowds gathered around the stands and displays showcasing elephant taxidermy, I was able to finally see brownish tinged hue to this. I honestly do not have too many complaints other than the over-foaming factor plaguing this beer. It turned out to be pretty viscous and thickened for a 7% black IPA, and deserves every bit of credit for that.

At the nose I get classic West Coast aromas, ranging from pine, orange peel, lemon, and a bit of grapefruit, and then all kinds of other herbal flavors that I haven't quite encountered before in the style, ranging from mint, clove, roses, and rosemary. The malts provide, on the other hand, a roasted cocoa character that is subtle yet firm, as well as notes of light licorice, espresso, caramel, and roasted biscuits. Not as complex as I like it, but very pungent and aromatic at every first whiff... Definitely smells very fresh, floral, and earthy overall. I enjoy it for what it is.

This is definitely a middle of the road black IPA, but at least in touches on flavors that I tend to enjoy in the style. Very astringent at the front, with notes of pine, grapefruit, earthy honey, and orange, and then right at the middle the bitterness dies down and is replaced by the roasted flavors, which are sadly a little bit more muted this time around. Light caramel, some anise, roasted dry barley, but barely enough of a backbone to make way for the initial bittered flavors. Slightly watery at the finish, rather than resinous or thickened, which makes it relatively quaffable, in spite of the strong, ascending bitterness that envelops as this warms up. Carbonation is quite good, and the long lasting foam makes this creamy. I do wish this beer knew what it wanted to do, though. There's a lot of potential at both aspects, but neither fully comes through.

Not a bad SF black IPA - definitely miles ahead of Back in Black - and this is one that could grow on me. I tried their IPA offering at their booth as well, and it was quite floral and good. If everything goes right, these guys could become the leading hoppy aromatic brewery in SF (to mirror Drake's in the East Bay). A solid offering that falls a bit short on the malts, but the hops are lovely indeed. Can't wait to see more.
Jul 27, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by lpstar from California

Jul 23, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by mc4z from California

Jul 14, 2013
Photo of Philousa
Reviewed by Philousa from California

3.58/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Imbibed at 31st Union on 6/16/13.

Pours a murky black, rusty brown on the edges against the light. The head is tan and billowy and dissipates quick to a thin, patchy layer over the top. Lots of roasted malts in the nose, coffee, and chocolate with a creamy lactic facet to it. The cream starts the taste buds off, moving to chocolate and bitter coffee, then to vinous hop bitterness. Feel is slightly thick with a clean, dry finish.

This isn't much of an IPA in the nose or flavor, but then again my nose is a bit congested. A damn good beer though, if thought of as a porter.
Jun 17, 2013
Squid Ink from Pacific Brewing Laboratories
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 35 ratings