Black Eye
C'est What Durham Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

This beer doesn't seem to be available too often, so as soon as I saw it on the board at Volo, I had to order it. Pours a dark brown colour with frothy tan head. Lacing down most of the glass with excellent head retention. Smells of citrus hops, caramel, chocolate and roasted malt. The bitterness seems to punch as the first impression, with a sweet aftertaste from the huge malt. This is a very well balanced Casadian Dark Ale. Smooth mouthfeel.

On cask at Victory Cafe. Nice surprise, I remembered really enjoying this at Volo Cask Days but couldn't review it since I was there with non-BA friends. I didn't want to look like too much of a beer dork.

Half-pint brought to me with one and a half fingers of tight, creamy light-mocha coloured head. The beer is almost black; opaque with root beer highlights. Lots of great lacing and good retention.

Light-smelling. Grassy hops, molasses, raosted malt. Could use a lot more presence.

Really nice flavour. Good hop presence, molasses and roasted malt...very similar to the smell but a lot more powerful. Extremely smooth and well-balanced; simple in a nice way.

Light cask feel. Slick body with low carbonation. This was served almost at room temperature but I was into it.

This would be a wicked dark session ale. I could drink a bunch of this. Wish it was a regular.

On cask at Volo Cask Days 2009.

Pours a dark reddish brown, clear in the light, thin light tan head forms, settles to a decent ring around the glass, some lace spots stick.

Smell is nice, floral and light citrus hopping, caramel, some fruit, a hint of chocolate, big C hop aroma but still quite malty, nice stuff.

Taste is similar, not as good as the aroma, light chocolate maltiness, great biscuity malt character, caramel, floral, grapefruit and assorted citrus, very nice bitterness, balanced.

Mouthfeel is light bodied with low carbonation, nicely done as per usual with Durham, nicely made stuff.

I spent four hours pouring this beer at Cask Days, and after finally getting to have a half of it I can see why it sold so quickly.

Pitch black pour with a head of small tan bubbles that showed some retention and gave up a little lace. The aroma is predominantly west coast, but with a splash dusty cocoa and biscuit. As I would expect from this brewery, this is a fine cask, and the flavour is exceptional. The bitterness of this beer is capably balanced by a decent malt bill. While the hops bring some grapefruit and pine, the malt counters with biscuit, caramel and bittersweet chocolate. The end result is a sublimely balanced ale that has over 80 IBUs, but feels like much less. As usual, Bruce has nailed the body - he does these casks expertly!

I get to try two new cask Durhams in a week. This is heaven!

Re-review - had a pint at C'est What a week and a half later, and though the cask was a hair past its prime, this is still a great beer. Hopefully it stays in their regular lineup.

Enjoyed on cask at Volo Cask Days 2009. Black colour and malt but an IPA 85. I got a touch of roast flavour in here. Reminds me of Inquity,complex, drinkable. Mild flavour overall.Average mouthfeel. Served warmer than the others, probably a coincidence. A decent cask.

A black IPA.

I expected something like their Addict, but with more dark malt flavour. Not the case. This one seems less malty than the addict. The blackness seems to have more colouring than flavour (like a schwartz).

A: Black with a tan head, some retention & a hint of lace from the cask.

S: Huge pacific northwest hop aroma with plenty of grass, citrus & pine. By the smell, you'd never guess it was that dark.

T: Great PNW hop flavour (mostly citrus) with a gentle maltiness (biscuit, nut and a hint of roast). Good bitterness.

M: Really well-attenuated with a crisp, dry finish.

D: Like hops?