Dark Matter Machine
Pipeworks Brewing Company

3.51/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by larryarms847 from Illinois

Pours a thin brown.

Pungent coffee character and grassy hop aromas.

Hmm, at first sip I already know I'm not going to finish my glass. The strong coffee character in the aroma definitely comes through in flavor as well, but the mix of coffee and this style, not a good choice. It's prickly carbonation and lager like flavor with strong herbal/grassy hops, mixed with coffee is quite terrible.

Light-bodied, high carbonation, thin.

Overall, not going to lie this was a drain pour, pass on this.

Apr 21, 2018

3.78/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by stortore from Illinois

22 ounce bottle into a pilsner glass. Bottled on 5/30/16.

Has a kind of golden color, a little darker away from the light. Mostly clear, with a one and a half finger head, some creamy lacing. Lots of streaming bubbles on the first pour. Looks like a lager. Not a strong aroma, some coffee- a little stronger as it warms, a little bready, crackers, light malt and yeast. The taste leads with the coffee, although it's certainly not strong. Light malt, some hops, yeast, again a little bready. A light sweetness up front, some bitterness on the finish. Crisp, refreshing, fairly dry.

Ths is not a style I normally seek out, but this is a really good example of it. Liked it more as the bottle emptied. The coffee is definitely a positve addition. Another creative and solid effort from Pipeworks. Great price point, so give it a try.

Jun 26, 2016

3.8/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by mfnmbvp from Illinois

22 oz. bottle, no bottled date. Delivered to stores 2 days ago. Fresh. "Coffee Cream Ale" "Iteration 1.0". Pipeworks collaboration with their friends at Dark Matter. Acquired for a good price, too - $6.99 for the bomber.

Poured into a Duvel tulip snifter.

A - Pours a hazy deep golden body, good clarity, with 1 finger of frothy soapy white head that lingers as a ring and a surface skimming. Leaves good scattered soapy lacing. Apt carbonation. Looks good for what it is. 4

S - An interesting aroma, if a bit light on the coffee. Notes of golden grains, wheat, some earthy lager yeast, with a very distinct crispness added from the coffee beans - notes of freshly grinded roastiness / nuttiness, cream, vanilla, along with some soft subtle notes of citrus on the back end. Very lightly fumey.

T - Taste is the same: strong grain bitterness, with freshly grinded nutty coffee beans coming in after. Soft notes of cream, vanilla, hazelnut, and an indistinct citrus fruit note on the end. What's here is good, but it could definitely use more coffee.

M - Feel is smooth, crisp, creamy. A light-medium body with good carbonation. Easy-drinking stuff with a moderate abv.

Overall, decent, but i'd say more coffee could be added next time.

Pipeworks Dark Matter Machine -----4/5.

Jun 09, 2016