Change of Heart Experimental Black IPA
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store

 

 

Porters and stouts have very sadly always eluded me for the most part because I am definitely not a coffee drinker (and let's face it they have that flavor). I have been searching for a beer that can be kind and a bridge to those flavors without taking it in one huge plunge. I think this may be the first one. This has a hint of both IPA and Stout/Porter. Definitely a great winter beer.

I will definitely keep at this one for a bit and then try some more traditional porters and stouts again.

In short, it's very good, very smooth, and is great for a cold night.

Solid offering from a sold brewery with an underrepresented style. Classic in all ways. Supremely drinkable, immensely enjoyable. If you're a fan of this style, and find a fresh one, def give it a go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12oz can, painted label. Bottom stamp is 'BBD: 01FEB26'.
Dark brown colored body. Two fingers of beige colored head, and this has a long duration as a full cap and higher ring. Leaves behind partial walls of lacing on the non-drinking side of the glass.
Aroma of roasted malts with a bit of char, chocolate, citrus, pine, and a hint of dark fruit.
Taste is a balance of sweet, bitter, and piney. Flavors of roasted malts, caramel, chocolate, a little vanilla, pine resin, a lesser presence of citrus orange/grapefruit, and a fleeting mention of stone fruit (apricot and plum). Aftertaste simmers with a summary of roasted malt, pine, and citrus flavors.
More than medium mouthfeel. Considerable coating of bitter resin. Minor tongue numbing. Excellent carbonation.
Fits for style and has a good balance of presentable components. Ending flavor of chocolate/caramel/vanilla malt.

 

 

The experiment was a success! Nothing like the "hop julep" nose of Two-Hearted (especially in its early years--that's beer's still world-class, but not quite as in-your-face as it once was), but a nice twist. Black IPAs are a nice change from the often too-bitter (hop as opposed to roasted malt) experience typical of most American IPAs and this one's very well done.

 

 

Poured from a 12 oz can into a Willi Becher glass

Purchased as part of Bells Hearted IPA variety 12 pack.

The beer is a nearly black, with mahogany highlights, and about 2 fingers of tan head. Good head retention with a fair amount of lacing

The dominant aroma is roasted malts, with some chocolate & caramel notes. The hop aroma is less dominant, but is citrusy and piney. Very balanced and seems to have all of the qualities of a great example of the style.

The taste follows the aroma with the dominant flavors being roasted malts, with some chocolate and caramel rounding out the malt profile. Citrusy and piney hops balance the beer out, making a very nice flavor profile. Unlike many Black IPA's, there is no coffee flavors to be found in this beer. Medium bodied and moderately carbonated

Overall this is a very nice example of the style, and is clearly the standout beer of the mix pack

Jet black with creamy head. Looks fantastic. Aroma is pine nuts and butter. Taste is pine, toffee, butterscotch, grassy notes. Mouthfeel is solid. Overall this honestly is fantastic