Ruffian Imperial Black IPA
Wicked Weed Brewing
- From:
- Wicked Weed Brewing
- North Carolina, United States
- Style:
- Black IPA
Ranked #151 - ABV:
- 9.6%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #26,132 - Avg:
- 3.81 | pDev: 11.29%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jul 13, 2025
- Added:
- Feb 10, 2014
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 4
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
Hopheads and dark lovers alike, this ale is for you. This 9.5% avg beast of a beer is black as night and dry hopped like a double IPA. Although dark and full-bodied, this beer lacks the astringent bitterness you would find in a toasty stout leaving you with a delightfully rounded-out ale.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri
4.1/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draft at Wicked Weed. Poured an opaque, black color with a small, khaki-colored head of foam. It left sticky patches of lace. It smelled of roasted malt, toffee and caramel. Great roasted malt taste with toffee, caramel and a sharp, piney bitterness.
Jul 13, 2025
Reviewed by twage04 from North Carolina
4.01/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On nitro at wicked weed. Very creamy and maybe too smooth from the nitro, almost flat. One of the better black ipas I've had other than my hang up with the carbonation or nitro.
Jul 28, 2015
Rated by WOLFGANG from South Carolina
3.25/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Ruffian Black IPA 9% on draught at Brewery
Mar 14, 2015
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
3.53/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Had on nitro. Pitch black body, creamy tan cap. Huge smoke, roasted malt, char, with supporting bitter chocolate and coffee, hops are so mild! Taste I get some fruit, but again not a lot of bitters, like I have has RIS that are more bitter than this, like a watery smoky stout. This is true for the feel too, give me hops!
Jan 21, 2015
Rated by Martyrob from North Carolina
4.27/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Super hoppy and fantastic. Definitely a good black ipa
Dec 21, 2014
Reviewed by GarthDanielson from Virginia
3.74/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured ontap in a snifter, the beer is jet black, with a low profile, foamy, tan head. Aromas of sweet chocolate and bitter coffee, with subtle citrus notes and a resinous backbone. Flavors are resinous and grapefruit forward, quickly overtaken by roasted and bitter coffee and bittersweet chocolate. Good balance of bitter and hoppy. Light, smooth bodied, with a roast coffee and hops resin aftertaste. More piney notes coming through in the aftertaste. Smooth, dry, resinous lingering finish.
Dec 16, 2014
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