Black Ale
Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- Porter - American
Ranked #91 - ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #8,985 - Avg:
- 3.99 | pDev: 8.02%
- Reviews:
- 52
- Ratings:
- From:
- Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
- Minnesota, United States
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 8
- Gots
- 54
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
Notes:
Brewed to be smooth, chocolatey, semi-roasted ale that bridges the islands of porter and stout. And if you aren’t a fan of bridges, there’s always the canoe. This Black Ale drinks like a porter but is opaque like a stout. Brewed with a generous amount of oats to round out the flavor.
Reviews: 52
| Ratings: 266
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Reviews by hoptheology:
hoptheology from South Dakota
3.69/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can
2/5/19
Zildjian K Pint Glass
Deep shiny black with a creamy beige head of 1 finger, stable. Nice lace left on the sides.
Aroma is faint but of dark malts and slight roast.
Flavor comes across a bit more hoppy than I'd like. Very green. There are nice notes of pumpernickel and darker fruits and karo on the back end, much like a good Doppelbock or Schwarzbier. Some dark chocolate or cacao.
Feel is on the thin side, again this is much like a thinner version of a Schwarzbier. Mild hop resins on the finish. Some coffee roastiness. Mild warming alcohol.
Overall, if you're in the mood for a hoppy Schwarzbier, that's what this is basically, only in ale form. Had no idea they'd be claiming this to be a porter - a bit too thin for that, even if it was lagered as a Baltic Porter.
Aug 17, 2019
3.69/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can
2/5/19
Zildjian K Pint Glass
Deep shiny black with a creamy beige head of 1 finger, stable. Nice lace left on the sides.
Aroma is faint but of dark malts and slight roast.
Flavor comes across a bit more hoppy than I'd like. Very green. There are nice notes of pumpernickel and darker fruits and karo on the back end, much like a good Doppelbock or Schwarzbier. Some dark chocolate or cacao.
Feel is on the thin side, again this is much like a thinner version of a Schwarzbier. Mild hop resins on the finish. Some coffee roastiness. Mild warming alcohol.
Overall, if you're in the mood for a hoppy Schwarzbier, that's what this is basically, only in ale form. Had no idea they'd be claiming this to be a porter - a bit too thin for that, even if it was lagered as a Baltic Porter.
Aug 17, 2019
More User Reviews:
mikevanatta from Minnesota
4.06/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The smell and taste both give a lovely amount of roasted malt with the taste also offering slight hints of coffee and chocolate. This beer seems to fall somewhere between a stout and a porter (I would lean more toward the latter) and, at 6% ABV, I find it to be very satisfying when I crave something dark but don't need a "big" beer.
Oct 08, 2015
4.06/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The smell and taste both give a lovely amount of roasted malt with the taste also offering slight hints of coffee and chocolate. This beer seems to fall somewhere between a stout and a porter (I would lean more toward the latter) and, at 6% ABV, I find it to be very satisfying when I crave something dark but don't need a "big" beer.
Oct 08, 2015
Peepskp from Wisconsin
4.03/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice chocolate and roasted malt flavors, a bit of coffee and vanilla. Nicely carbonated and very drinkable. I could easily have a couple of these in a row unlike other beers in this category.
Nov 01, 2016
4.03/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice chocolate and roasted malt flavors, a bit of coffee and vanilla. Nicely carbonated and very drinkable. I could easily have a couple of these in a row unlike other beers in this category.
Nov 01, 2016
travelguy from Ohio
4.12/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
May 16, 2019
4.12/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
May 16, 2019
pagriley from Illinois
4.03/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12oz can into snifter
L - pours slightly thin and translucent black with a thick head that falls to lacing quickly
S - toasted malt dominates, with hints of coffee and bitter chocolate
T - more of the same, but lacking sweetness - could do with a touch more malt - but I am being picky, as it just needs a hint
F - lighter bodied but creamy. Good fine carb that isn't prickly.
Overall an excellent porter / black ale. straddles the border a bit as there really isn't a hop presence that is dominating, but if you put this in front of me blind I would call it a porter every time
Aug 27, 2015
4.03/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12oz can into snifter
L - pours slightly thin and translucent black with a thick head that falls to lacing quickly
S - toasted malt dominates, with hints of coffee and bitter chocolate
T - more of the same, but lacking sweetness - could do with a touch more malt - but I am being picky, as it just needs a hint
F - lighter bodied but creamy. Good fine carb that isn't prickly.
Overall an excellent porter / black ale. straddles the border a bit as there really isn't a hop presence that is dominating, but if you put this in front of me blind I would call it a porter every time
Aug 27, 2015
ta_hagen from Minnesota
4.71/5 rDev +18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
One of my favorite session-able stouts. Similar to a oatmeal stout, nothing in my craft world compares to this black ale. Taste is roasted malts and burnt brown coffee dry finish. Herbal hops notes, cream, and dark chocolate. There is a dark fruit, bitter taste, slightly at the finish. This a by far the easiest drinking black session porter/stout I have ever had and its REALLY good. I have been watching the rating of this beer on beer advocate and it's been really escalating. There has been more recent hype around it and I can definitely see why. So if your a person that has coveted this beer outside the Minnesota area, definitely try to trade for it. Its a thumbs up in my book Bent Paddle. Good job!!!!
Mar 02, 2016
4.71/5 rDev +18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
One of my favorite session-able stouts. Similar to a oatmeal stout, nothing in my craft world compares to this black ale. Taste is roasted malts and burnt brown coffee dry finish. Herbal hops notes, cream, and dark chocolate. There is a dark fruit, bitter taste, slightly at the finish. This a by far the easiest drinking black session porter/stout I have ever had and its REALLY good. I have been watching the rating of this beer on beer advocate and it's been really escalating. There has been more recent hype around it and I can definitely see why. So if your a person that has coveted this beer outside the Minnesota area, definitely try to trade for it. Its a thumbs up in my book Bent Paddle. Good job!!!!
Mar 02, 2016
tim007007 from Illinois
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aug 03, 2015
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aug 03, 2015
Truegent2004 from Minnesota
3.26/5 rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
The coffee taste is too strong and I really cant taste any chocolate. The bitterness factor is too high for my liking. Its a decent porter but there are better (and cheaper) ones out there.
Dec 26, 2020
3.26/5 rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
The coffee taste is too strong and I really cant taste any chocolate. The bitterness factor is too high for my liking. Its a decent porter but there are better (and cheaper) ones out there.
Dec 26, 2020
Wer34truh from Minnesota
4.38/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This pours a gorgeous head, with a lot of bubbly activity and a creamy appearance. The body of the beer is pitch black, with a small amount of rising bubbles. This definitely looks the part.
Smells of roasted coffee beans and malt.
Has an incredibly present chocolate aftertaste, which dominates completely. Carbonation is there, but kept to a minimal.
I haven't been particularly exposed to this style earlier, and this is a beer that had the same effect on me as Modus Hoperandi or Moo Joo's when I first had it. Meaning that it feels like I finally 'get' what people love about the style. This is incredible.
Nov 10, 2015
4.38/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This pours a gorgeous head, with a lot of bubbly activity and a creamy appearance. The body of the beer is pitch black, with a small amount of rising bubbles. This definitely looks the part.
Smells of roasted coffee beans and malt.
Has an incredibly present chocolate aftertaste, which dominates completely. Carbonation is there, but kept to a minimal.
I haven't been particularly exposed to this style earlier, and this is a beer that had the same effect on me as Modus Hoperandi or Moo Joo's when I first had it. Meaning that it feels like I finally 'get' what people love about the style. This is incredible.
Nov 10, 2015
Chris-1911 from Illinois
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 19, 2015
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 19, 2015
maedhros09 from Minnesota
3.51/5 rDev -12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look: Pours black with a nice fluffy tan head, minimal lacing
Smell: roasted malt (didn't spend too much time on this one)
Taste: A nice level of roasted malt with moderate sweetness. It seems like something is missing - maybe the hops? It is a nice malt base but not the complexity I expect of the style
Feel: Not sure if I didn't pour hard enough, but it ended up more carbonated than i like, almost soda-like.
Overall: A bit of a disappointment. The malt had a nice level of roast and sweetness, but it just seemed to lack the hops to give it the expected balance and complexity. The mouthfeel was off too, as it ended up seeming overcarbonated for the style. The overall impression was honestly kind of like root beer. Don't get me wrong - this is drinkable, and even enjoyable, but there are so many other options out there that it's hard to recommend this one unless you really dislike hops. This is the only disappointment I've had so far from Bent Paddle, which is a bummer since I really like Porter and Stout styles.
May 05, 2015
3.51/5 rDev -12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look: Pours black with a nice fluffy tan head, minimal lacing
Smell: roasted malt (didn't spend too much time on this one)
Taste: A nice level of roasted malt with moderate sweetness. It seems like something is missing - maybe the hops? It is a nice malt base but not the complexity I expect of the style
Feel: Not sure if I didn't pour hard enough, but it ended up more carbonated than i like, almost soda-like.
Overall: A bit of a disappointment. The malt had a nice level of roast and sweetness, but it just seemed to lack the hops to give it the expected balance and complexity. The mouthfeel was off too, as it ended up seeming overcarbonated for the style. The overall impression was honestly kind of like root beer. Don't get me wrong - this is drinkable, and even enjoyable, but there are so many other options out there that it's hard to recommend this one unless you really dislike hops. This is the only disappointment I've had so far from Bent Paddle, which is a bummer since I really like Porter and Stout styles.
May 05, 2015
BrewNoob1 from Minnesota
4.08/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Jun 07, 2017
4.08/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Jun 07, 2017
Mnmich7662 from Minnesota
3.78/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Jun 20, 2015
3.78/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Jun 20, 2015
Beerisnomnom from Minnesota
5/5 rDev +25.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I'm biased. This is my favorite beer.
Sep 22, 2016
5/5 rDev +25.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I'm biased. This is my favorite beer.
Sep 22, 2016
Malty_Hopper from Minnesota
4.12/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Mar 02, 2015
4.12/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Mar 02, 2015
iRun2Beer from Minnesota
4.04/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Jun 05, 2015
4.04/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Jun 05, 2015
Metalsnota from Minnesota
3.89/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 06, 2015
3.89/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 06, 2015
JoeyDubs from New York
3.83/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jul 19, 2015
3.83/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jul 19, 2015
SpanishUnicorn from Minnesota
3.48/5 rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Mar 21, 2015
3.48/5 rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Mar 21, 2015
boinknet from Minnesota
4.14/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Mar 07, 2015
4.14/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Mar 07, 2015
Rawwie from Minnesota
3.39/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Mar 19, 2015
3.39/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Mar 19, 2015
Black Ale from Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
266 ratings
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