Nicollet Mauler
Eastlake Craft Brewery

 

i didnt find this black ale to be as black ipa as most, the hops have some flavor in here, but its only one element of a nice brew, and i am not ready to call this a black ipa, i think the grain balance is strong, and the plethora of other flavors from bakers chocolate to coffee grinds pushes it further away from a black ipa. the hops have some mild pine to them, and of course some bitterness, especially with the bitter roasted elements in the grain bill, but its not abrasive and it doesnt linger. the beer has a lightness to it for its color too, not as full bodied as a lot of them are, almost like a session porter or something like that, the flavors are there but not the weight. hints of black tea, cocoa powder, and brown sugar flash in and out, and it finishes quickly for what it is. neat beer, something a little different in the style, and while i do think its a couple of tweaks from being mastered, it was an enjoyable drink in a really cool little brewery. if you havent been here yet, definitely go check it out, some cool beers flowing at eastlake right now...

Pours a very dark brown colour. Smells like sweet malts, chocolate, coffee, mocha, espresso, but very light. Tastes very bitter, earthy good, mocha, espresso, and roasted malts.

 

 

On tap at the Turf Club in St. Paul, MN. Served in a standard shaker glass.

Appearance: Color is jet black. Moderate amount of bubbles and about a finger of tan head that settles into a thin creamy patch.

Smell: A roasty and earthy balanced aroma with a scent of chocolate, citrus, and pine. Roasted barley malt with a scent of dark chocolate, coffee, toast, caramel, biscuit, and slight smoke. Citrus hop hints of grapefruit, orange, lemon, and tangerine. Earthy hop hints of pine resin and grass. Also some black licorice hints. A rally nice aroma.

Taste: Like it smells, a roasty and earthy balanced taste with notes of chocolate, citrus, and pine. Roasted barley malt with notes of dark chocolate, coffee, caramel, biscuit, toast, and smoke. Citrus hop notes of grapefruit, orange, tangerine, and lemon. Earthy hop notes of grass and pine resin spice. Subtle notes of black licorice and sugar. A very good taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Fairly oily with a drying finish.

Overall: A very good take on a Black Ale. Bold but balanced presence of hops and dark malt.

L: Pours bright dark chestnut under a persistent and lacy 2” tan foam stand with fine bubbles.
S: Rich dark malts with some dark caramel to molasses.
T: Dark chocolate, spice, grain, medium high bitterness, light fruit notes and a pleasant graininess. The dark malt bitterness and hop bitterness play well off each other. Well balanced flavors.
F: Very creamy, medium body medium carbonation.
O: The body is a little less than a porter and the hop bitterness is a little more. The beer is flavorful and easy to drink.

 

 

 

 

The Nicollet Mauler was a good attempt at a Black IPA....the finish was troubling for me as it tasted like medicine. The beer poured a darker in color with thin head and spotty lace. The scent had all the west coast qualities...pine and citrus. The mouthfeel was medium in body with good carbonation. Overall it was ok.

 

 

 

 

 

Looks as it should. Nearly pitch black (red highlights if search) and a firm tan head with some lacing.
Complex aroma with a strong phenolic quality noted initially (the brewer indicated it is from an English yeast), followed by the darker malt with only a slight roast quality. In time the grassy, herbal, earthy and maybe even spicy hops present and in time blend in nicely.
NIce complex flavor too. The phenols are not here with the malt more prominent and the roast more apparent and then contributing to a bittering and dry finish. This is not a hop up front drink (at least this version is not), but the hops are there and are blended in flavor throughout (start to finish). They seem largely more English in taste and are as described in the aroma.
Moderate to slightly lighter feel. Carbonated nicely.
Once I figured out this was a Am. black ale this drink made a lot more sense and my enjoyment increased a lot too. Shows the power of suggestion.