Tenebrous
DESTIHL Brewery

 

Had on tap at the Destihl Beer hall in Normal. Listed as “Black IPA” on the menu. Poured dark brown with minimal lacy head. While fitting the parameters of the style, something was just off. A bit of diacetyl in every sip, with a vegetal note throughout, and a low hop presence. Still some roast on the palate and bitter finish, but maybe an off keg. Listed here as an American Black Ale, a bit more fitting than what I thought I was ordering.

 

 

On tap, clear dark brown, dense creamy eggshell head, sheet of lace down the side. Smell is grapefruit, floral, a little caramel. Taste: big spicy and grainy, toffee, grapefruit. Medium bodied, creamy feel, finishes sticky and sweet. Decent, rye seems to be kicking.

these guys are so hit or miss for me, but this black rye ipa is one of their best beers, hands down. its really dense, lots of viscosity and creamy off white head to it, and a deeply dark black body, pretty beer, even in a shaker pint. it smells awesome, lots of bitter hops, heavy roast reminds me of good espresso, and enough rye malt to be impactful even through the roast and hops, maybe even dark rye malt in here to make it stand up so well. there is a ton of hops here, no doubt a black ipa in style, pine and bitter for me, some oils swirling, on the edge of being too much even, but i like the boldness of it. there is not the most complex grain thing going on, just a couple of well chosen and well dosed dark malts, almost none of the chocolate malt thing here at all, far darker, charred and roasted, coffee flavors add bitterness as well as roast. maybe an english yeast strain? too much going on to really tell, but its sort of stale bready in a good way, softens the bold flavors here. these guys obviously mix it up quite a bit in the brew house, but i wouldnt mind seeing this one as a regular in their lineup, its easily one of their best i have had, and an excellent (if extremely pungent) example of the style. the rye spice and the hops go together amazingly well, and its smooth body glides right down. great glass of beer right here!