Chinookian Dark IPA
Drake's Brewing Co.

On tap at Hopyard San Ramon. Served in a pint glass 10/16/10. Second time with this beer but I wasn't able to review it the first time.

Forms a modest sized but stubborn mocha colored head. Very dark brown body with some slight red highlights. Lacing forms in thick sheets as I drink it down.

Aroma has a pleasant but not overpowering herbal hop bitterness and a very mild chocolate scent.

Flavor is likewise herbal and intensely bitter. Chocolate character is pushed even further into the background than it was on the smell but there is a light lingering smokiness that manages to peek through. Finish is very dry and bitter but clean enough to invite the next sip sooner than later. Deceptively drinkable for 7.5% ABV.

This is near the pinnacle of a style that's surprisingly well suited to serve as a platform for showing off Chinook hops. Another winner from an underrated brewery. I hope it goes into regular rotation.

 

 

On cask at Toronado. Dark brown, clear though nearly opaque. The dense tan head recedes to a collar, leaving behind some lacing. Resiny hops are forward on the nose, slightly citrusy. There's some roast, coffee and tootsie roll beneath the hops. The palate is dry, roasty, well-hopped. Pine, resin, a bit of grapefruit and coffee. Bitterness is sharp and abrasive, a combination of both roasted malt and hop bite. Very good, Drake's continues to impress with their hoppy ales.

On-tap at Beachwood

A: The pour is a very dark brown color with a creamy tan colored head.

S: Lots of roasted malt that provides a bit of a chocolate note to the nose. The hops are much more toward the strong piney and woody variety, which holds up nicely to the roast character.

T: Despite the intense pine nature of the hops, this is not overwhelmingly bitter. That said, it's still quite bitter with lots of roast and chocolate malt flavor and a subtle sweetness. At times a bit of grapefruit hop flavor peaks through.

M: The body is medium with a moderate level of carbonation.

D: Not a bad Black IPA at all. I enjoyed this one thoroughly, especially after having the Port -bal Imperial Stout with Blueberries.

On tap @ Beachwood BBQ (12/23/10) - from notes:

Pours a dark brown with a light mocha head without much lace. Smell is muted perhaps by the cold temperature at which it was served, but there is a faint hop and cocao nose. Taste is somewhat sweet and hoppy, with a trace chocolate and malt element. Tap list notes - Centinnial and Chinook hops. 2 Row, Chocolate Rye, Caramalt, Honey malt and Crystal 45. Mouthfeel is dry and bitter with a depth to the finish. Overall, enjoyable dark IPA.

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours black with a moderate white head, solid lacing.

S: Citrus, some herbal notes, nice coffee aspects.

T: Bitter dark chocolate with a lot of raw hop bitterness. Grapefruit dominant, assorted citrus, cedar oil. But a beer for me, like Hop in the Dark where the two main flavours don't really coalesce.

M: Medium-bodied, smooth, bit frothy, no problems here.

D: Kind of middle of the road of Black IPAs for me. Strong flavours, but they don't take me anywhere.