Black is the New Green
Commonwealth Brewing Company

Close to two fingers of fairly dense foam, some bigger dimples, however, retention is quite good, dark tan in color, fat lacing streaks which stick well. Fully opaque black liquid, difficult to judge if clean or filmy, random bubbles furtively break the surface. There is roast to the nose yet the main component by far is creamy milk chocolate, then enough butterscotch, caramel and coconut custard to evoke German chocolate cake, now and then you get the leafy herbaceousness and mixed white citrus, ends with a whiff of fried bacon and fat, smells closer to a Schwarzbier than IPA. Light to medium-bodied, while firm there is no lack of carbonated creaminess. That milk chocolate wastes no time slathering the palate. Follows up with licorice, caramel, and pine notes. Indistinct black fruits murmur quietly. Smokiness and roast mostly present during the finish and retronasally. The hops maybe a bit more aggressive here but overall the beer could use a refreshing spine. That said, plenty drinkable although the general sweetness might keep you to one or two cans in a sitting.

 

L: Poured from a tallboy can to a pint glass. Had a dark brown / black color and a thick texture. There was an inch of foamy, off white head that lasted an average amount of time. Fantastic lacing.

S: A nice and solid aroma of hops, malt, citrus fruit, and pine.

T: Tasted of some light chocolate notes, a good shot of roasted malt, a fair amount of hops, citrus fruit (grapefruit, in particular), pine, and a little caramel to boot. An interesting flavor for the style, with a bit more focus on the roasted malt and fruit than hops. An oddly enjoyable taste.

F: A well-carbonated beer with a smooth, yet lively, finish. Medium-bodied.

O: A genuinely likable ABA with some good tweaks. Quite drinkable.

 

Re-reviewed on November 11, 2018.

Purchased at Arrow Wine. Vigorous pour into a chalice.

Upon first tasting this beer I thought I had found a gem in the rough and I rated accordingly (4, 3.75, 4, 4, 4), but this beer (oddly) is one that I liked less as I progressed through the first can and the entire four-pack. Ultimately, this is a beer I really don’t like. It’s not unlike Wookey Jack, except for the fact that it’s a complex mess that does not work for me. Not a drain pour. 2.5

A – Pours black, opaque with a three-finger dense mousey light brown head that lasts a long time. Well carbonated. 4.0

S – Faint aromas of barley sugar. Spicy/herbal and floral, but also a “green” hoppiness. A very unique complex aroma – grassy, maybe plastic, but not in an unpleasant way. Maybe some acetone as well. 2.0

T – Roasty, but not burnt, leather, bread crust, faint cooked corn. The ABV balances a beer that does not know its style. 2.75

MF – Medium body with a dry finish. A bit acrid but also a bit of creaminess. 3.0