Knockdown
Slack Tide Brewing Co.

 

 

2022-12-22
12oz can served in a curvy Fremont glass. No date on the can, received from @jonphisher a week ago.

Pours black with a huge fluffy head, lots of carbonation. Very lively beer. Smell is roasty, spicy, some burnt toffee and lots of nuts, pine and resin.

Taste is dark toast, dark roast coffee, some toffee sweetness and maybe some very dark chocolate semisweetness. Plus a lot of pine resin and anise.

Mouthfeel is light, dry, airy, impressive at 8.3%. Overall, this is a really good beer.

Pours a deep cola brown/black with ample head that builds and stays for the duration. Lots of intricate lacing as the beer is enjoyed.

Strong aromas a pine and bitter citrus rind. In behind are some milder malty notes.

Taste follows. A punch of bitter citrus pith and rind. Lots of pine. Some less prominent notes of cocoa and roasted grain sit in the backseat. It all blends together perfectly.

Nice full body. Lightly creamy. Very enjoyable.

This is a gem. That bitter punch is often missing from today’s black IPAs, at least those in my neck of the woods. This was a pleasure to drink.

Pours a dark black color, brownish around the edges. Huge, thick, frothy, mocha colored head initially forms on the beer. That head Lingers for a bit then dissipates but never completely. There is always a thin layer of foam on top of the beer at all times. Aroma is bright, pungent and strong. Notes of pine, grapefruit, citrus, roasted malt and some cocoa come through.

Taste follows the nose with notes of grapefruit, citrus, and pine, giving way to a pronounced bitter finish. The back end has notes of coffee, roasted malts, cocoa, and more woody pine. Feel is light to medium bodied. Smooth, but not really easy drinking. Although I will say the ABV is totally hidden in this one.

Overall it's a fantastic black IPA - expertly crafted and incredibly tasty. Easily one of the best I have had.

Absolutely gorgeous brew, apparently crystal clear but dark as ebony. Excellent head production and retention. Really, I can't find a single aspect of the appearance to fault.

Very dank on the nose, along with notes of grapefruit, pine, resin, caramel, and coffee.

Flavor is fairly balanced, along with a touch of spice. Tarragon, rye, chocolate, espresso, pine, grapefruit, melon.

Drinks exceptionally smooth; you'd never guess the >8% ABV.

Pours a dark cola color from the can and settles in the glass almost black with a substantial tan head. The nose is hop forward, with some citrus and a load of pine, answering the question definitively that this is a black IPA and not a hoppy porter.

The first sip confirms - black IPA, with loads of pine and a nice citrus flavor, with a dark chocolate flavor on the end of the taste. This is magnificent.

The mouthfeel is medium and dry, locking this into the black IPA slot. What a wonderful flavor ride this is.

Very dark brown body, clear when pouring yet opaque in the glass; thick, frothy head, light khaki color. Spicy nose intermingled with dark malt sweetness. cacao nibs and cola. Rich dark malt flavor with an India pale ale zestiness; bitter chocolate; earthy spiciness; moderate bitterness. Medium body; mildly coarse on the palate; slight sweetness yet finishes on the dry side.

Why there seems to be such little love for the black IPA / Cascadian dark ale, I'll never know. This beer is a prime example of the style well-done. It is a beautiful combination of a robust brown ale and west coast IPA, all malty goodness with a spicy IPA-type of hop kick. Very pleasant, very enjoyable.

Pouring temperature: 45 °F; canning data: unknown

Pours black with a light brown fluffy head, settles to a nice thick film, low to moderate lacing.

Aroma is all hops up front, pine needles and citrus rind; roasty dark chocolate as it warms up.

Huge hit of resiny pine and huge bite of grapefruit; dark chocolate and big roasty espresso like finish hidden behind the hops.

Medium body, hop resin coats the tongue and continues into a big lingering bitter finish. It has very smooth carbonation to. Drinks remarkably easy for a +8% beer.

If you enjoy black ipas you need to try this beer.

 

I had this on draught at the brewery. 10 oz. pour served in a pilsener glass. It pours almost black with ruby hues when held to the light, and a half finger of creamy, khaki-colored head and a thin sheen of lacing. The smell is decidedly roasty with light pine and floral hop notes, char, tobacco, coffee, and a whiff of citrus. The nose improves as the glass warms. The taste opens with brown bread, coffee, cocoa, char, and delicate Simcoe and Warrior hops that add some bitterness but without biting. The malt and hops are really well balanced. This ale is creamy with moderate carbonation, and its solid 8.3% ABV gives it a nice pop. Overall, this is a really well-crafted Black IPA. I think its the best I've tasted in New Jersey not named Epitome and it stands toe to toe with NightTime, Back in Black, Dark Penance, and Dubhe.