Black Sunshine
Holler Brewing Co.

Poured from tap into tulip, 1 1/2 finger tan head, good retention and lacing. Jet black in the glass, no light passes thru. Smells of roasted malt and pine. First sip, massive roasted malt, followed up by pine. There is some citrus in the middle, grapefruit, and the finish is mildly bitter with a super clean finish. Man, like this beer. Good mouthfeel, halfway through this beer and still looking at a good head.

 

 

A: Pours a nearly opaque/pitch black color. A two finger dark beige head forms with good retention. Plenty of lace lace is left behind.
S: Plenty of resin and pine like hops up front. Tree sap like, then chocolate and toasted malts. The hop/malt interplay is well done in the nose.
T: Like the nose, lots of resin and pine like hops. Tree sap, even light grapefruit with a substantial but not particularly lingering bitterness. Then comes the chocolate and toasted malts. While it works better in the nose, seems to clash a bit in the taste/flavor profile. Still, enjoyable for what it is.
M/O: A medium to full body. Moderate carbonation that is a bit resin/sticky like but at the same time ultra smooth. A fairly big beer, with plenty hop and malt characteristics. While well made it just doesn't mesh as well as I would like.

I am not a big fan of the "Black IPA" style, but this is pretty good. As usual from Holler, just well made. Like always with this :style", I find that the hops a malt clash. Though, given that, it is something I can enjoy and come back to when in the mood. Again, just well made, and that is all that it needs to be.