Black Knight
Halo Brewery

 

Appearance: A sumptuous black - almost angelic I would say (LOL). And oh my, a three finger Paul Bunyon manly head that is a foamy version of brown sugar, both in texture and colour. I don't think I have seen the like in a black IPA before. Huge swarthy chunks of lace cling to sides in futile attempts to survive as the titanic head ever so slowly drops into it's inky abyss leaving a small central iceberg of foam floating in the center. Amazing.

Aromas: An almost vinegar-like smell taints a combination of walnut shells and really wet oak wood. Has an almost mineral spirit odor but without the chemical scents. Under that though is some soft citrus orange and grapefruit and just a dab of floral herbalness. Leaves a bit to be desired and really makes you wonder what it will taste like.

Taste: Deep dark and mysterious - Can that be a taste? has a very dark earthy bog or peat like flavour, that reminds me of Jägermeister in a way. It's the type of flavour that is hard to describe but almost tastes medicinal without the antiseptic cough syrup effect. It is very root based and woody, with licorice like bitterness without the sugar. Seriously interesting flavour profile indeed. If you are looking for familiar flavours here, I'm not sure you will find them, it is almost in a class of its own.

Mouthfeel: The body is medium with a pretty sparkly carbonation. The finish is plain and dry, maybe a slight bitter cling on the palate, but it's a sensation that you will find you are ambivalent to.

Overall: An oddity for me. Either it's absolutely brilliant in it's ability to break the barriers of expectation of style or its an abysmal flavour fail for black ales. Being a chef and visual artist, I am usually more willing to accept the unusual than others. I can usually see the genius in art and craft that others would normally discount, and this is a great brew with a lot of complexity BUT it is in need of some support...

Pairing: This beer has a ton of heart and artistic je ne sais quoi; it wants so badly to share itself. I'm feeling this may just be the longest pairing section I have ever written for a brew because here is so much here to break down.
So in my observations, it has a pretty distinctive bitter and a tempered very mild sweetness. So I need to add a bit more sweetness and add in a little spice. My first thoughts are pretty straight forward for your basic types - BBQ'd/smoked beef ribs, or Cajun-spiced shrimp. Though I think this will go extremely well with a good plate of beef, I feel it may be a little too mundane and obvious. This needs something a bit more or very spiced up seafood... I'm going out on a limb here, because I think this beer has a lot to offer and I can visualize the craft that found its way into its being, so I'm going to suggest a bunch of stuff that is probably way out of the norm and you will need to prepare yourself for some serious cooking if you want to try it...
I'm thinking a rich and luxurious wild mushroom cream soup with black garlic, charred leek, and roasted fennel. All of those ingredients are earth based and have elements that I think will compliment or bolster the current flavours. Now doesn't that sound amazing? I actually haven't ever come across any recipe with those ingredients so in the spirit of adventure and inspiration, I am going to actually try it out... but I first gotta get my hands on some more black garlic. I will be sure to post my findings.