Black Betsy IPA
Forest City Brewery

Black IPAs are one of my all-time favorite styles. This one came out looking a little lighter and thinner than I was expecting but still delivered with some rich malt tastes and a nice bitterness.

 

Having this on-tap at the brewery, this beer draws a beer dark brown, almost black color with a tan head that’s about 1/4 inch thick when first drawn and served to me. Settles to a big cluster swirl of surface foam and a thick ring lining the inside of the glass. Aromas of roasted malts with some caramel sweetness and some bready was along with earthy and piney hop notes. The taste is pretty much the same, with roasty, bready malts with some notes of caramel sweetness that give way to piney and earthy hop bitterness. Good balance of flavors, but the hops do dominate a bit as the beer starts to sit and warm a bit and the hop profile comes out more. Which is as it should be I suppose for a beer of this style. Has a fairly crisp, yet smooth, medium to full bodied mouthfeel with moderate to heavy carbonation. Easy to drink the way good beer should be. Has a clean finish with a slightly roasty and dry aftertaste. Spot on for the style, and a very enjoyable offering here.

Eric