Hop Chocolate
Yankee & Kraut

Pours a dark brown coloration with a medium, fluffy head. Smells of bready, slightly roasted malt and citrus hops, with notes of grapefruit, as well as hints of chocolate and pine also coming through. Taste is a good balance of bready, slightly roasted malt and fruity, juicy, slightly herbal and resinous hops, with citrus and tropical notes of grapefruit, coconut and lychee, some chocolate, as well as just a hint of coffee and pine. Finishes with a medium bitterness and some grapefruit, coconut, chocolate and pine lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

While this Black New England IPA feels just a little bit neither here nor there, I think that it accomplishes what it sets out to do rather well at the end of the day, with a good balance of roasted malt, chocolate, hints of coffee and juicy citrus/tropical notes, as well as some pine, finishing with a good bitterness. While I would have wished for a little more intense roast, resinous bitterness and coffee/licorice here, it still makes for an enjoyable brew in its own right at the end of the day.