Dark Matter
Blackstone Brewing Company

CanConPhilly from Pennsylvania

3.84/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

L - 2-finger tan head atop a cola-brown body.

S - caramel, citrus.

T - follows the nose. Caramel malt, oranges, roast. Low bitterness. Moderate sweetness. Low booziness.

F - medium body and carb.

O - quite a tasty black ipa.

Mar 02, 2019

tzbel013 from Tennessee

3.1/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Color was a mahagony brown vs the "black" I expected. Piney earthy on the nose with only light malts to soften the hops. I think I'll stick with their St. Charles Porter

Jan 19, 2019

Harrison8 from Missouri

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a dark, dark brown with a finger and a half of khaki foam. Aroma is biscuit, earth, and toasted malts and herbal and resin hops. It comes off rather early and natural. Flavor profile is toasted, biscuit, earth, and bread malts and herbal and floral hops. Flavor profile is fizzy with evident carbonation. It's a touch harsh, with a medium-thin consistency. Overall, a earthy, natural tasting beer. Imagine slurping up an evergreen forest with a few pans of biscuits thrown in the mix of muddy river water (for the sake of looks).

Served in a 12oz snifter from a 12oz bottle.

Jun 08, 2018

chinchill from South Carolina

4.16/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle from TN. BB date notched 2017 (no month or week indicated).

This "Black IPA" is actually a lovely, crystal clear, dark mahogany color. It's topped with an excellent, creamy beige head than has great retention despite having modest size. It leaves full sheets of lacing on the glass with each tip.
Creamy smooth, medium+ body. Very good balance of grains and hops, allowing each of these to shine. Moreover, and unlike many "Black IPAs", the grains and hops are well chosen and blend nicely rather than clashing. Mild for style but plenty of flavor.

Dec 02, 2016

John1985 from Tennessee

3.67/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Black ale with a fair one inch head. Aroma was more citrus than pine. Taste was light on the palate with decent bitterness on the front and back. I detect some light roastiness or black patent malt favor as ale warmed. I would have enjoyed this more as a light colored IPA.

Mar 14, 2016

Maryobeerian from Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bottle purchased in Nashville. Highly drinkable. A bit thin -- no chocolate or roasted hints I expect in a black IPA, but light and enjoyable.

Feb 18, 2016

Buck89 from Tennessee

3.95/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass. Hazy dark orange-brown with a two-finger tan head. Good lacing and retention. Nice aromas of pine, orange, grapefruit, and earthy tones. Very flavorful with primarily bitter orange, grapefruit, pine, and a confusing mix of roasted malt. Not my favorite style but a good representation IMO. Medium-bodied and easy-drinking.

Jan 26, 2016

kurtmackendree from Tennessee

3.63/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured a nice deep, reddish brown color with medium white head. The smell was a bit piney, but not super attractive. Mouthfeel was light and a little thin, but pretty pleasant. The taste was actually quite nice, enough bitterness and brightness from the hops to be pleasant but not overpowering, and quite a bit of nutty malt flavors to bring some great balance to this beer. To be fair, I bought this beer mostly for the retro 1950's sci-fi art, but I was actually pleasantly surprised by how tasty this beer was.

Jan 25, 2016

puck1225 from Texas

4.02/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I admit I bought this at a gas station on the west side of Nashville on my way between PA and TX because it had the coolest carton/bottle label art I have seen! But black IPAs are one of my favorite styles, so I had to pick it up after I got gas. Glad I did! Pours a nice dark brown with a thick head and good lacing. Nice piney smell and taste. Citrusy and some dark roast flavors. Not the best black IPA I have had but I enjoyed it and loved the geeky, retro art!

Jan 11, 2016

Argyll615 from Tennessee

3.67/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Look: Poured into a classic pint glass - blackish brown with a thick, white head which dissipates slowly with very little lacing.
Nose: Smells of dark chocolate and piney hops.
Mouthfeel: This is a very light-bodied beer. The flavor is of a piney IPA, with just a hint of nuttiness.
Overall: It isn't as complex as I would have liked but it is rather refreshing due to the light body.

Jan 02, 2016

Krisp09 from Virginia

3.86/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Look: poured into tulip glass, clear, dark brown with ruby hue, two fingers of tan head. Aroma: pine, floral, chocolate and crystal malt. Taste: nice pine and floral, some bitterness from dark malt but very little. Feel: this is where the beer is really lacking with very little body and thin mouthfeel. Overall: nice black IPA that leans more toward IPA side than darker beer style

Dec 13, 2015