Zombie Killin' Ale
Three Notch'd Brewing Co. (Craft Kitchen & Brewery)

 

My only knock on the appearance is that it leans a little lighter, like cola-ish in color instead of strikingly black. Otherwise, massive mocha colored head and generous sticky lacing. Nose isn't too crazy, just a solid hop spiced sweet caramel. Taste begins with a bold earthy bitterness followed by just a little sweetness before a chalky bitterness is left on the tongue. Body is disappointingly thin and watery but not so much as to make me dislike the beer overall. I'd certainly buy it again and especially now when we're facing a dark time when shopping for Cascadians.

 

One of my favorite beers Three Notch’d has ever made. Definitely one of their happiest beers. I’m usually not big on black IPAs but this one will do. Slight coffee hint with grapefruit and pine. Wish it was year ‘round!

 

 

Pours a dark brown, almost black color, with a light brown head that leaves a little lacing upon the glass. Smell is herbal, malty, hint of coffee. Taste is chocolate, pine, coffee, grapefruit, caramel, dark fruit, and a little herbal. Medium body, moderate carbonation. Lots of flavors with an interesting mix. This drinks easier than it sounds and it hides the ABV well. Pretty darned solid.

 

On tap:
Pours a deep brown ale that’s trying to get to black, but it’s attempts are easily seen through. The head bubbled nicely higher than the rim via my server’s deft hand, but held together on the precipice. Later the light beige bubbles similarly cling the the glass walls.

The nose emphatically whispered, “I’m a fairly bold IPA.” Again with the thin veil, the roasted notes of chocolate/burnt toast malts are evident. The mix is a lovely herbal coffee (if that’s a thing) aroma.

The tip of my tongue gets grapefruit pith, but that smokescreen is broken through quickly as the heavy dark roast/bitter coffee notes sneak in. The latter drops off quickly, replaced by a pine needle bitterness. This is where the rye finally becomes quite evident. When I get it, I do recall noticing it in the nose, and on re-inspection I get it again mixing in with the pine. There is a citrus thread that weaves itself through the taste, fairly covertly.
(Edit: after reading other reviews, the citrus note I could easily see as a little plum/raisin note)

Ok, this, to me, wonderful mix of flavors all comes together pretty well. The feel is medium, and the complexity of the flavors don’t seem to burden that feel. This has dark malt, hop bitterness - pine, hop fruit - citrus, rye and an IBU rating that is only felt in the aftertaste, with lingering coffee, pine, and light rye bread. I think I see it for what it is; or is it an illusion?

 

 

A smooth fruity malty rye. I like it, but there's something more I'm craving, a little more snap.

L: Poured from a bottle to a tulip glass. Had a dark brown / black color and a thick, opaque consistency. There was a half inch of foamy, tan-colored, fairly long-lasting head. Excellent lacing.

S: A nice aroma of hops, some malt, pine, and dark fruit.

T: Tasted of some mild roasted malt notes, a fair shot of hops (less than expected), some dark fruit (raisins, plums), a bit of pine, some light citrus (orange), and caramel as well. Kind of an uneven taste in some respects, but still likable. Isn't quite hopped enough, but the other ingredients make up for it.

F: A good amount of carbonation with a smooth finish. Medium-bodied.

O: This beer has its flaws, but it's still drinkable. Worth a look.

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at Whole Foods in Vienna

Dark brown with a generous hear if fine bubbles
Taste is woody with a piney aftertaste, not typical for a black IPA

Was hoping for something really nice here, but a bit of a let down. Too much rubbing alcohol in the flavor. No complexity to this beer. I thought the aging would add something special, but no.
Not enough hop bite for a double IPA, instead all I get is wood, bourbon, and rubbing alcohol.