Black Ace
Bevel Craft Brewing

On draft at Bevel Craft while disc golfing. Poured an opaque, jet-black color with a small, khaki-colored head of foam. It left sticky lacing. It smelled of roasted malt, pine and toffee. Great roasted malt taste with pine, caramel and toffee.

Review: 2112
Name: Black Ace
Brewery: Bevel Craft Brewing
Location: Bend, OR
Style: Black IPA
ABV: 7.6%
Date: 05/2024 Maybe
Today, I'm diving into the world of Black IPAs, a style that initially left me uncertain when I began my beer journey several years ago. My First encounter was with one from Deschutes, and I was immediately drawn to the unique blend of roasty notes and hop complexity. This particular Black IPA from Bevel Craft Brewing is a shining example of the style, having recently won an award at the North American Beer Awards (NABA). This prestigious competition recognizes excellence in brewing across North America.
I carefully poured the beer at a refreshing 44 degrees using a traditional pint glass. The pour was lovely, creating a beautiful, creamy, foamy, two-fingered, light tan head with exceptional staying power. The slow dissipation tatted a delightful pattern of lacing on the glass. The color is dark brown with mahogany hues, chart around SRM 22. The beer's clarity is opaque; however, a bit of light goes through the beer. The apperance of the beer is elegant.
Nosing the glass, I smell robust roasted malts with light char and subtle smokiness. The hop profile balances well with the hardy malt character. The hop aromas I smell include floral esters, light pine, a hint of grapefruit, grass, and some herbal notes. These aromas combine to create a complex bouquet that is both inviting and intriguing. Other aromas are tobacco, toasted bread crust, earthiness, and subtle malty sweetness. The malt backbone is firm and does not overpower the hops, adding depth and richness to the aroma.
The dark roasted malts, char, resin, grapefruit, floral esters, and light smokiness do an intricate dance on my palate. The flavors are not competing but meld harmoniously together. Sipping the beer again, I notice chocolate, toasted bread crust, leather, earthiness, light molasses, and malty sweetness.
The mouthfeel is astringent and tannic, finishing dry. The body is medium-light and has medium carbonation.
This is a fabulous IPA; I know why they won an award. The beer has lovely harmony that beckons you to sip and sip, then refill. I cannot get a refill; this is the only one I have. I am going to have to make a trip to Bend to sample more from Bevel. My only nitpick is that I want a bolder hop profile. I think a brighter hop presentation would make this Black IPA outstanding.

Draft at Bevel. Dark brown pour with a beige head. Nice to a CDA on the taplist, and a good one to boot. Aroma is mild roasty malts. Taste is nice roasty bitterness with a full, creamy feel. Smooth.