Amber's Soul
Riverlands Brewing Co

 

Head like a hole, black Amber's Soul. I'd rather die than to give her control.

Very dark brown and hinting toward espresso black, Riverlands' Amber's Soul quickly tops off with a light mocha whipped foam. As a roasty, toasty and hoppy scent rises from the froth, notions of grilled citrus and spruce carry a robust and smoky scent with hints of cocoa. As its sweeter underpinnings of malt make their debut, early impression of chocolate, toffee and light molasses have gravitate onto the tastebuds.

As dark and hoppy ale rolls across the middle palate the sweetness starts to dry and the hoppy edges of pink grapefruit, orange peel and dried pineapple provide a fruity balance to the sweetness. A rise of coffee, cocoa and roasted nuttiness rises to meet the charred fruit and awaits a dive into a bitter, resinous and toasty dryness to close.

Medium-full in body, the beer flirts with the line that separates Black IPA from just a hoppy porter. Alas, the IPA side wins out as the roast elevates the hop bitterness while facilitating dryness for a remarkably drinkable, semi-dry and bitter-sweet finish.

Maybe my nose is broken, but I get almost nothing in the smell, maybe a faint roasty smell. The look us amazing, and so was mouthfeel, a black pour with a creamy stout like head. The taste is pure roastyness, but the aftertaste is off. Like really off, like maybe burnt coffee bean even? I'm guessing it's the ffexts of a heavy roast on the grains plus bitter hops that lead to this. Too bad also, until the aftertaste ruined things it tasted and felt like a nice imperial porter, of which there are too few.

Canned 10/6/22; drank 10/26/22 @ the Yarchives.

Black/brown appearance.

A violent pour yielded a huge dark tan head; strong tree-rung lace.

Medium roast coffee bean & orange citrus notes in the nose.

Creamy, medium thick mouthfeel.

Light roast coffee bean & orange citrus flavors up front; smooth chocolate & mild booze heat notes on the finish.

A bit too hot, but overall above average. I'd have another!

 

This was very good! I was expecting something very bitter, but I was delightfully wrong! Got something like a bbq sauce taste, not so bitter. This was very well done, and will grab another 4 when I get out to bottles and cans!

On tap at the brewery - St. Charles, IL. "Employee Brewed".
Black ale with a foamy khaki head that sticks to the glass as it fades. Aroma is somewhat muted but some dank hops, citrus, roast, and a smokiness seems to be there. Flavors are fuller with notes of roasted barley, spicy & earthy rye, baker's chocolate, caramel, char, pine, and grapefruity citrus. Fuller body, moderate carbonation, assertive bitter finish with spicy rye and pine resin lingering on the drying palate. This was great and one of my favorites from Riverlands.

Strong roastiness In my opinion. Kind of overwhelms what is otherwise a very good dark beer

Had on tap. Charcoal black with dark tan collar, faded cap, and lacing. Roasted malt, rye, bitter dark chocolate, earth and moderate hop bitters make up the smell. Taste is much the same with more of a soil complexion to the earth, malt lead until the last fifth of the beer where the hops take over. Great contrast between the hop citrus and bitters with all the dark flavors, rye helps bridge. Feel is a little wetter than normal, but plenty roasted, with a great roasty and hop bite that is expected for a black ale.