Black Top | New Glarus Brewing Company
Brewed by:
New Glarus Brewing Company
Wisconsin, United States
newglarusbrewing.com
Style: American Black Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.90%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by cdkrenz on 08-27-2011
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 1,053 | Reviews: 201
Reviews by fredmugs:
3.75/5 rDev -7.6%
fredmugs, Jan 09, 2013
More User Reviews:
3.61/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 oz. bottle poured into a snifter
Pours a pretty deep black with a nice tight dense cream colored head. A medium amount of lacing coats the sides.
Aroma of mild chocolate and dank grassy hops, a little bit of orange citrus on the backend.
Flavor is a bit of roasted barley flavor, assertive bitterness with some grassy hop flavors at the end.
The mouthfeel is the best thing about this beer. Its pretty creamy which balances out the bitterness and doesn't keep the roasted grain flavors from sticking around too long in the aftertaste.
Overall its a just a good black IPA, nothing to special but not bad either.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 oz. bottle poured into a snifter
Pours a pretty deep black with a nice tight dense cream colored head. A medium amount of lacing coats the sides.
Aroma of mild chocolate and dank grassy hops, a little bit of orange citrus on the backend.
Flavor is a bit of roasted barley flavor, assertive bitterness with some grassy hop flavors at the end.
The mouthfeel is the best thing about this beer. Its pretty creamy which balances out the bitterness and doesn't keep the roasted grain flavors from sticking around too long in the aftertaste.
Overall its a just a good black IPA, nothing to special but not bad either.
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4.03/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice hearty black pour with two fingers of creamy khaki foam sitting strongly atop the brew! Aromas kick off with big citric and grapefruit hops that are bright, green and resinous. Somewhat roasted chocolate malts in the backbone with a hint of molasses and caramel sweetness.
First sip brings a mix of roasted grain malts and citric, herbaceous hops. The hops don't come out quite as much as the nose suggested as chocolate, molasses and caramel flavors swirl in as well. Flows down with a nice bitter kick. Nice Black IPA.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with great carbonation. It's hearty but at the same time easily drinkable. A well made beer as I've come to except from New Glarus. For a brewery that does not focus on hops too much I was glad to see them release this and hopefully it will be brewed again sometime!
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice hearty black pour with two fingers of creamy khaki foam sitting strongly atop the brew! Aromas kick off with big citric and grapefruit hops that are bright, green and resinous. Somewhat roasted chocolate malts in the backbone with a hint of molasses and caramel sweetness.
First sip brings a mix of roasted grain malts and citric, herbaceous hops. The hops don't come out quite as much as the nose suggested as chocolate, molasses and caramel flavors swirl in as well. Flows down with a nice bitter kick. Nice Black IPA.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with great carbonation. It's hearty but at the same time easily drinkable. A well made beer as I've come to except from New Glarus. For a brewery that does not focus on hops too much I was glad to see them release this and hopefully it will be brewed again sometime!
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4/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.
LOOK: Massive tan head, a shade away from pure black.
SMELL: Dank hop resin, burnt sugar, candied dark fruit, mint, citric peel, hermit cookies.
TASTE: Hop oil, floral, citric, soft pine, mellow cigar, roasted grain, burnt cookies, smooth, herbal finish.
Hop forward but more in the flavor than bitterness, a pretty great example of the style. Very drinkable even with the complexities being thrown at the palate.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz brown bottle with no freshness date.
LOOK: Massive tan head, a shade away from pure black.
SMELL: Dank hop resin, burnt sugar, candied dark fruit, mint, citric peel, hermit cookies.
TASTE: Hop oil, floral, citric, soft pine, mellow cigar, roasted grain, burnt cookies, smooth, herbal finish.
Hop forward but more in the flavor than bitterness, a pretty great example of the style. Very drinkable even with the complexities being thrown at the palate.
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3.83/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: dark brown in color, 1 inch head, clear, high carbonation
Smell: piney hops and roasted malt
Taste: expresso, roasted malt, and piney hops
Mouthfeel: light bodied, medium-high carbonation, slightly bitter
Overall: A good not great black IPA. I do like the piney hops. I would not turn this one down, but there are others in the style I would go to first.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: dark brown in color, 1 inch head, clear, high carbonation
Smell: piney hops and roasted malt
Taste: expresso, roasted malt, and piney hops
Mouthfeel: light bodied, medium-high carbonation, slightly bitter
Overall: A good not great black IPA. I do like the piney hops. I would not turn this one down, but there are others in the style I would go to first.
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3.95/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
More of a deep brown in color and not much light seeps through. A fingernail of khaki colored head covers the top. Brussels lacing. Enticing aroma of fresh,piney hops is moderately present. The flavor is a well balanced blend of piney hops and caramelized dark malt. There's a prominent pine hop edge that stays with you in the fade. The mouth is lightly sticky and chewy.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
More of a deep brown in color and not much light seeps through. A fingernail of khaki colored head covers the top. Brussels lacing. Enticing aroma of fresh,piney hops is moderately present. The flavor is a well balanced blend of piney hops and caramelized dark malt. There's a prominent pine hop edge that stays with you in the fade. The mouth is lightly sticky and chewy.
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4.5/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Pours bright dark brown under a 2” finely bubbled tan foam collar that grips the side of the glass.
S: Dark roast malt aromas with spicy hops.
T: Light coffee and roast with a bitter hop accent on the finish. F: Clean, smooth medium carbonation and body.
O: A well balanced, easy to drink American Dark Ale.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Pours bright dark brown under a 2” finely bubbled tan foam collar that grips the side of the glass.
S: Dark roast malt aromas with spicy hops.
T: Light coffee and roast with a bitter hop accent on the finish. F: Clean, smooth medium carbonation and body.
O: A well balanced, easy to drink American Dark Ale.
315 characters
4.15/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle
Acquired via trade
A nearly black pour, though though in actuality, it's a very dark brown with a three-finger high light brown head. This beer leaves the glass covered in sheets and irregular lines of lines. By all measurements, this is a truly gorgeous beer.
A very nice, well integrated, and balanced aroma. It's nearly perfect for the style. The hop aromas come in waves of pine and grapefruit, while there's discernible roast, earth, and coffee elements as well.. This is terrific.
The flavor is similar to the aroma, but not quite as bright and vibrant as I was expecting. There's still a good amount of pine and grapefruit presence, backed up nicely by earthy roast and a little coffee. Very nice.
Medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
A delicious black IPA.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle
Acquired via trade
A nearly black pour, though though in actuality, it's a very dark brown with a three-finger high light brown head. This beer leaves the glass covered in sheets and irregular lines of lines. By all measurements, this is a truly gorgeous beer.
A very nice, well integrated, and balanced aroma. It's nearly perfect for the style. The hop aromas come in waves of pine and grapefruit, while there's discernible roast, earth, and coffee elements as well.. This is terrific.
The flavor is similar to the aroma, but not quite as bright and vibrant as I was expecting. There's still a good amount of pine and grapefruit presence, backed up nicely by earthy roast and a little coffee. Very nice.
Medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
A delicious black IPA.
790 characters
4.26/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tall New Glarus Signature Pilsner Glass.
Appearance: Pours a dark blackish brown with some hints of amber. Moderate amount of bubbles and a solid three finger light tan head with decent carbonation. Leaves a decent amount of lacing around the glass.
Smell: A nicely hoppy aroma with a good balance of roast and malts. Big hop scent upfront with hints of citrus grapefruit, pineapple, and orange peel along with lots of earthy pine resin. Solid balancing presence of dark roasty malts. Good hints of burnt toast, biscuit, chocolate, nuts, and a little smoke. Also some burnt molasses sugar and a little hint of anise spice. Aroma leans a little more to the hoppy side but the dark malt presence is good.
Taste: Like the nose hints, a strong mix of hops with a solid dark malt backing. Big taste of hops upfront with notes of citrus orange peel, grapefruit, and pineapple. Some earthy grass and a big taste of spicy pine resin. Midway comes the malts which add a nice dark bready balance. Taste of chocolate, burnt toast, biscuit, smoke, and nuts. A slight sweet kick of molasses. Subtle anise spicing. Slightly more hoppy than malty and fairly drying. Pretty good.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Juicy, spicy, and somewhat creamy. Finishes pretty dry.
Overall: A very solid black ale. Hops stand out at first but the dark roasted malts are very solid.
1,427 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tall New Glarus Signature Pilsner Glass.
Appearance: Pours a dark blackish brown with some hints of amber. Moderate amount of bubbles and a solid three finger light tan head with decent carbonation. Leaves a decent amount of lacing around the glass.
Smell: A nicely hoppy aroma with a good balance of roast and malts. Big hop scent upfront with hints of citrus grapefruit, pineapple, and orange peel along with lots of earthy pine resin. Solid balancing presence of dark roasty malts. Good hints of burnt toast, biscuit, chocolate, nuts, and a little smoke. Also some burnt molasses sugar and a little hint of anise spice. Aroma leans a little more to the hoppy side but the dark malt presence is good.
Taste: Like the nose hints, a strong mix of hops with a solid dark malt backing. Big taste of hops upfront with notes of citrus orange peel, grapefruit, and pineapple. Some earthy grass and a big taste of spicy pine resin. Midway comes the malts which add a nice dark bready balance. Taste of chocolate, burnt toast, biscuit, smoke, and nuts. A slight sweet kick of molasses. Subtle anise spicing. Slightly more hoppy than malty and fairly drying. Pretty good.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Juicy, spicy, and somewhat creamy. Finishes pretty dry.
Overall: A very solid black ale. Hops stand out at first but the dark roasted malts are very solid.
1,427 characters
Black Top from New Glarus Brewing Company
4.06
out of 5
based on 1,053 ratings.