Motor Oil
Big Truck Farm Brewery

Dark pour from a can to a beer glass, a 2- finger light tan head, minimal spotty lacing.
The dark roasted caramelized malt is well done. Not too hoppy, subtle tropicals.
The dark roasted malt flavor and hops bitterness are well balanced.
Overall, a solid Black IPA.

 

Nice Black IPA. Lighter hopped than many and no ashiness from the toast either. I think it’s dialed in pretty well.

 

Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a black color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of citrus, little else. Taste is citrus, roasted malts, low bitterness. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a pretty good beer.

 

A small step away from total darkness, it brought along an average size tan head that left good lacing. Aroma allows for the toasted malts to do their thing, given a boost by some coffee and caramel. Hops stay tame but come on stronger in the taste. Earthy flavor, notes of herbal hops next to the pine. Dry, bitter finish. Medium bodied mouthfeel feels right for the style, with good carbonation that keeps things moving.

The pour is very dark brown in color...in retrospect, a perfect color for used and abused motor oil, rather than the glorified chocolate syrup pour of some monster stout. There's slightly less than a finger worth of khaki-colored head; retention is excellent, and nice lacing sticks to the glass. There are no surprises with the aroma. If you know black IPAs, this will smell comfortingly familiar. The grassy, piny, and lemony hops seem to work with the dark malt base, giving off huge espresso vibes. I also pick up caramel, brown sugar, cream, and a bit of chocolate. I don't think everything comes together perfectly, but what's there is still pleasant. No surprises on the taste buds, either. It opens up with big lemongrass flavors, while letting it sit on the tongue reveals some of the dark malt base. The back end is nicely floral, with a subtle undercurrent of grapefruit. Nothing crazy or complex, just an easy-going, well rounded black IPA, though the finish might be a bit harsh for some (not to my ravaged palate...) It feels slick and wet on the palate, at least initially. The robust hop profile keeps it nice and dry on the back end, inviting more sips. Carbonation isn't particularly assertive or strong. I wasn't blown away by this offering, but I was left feeling satisfied. Given how oddly rare black IPAs seem to be in the year of our lord 2022, it's well worth trying for fans of the style.