St. Austell Proper Black
St. Austell Brewery

St. Austell Proper BlackSt. Austell Proper Black
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From:
St. Austell Brewery
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
Black IPA
Ranked #111
ABV:
6%
Score:
85
Ranked #21,470
Avg:
3.71 | pDev: 8.63%
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
25
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 14, 2024
Added:
May 13, 2011
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  8
No description / notes.
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Ratings by jazzyjeff13:
Photo of jazzyjeff13
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England

3.78/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A 500ml clear glass bottle with a BB of June 2012. Picked up cheap from Trembling Madness in York a while back, as it was short-dated. A bottle-conditioned black IPA from Cornwall; interesting....

Poured into a Sam Smith's pint glass. Black as night; appears as a deep reddish-brown when held to the light. Produces a massive head of creamy light brown foam with excellent retention - it lasts for a good half-hour or more while slowly subsiding to a thick surface layer. Lovely lacing; this brew is definitely a looker. Aroma of dark roasted malt with notes of citrus, mild coffee, burnt grain, faint pine, dry yeast and a whiff of alcohol in the background.

Tastes of roasted malt with an aromatic hop character and a bitter finish. Notes of burnt grain, coffee, citrus, mild pine resin, earthy yeast, faint caramel and stewed hops. Pretty dry. A strident, spicy bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry, and tingly, though a tad insubstantial for it's strength. Highly astringent - dries the palate. Aftertaste of bitter malt/hops, with a subtle hop aroma.

Tasty stuff - defied my expectations. It looked superb. A decent roasted malt and aromatic hop character made for a solid blend of aroma/flavour. The hops were perhaps a little faded due to age, but still made themselves felt. The only minor let-down was the slightly thin body, but I'm splitting hairs. A quality black IPA - well worth sampling.
Aug 04, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of BurtonRed
Rated by BurtonRed from England

3.57/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Despite its claim it is more of a german dunkel or london porter than an ipa, strange marketing but it's a very nice if slightly mild beer
Feb 14, 2024
Photo of Beertwit
Reviewed by Beertwit

4.12/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
St Austell brewery makes some very good beers and this is the best of those i have tried. Looks great - dark and opaque with a full head, much like a draught Guinness. Taste likes a good beer should taste - bitter, but not too much, and nicely malted. Full mouth feel. Excellent!
Jan 22, 2024
 
Rated: 3.75 by Dethark from England

Jun 28, 2023
Photo of James94
Reviewed by James94 from England

4.23/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Mostly pitch black, some lacing
S: Lemon, pineapple, mango, orange, cough syrup, sweets
T: Dark chocolate, coffee, citrus zest, cough syrup, herbs
F: Well-bodied, balanced carbonation

O: 4.25
May 17, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by Robertas from Lithuania

May 09, 2021
 
Rated: 3.94 by Dentist666 from Russian Federation

Jul 17, 2019
Photo of Jwtchkg
Rated by Jwtchkg from England

3.41/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A good solid beer.
Jan 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3.62 by Macamah from England

Aug 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.88 by JMMOlenick from England

Mar 20, 2017
Photo of captaincoffee
Reviewed by captaincoffee from Virginia

3.74/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle...quite fresh actually. Pours very dark brown with smallish head that dissipates with only small spots. Nose leans towards juicy fruity hops, but is mild. No dark roast smell. Taste does incorporate a bit of roasted barley flavor. An in-between beer that is nice and refreshing, some bitterness, and a bit of roast. However, it isn't particularly exciting either. Very drinkable but not super memorable.
Dec 06, 2016
 
Rated: 3.25 by Euroglot from Belgium

Sep 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.33 by MrDell from Switzerland

Sep 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by PatrickCairns from England

Aug 06, 2016
Photo of vinicole
Reviewed by vinicole from England

3.61/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
As labelled - "proper black". Thin tan head.
Hoppy aroma with chocolate malt.
Instant coffee flavour overwhelms the hops. Burnt toast astringency.
All a bit confusing but nevertheless quite tasty.
Jun 18, 2016
Photo of EmperorBevis
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England

3.77/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottled and bottle conditioned
Pours a jet black body with plentiful off white head
Aroma is floral detergent powder and mango
Flavour is mango jam on burned toast
Nice enough but needs mores hops to take it from floral stout to proper cascadian black ale IMHO
Apr 21, 2016
 
Rated: 3.47 by bmaggot from Lithuania

Jan 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by admiral from Australia

Jan 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Mitch84 from Australia

Jul 26, 2013
Photo of StJamesGate
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York

4.03/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep black with garnet highlight and a cratered, clingy violet-tinged sepia
head that crusts from the start and leaves intricate webbing - this would
be a great looking stout.
Great juxtaposition of fresh orange zest and hot tar on the nose.
Oily coffee, some biscuit, and marmalade followed by bright tangerine hops.
Lemon Fruit Pastille end and drying roasty linger. Medium, some cling,
crisp, some oil.

exp 14 June 2012. Brewer's Gold, Chinook, Centennial, Cascade and roasted malt.

One of the darkest BIPAs I've seen. I let this one go a bit too long, so I
don't know what that did for the hops. (Then again, why the clear glass for
an IPA?) At any rate, still plenty of Centennial citrus with measured roast.
A restrained yet American take on the style, not too bitter from roast or
hops and very drinkable, from a brewer who guested at Bridgeport.
Nov 09, 2012
St. Austell Proper Black from St. Austell Brewery
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 25 ratings