Onyx Black Ale
Stevens Point Brewery
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- IPA - Black / Cascadian Dark Ale
Ranked #527 - ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 81
Ranked #44,883 - Avg:
- 3.58 | pDev: 13.13%
- Reviews:
- 142
- Ratings:
- From:
- Stevens Point Brewery
- Wisconsin, United States
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 4
- Gots
- 40
SCORE
81
Good
81
Good
Notes:
Reviews: 142
| Ratings: 378
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Reviews by BellsBum:
BellsBum from Michigan
4.07/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Don't be put off by the low price, this ale is done right. It's not the finest in the world but it tastes really good. It's not like coming home to a warm, horny, loving mate, but it's a good kisser. Like your lover, it may not be around for long, so get it while you can.
Feb 02, 2014
4.07/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Don't be put off by the low price, this ale is done right. It's not the finest in the world but it tastes really good. It's not like coming home to a warm, horny, loving mate, but it's a good kisser. Like your lover, it may not be around for long, so get it while you can.
Feb 02, 2014
More User Reviews:
Pegasus from Texas
3.7/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Quite deep brown, nearly black in color, with a superb, large and dense tan head with excellent retention. Thick, creamy lacing utterly coats the glass walls.
Aroma: Charcoal and burnt caramel dominates the aroma, though there is cold coffee and bitter cocoa as well. Mild grassy hops accent, but do not dominate the aroma.
Taste: The taste opens with cold coffee, bitter cocoa, and burnt malt. These flavors dominate the taste, also there are moments of sweet chocolate, Later in the taste, the cold coffee and bitter cocoa utterly dominate. Finishes with a lingering note of charcoal.
Mouth feel: Smooth and pleasant, perhaps a touch thinner than I would have expected.
Drinkability/notes: Rather good, other than being a bit thin, its somewhat stout-like.
Presentation: Packaged in a twelve-ounce brown glass long-neck bottle with a twist-off crown, served in a New Belgium Brewing chalice.
Apr 11, 2015
3.7/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Quite deep brown, nearly black in color, with a superb, large and dense tan head with excellent retention. Thick, creamy lacing utterly coats the glass walls.
Aroma: Charcoal and burnt caramel dominates the aroma, though there is cold coffee and bitter cocoa as well. Mild grassy hops accent, but do not dominate the aroma.
Taste: The taste opens with cold coffee, bitter cocoa, and burnt malt. These flavors dominate the taste, also there are moments of sweet chocolate, Later in the taste, the cold coffee and bitter cocoa utterly dominate. Finishes with a lingering note of charcoal.
Mouth feel: Smooth and pleasant, perhaps a touch thinner than I would have expected.
Drinkability/notes: Rather good, other than being a bit thin, its somewhat stout-like.
Presentation: Packaged in a twelve-ounce brown glass long-neck bottle with a twist-off crown, served in a New Belgium Brewing chalice.
Apr 11, 2015
matjack85 from Illinois
3.06/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I found this single 12oz brown bottle at the Binny's store in Plainfield, IL for $1.99. No, the beer wasn't released a year early. The date on the label refers to the year the Mayans believed the world will end, so the brewery wants us to drink this stuff before it's too late.
The beer pours a very dark brown color with a 1½-finger light brown head. The head lasts awhile and leaves a ton of lacing behind.
Huge roasted malt aroma, even some burnt smell.
Burnt coffee and bittersweet chocolate flavor to go along with the roasted malt. Kind of one dimensional - just a lot of roastiness. At just 9 IBU's there's not much hop flavor to speak of.
Thin to medium body with fairly high carbonation.
It's OK I guess if you like burnt malt flavors but I would have preferred more flavors than that. Didn't care for it that much.
Apr 15, 2011
3.06/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I found this single 12oz brown bottle at the Binny's store in Plainfield, IL for $1.99. No, the beer wasn't released a year early. The date on the label refers to the year the Mayans believed the world will end, so the brewery wants us to drink this stuff before it's too late.
The beer pours a very dark brown color with a 1½-finger light brown head. The head lasts awhile and leaves a ton of lacing behind.
Huge roasted malt aroma, even some burnt smell.
Burnt coffee and bittersweet chocolate flavor to go along with the roasted malt. Kind of one dimensional - just a lot of roastiness. At just 9 IBU's there's not much hop flavor to speak of.
Thin to medium body with fairly high carbonation.
It's OK I guess if you like burnt malt flavors but I would have preferred more flavors than that. Didn't care for it that much.
Apr 15, 2011
tempest from New York
3.38/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
Not bad for Stevens Point. I picked up a single at Princeton Liquors. The near black beer looked more like a Schwarzbier than a brown ale and tasted like a stronger (and better crafted) version of Yuengling Porter. It had the fruity dark chocolate flavor of a classic Baltic Porter, but then had a noticeably thin body that gave away the quasi-craft origins. The flavor dropped off pretty quickly, but what was there was quite pleasant.
Jul 30, 2010
3.38/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
Not bad for Stevens Point. I picked up a single at Princeton Liquors. The near black beer looked more like a Schwarzbier than a brown ale and tasted like a stronger (and better crafted) version of Yuengling Porter. It had the fruity dark chocolate flavor of a classic Baltic Porter, but then had a noticeably thin body that gave away the quasi-craft origins. The flavor dropped off pretty quickly, but what was there was quite pleasant.
Jul 30, 2010
mrn1ceguy from Illinois
3.5/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Feb 04, 2015
3.5/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Feb 04, 2015
soulgrowl from England
3.21/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Coffee-ish brown/black without much head. Black olives, licorice, Whoppers, Milk Duds... it smells dark, but not really black, if that makes sense. Weirdly like a milk stout or a mild when I was expecting more like a black IPA.
Pleasant and light, like a mild or a mix of milk stout and black lager. Cola-ish, with a touch of dark caramel and a little chocolate nougat. It's nice, but nothing more than that. Possibly a good partner for spicy Szechuan, Thai, or Indian food.
Mar 23, 2013
3.21/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Coffee-ish brown/black without much head. Black olives, licorice, Whoppers, Milk Duds... it smells dark, but not really black, if that makes sense. Weirdly like a milk stout or a mild when I was expecting more like a black IPA.
Pleasant and light, like a mild or a mix of milk stout and black lager. Cola-ish, with a touch of dark caramel and a little chocolate nougat. It's nice, but nothing more than that. Possibly a good partner for spicy Szechuan, Thai, or Indian food.
Mar 23, 2013
TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island
3.85/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Acquired via trade from MilwaukeeCrusher so a big “Thank You” goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.
A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.
S: The aroma is faint but contains caramelized malts, nuts, maple and a touch of hops.
T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of maple, caramel and honey. Then some breadiness comes in from a hearty malt character. The hops presence is mild but complementary and a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.
M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.
O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, mild kick, good representation of style, it’s a solid beer but there are others in the style that I would pick first.
Jul 16, 2012
3.85/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Acquired via trade from MilwaukeeCrusher so a big “Thank You” goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.
A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.
S: The aroma is faint but contains caramelized malts, nuts, maple and a touch of hops.
T: The taste starts out sweet with flavors of maple, caramel and honey. Then some breadiness comes in from a hearty malt character. The hops presence is mild but complementary and a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.
M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.
O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, mild kick, good representation of style, it’s a solid beer but there are others in the style that I would pick first.
Jul 16, 2012
harpus from Alabama
4/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I tried this beer at the Magic City Brewfest. Then Stevens Point 2012 Black was all most black, could not tell about the head because it was on a 2 oz. sample. It Smells sweet, roasty, Nutty. It taste Sweet nutty and ends bitter. The mouthfeel is about average for the Schwarzbier style.
Aug 14, 2010
4/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I tried this beer at the Magic City Brewfest. Then Stevens Point 2012 Black was all most black, could not tell about the head because it was on a 2 oz. sample. It Smells sweet, roasty, Nutty. It taste Sweet nutty and ends bitter. The mouthfeel is about average for the Schwarzbier style.
Aug 14, 2010
jwc215 from Arizona
3.6/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Part of winter variety pack:
Pours pitch black with very thin, lasting tan to light brown head. Some lacing sticks.
The smell is of mildly roasted coffee, black pepper, some pumpernickel and subtle earthy tones.
The taste is of roasted coffee, toffee and earthy tones. Sweetness balanced by mild roast and a hop touch that gives bitterness more than flavor in the finish. Slight alcohol shows late.
Medium-bodied, slightly slick, it finishes rather abruptly.
This is a pretty good dark roasted, malty brown ale.
Nov 18, 2013
3.6/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Part of winter variety pack:
Pours pitch black with very thin, lasting tan to light brown head. Some lacing sticks.
The smell is of mildly roasted coffee, black pepper, some pumpernickel and subtle earthy tones.
The taste is of roasted coffee, toffee and earthy tones. Sweetness balanced by mild roast and a hop touch that gives bitterness more than flavor in the finish. Slight alcohol shows late.
Medium-bodied, slightly slick, it finishes rather abruptly.
This is a pretty good dark roasted, malty brown ale.
Nov 18, 2013
schoolboy from Ohio
3.38/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This black ale has a slightly offensive aroma. It could be that it just doesn't go well with my neighbor's stinky mulch, but I think part of the nasty grassy smell is this.
It looks decent in the glass, though, and it has a characteristic for the style, if mild, taste and aftertaste. won't go out of my way for this, but it was worth a try. I think there are better examples of the style.
Jul 28, 2012
3.38/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This black ale has a slightly offensive aroma. It could be that it just doesn't go well with my neighbor's stinky mulch, but I think part of the nasty grassy smell is this.
It looks decent in the glass, though, and it has a characteristic for the style, if mild, taste and aftertaste. won't go out of my way for this, but it was worth a try. I think there are better examples of the style.
Jul 28, 2012
zeff80 from Missouri
3.85/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Poured out an opaque, deep dark brown (almost black) color with a thin, caramel colored head of bubbly foam. It left minimal lace.
S - It smelled of roasty malts, chocolate and mild coffee notes.
T - Nice chocolate flavors with toffee, roasty malt and subtle coffee flavors. It had a nice bitter hop bite.
M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light to medium-bodied ale that drinks really easily.
D - This is a very fine dark ale. It really seems more like a porter than a brown ale but it was quite good either way.
May 18, 2010
3.85/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Poured out an opaque, deep dark brown (almost black) color with a thin, caramel colored head of bubbly foam. It left minimal lace.
S - It smelled of roasty malts, chocolate and mild coffee notes.
T - Nice chocolate flavors with toffee, roasty malt and subtle coffee flavors. It had a nice bitter hop bite.
M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light to medium-bodied ale that drinks really easily.
D - This is a very fine dark ale. It really seems more like a porter than a brown ale but it was quite good either way.
May 18, 2010
matty from Pennsylvania
3.38/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Black colored beer with a rapidly fading head.Aroma is very faint chocolate.Taste is nuts and chocolate malts.Taste is kind of weak and watery..slightly above average.I guess I would recommend to try at least once.I'm 50/50 on whether I would purchase again.
Jun 28, 2010
3.38/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Black colored beer with a rapidly fading head.Aroma is very faint chocolate.Taste is nuts and chocolate malts.Taste is kind of weak and watery..slightly above average.I guess I would recommend to try at least once.I'm 50/50 on whether I would purchase again.
Jun 28, 2010
uwmgdman from Wisconsin
3.78/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
This ale pours black with a moderate, but quickly diminishing tan head with a little lace. The aroma is moderately roasty with subtle caramel and bready malts. The flavor is moderate-high malt -- mainly nutty and chocolate with some roast and finishes dry. Nothing overly complex, but still tasty. The hop bitterness is medium-low, accented by the dry finish. The hop flavor is low but noticeable, slightly spicy. The carbonation is moderate and body medium-thin. Overall a flavorful ale with great drinkability.
Jun 26, 2010
3.78/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
This ale pours black with a moderate, but quickly diminishing tan head with a little lace. The aroma is moderately roasty with subtle caramel and bready malts. The flavor is moderate-high malt -- mainly nutty and chocolate with some roast and finishes dry. Nothing overly complex, but still tasty. The hop bitterness is medium-low, accented by the dry finish. The hop flavor is low but noticeable, slightly spicy. The carbonation is moderate and body medium-thin. Overall a flavorful ale with great drinkability.
Jun 26, 2010
Thirstygoat from Illinois
3.72/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sep 01, 2016
3.72/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sep 01, 2016
GratefulBeerGuy from New Hampshire
4.22/5 rDev +17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Black indeed, small 1" thin, active head
Dark wheat and oats, vanilla, dark chocolate, malty sweetness with herbs and dry earthiness, subtle rootbeer effect.
A lush dark-roastie malt with wheat, oats, dry herbal hops that is all in great balance.
A dry, crisp feel that really pops, nice complex feel, dry and snappy, light to medium bodied.
Low ABV, high complexity indeed.
Nov 20, 2011
4.22/5 rDev +17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Black indeed, small 1" thin, active head
Dark wheat and oats, vanilla, dark chocolate, malty sweetness with herbs and dry earthiness, subtle rootbeer effect.
A lush dark-roastie malt with wheat, oats, dry herbal hops that is all in great balance.
A dry, crisp feel that really pops, nice complex feel, dry and snappy, light to medium bodied.
Low ABV, high complexity indeed.
Nov 20, 2011
cdkrenz from Wisconsin
3.51/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A - The head is that of soda yet it has moderate retention. Big and medium brown with lots of large bubbles and definitely loud. The body is super black with zero action.
S - There's certainly a sweeter malt presence here. There's a slight candy aroma as well.
T - To start there's a subtle malt flavor with a hint of burnt grain. The middle is similar but toward the end there's a slight hoppy note, but nothing that takes over the brew. I wouldn't categorize this as a transition from one flavor to another. It just seems that the hoppy edge appears. The finish has a slight coffee taste which does bring this beer some much needed flavor.
M - The feel in the beginning is that of smooth water. The middle adds a nice subtle texture which is then carried out into the finish. I think the subtle coarse addition toward the middle aids in bringing out the slight hop and coffee tastes.
~ This beer isn't going to change the world but it will make Stevens Point Brewery a bit more diverse. I think this beer was created for the purpose of giving us Point Beer faithful a nice, sessionable, dark, ale. I appreciate what Point is doing here and I will definitely support their efforts. I suggest you do the same.
Mar 03, 2010
3.51/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A - The head is that of soda yet it has moderate retention. Big and medium brown with lots of large bubbles and definitely loud. The body is super black with zero action.
S - There's certainly a sweeter malt presence here. There's a slight candy aroma as well.
T - To start there's a subtle malt flavor with a hint of burnt grain. The middle is similar but toward the end there's a slight hoppy note, but nothing that takes over the brew. I wouldn't categorize this as a transition from one flavor to another. It just seems that the hoppy edge appears. The finish has a slight coffee taste which does bring this beer some much needed flavor.
M - The feel in the beginning is that of smooth water. The middle adds a nice subtle texture which is then carried out into the finish. I think the subtle coarse addition toward the middle aids in bringing out the slight hop and coffee tastes.
~ This beer isn't going to change the world but it will make Stevens Point Brewery a bit more diverse. I think this beer was created for the purpose of giving us Point Beer faithful a nice, sessionable, dark, ale. I appreciate what Point is doing here and I will definitely support their efforts. I suggest you do the same.
Mar 03, 2010
Onyx Black Ale from Stevens Point Brewery
Beer rating:
81 out of
100 with
378 ratings
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