Break Of Dusk
Black Oak Brewing Co.

 

Break of Dusk is, as its name suggests, a dark beer with colour starting to crack through it. Although opaque, light - prune toned highlights to be exact - appear on the rise. And speaking of rising, this is the kind of beer you need to pour super carefully less you want half a glass of foam.

Wait, does the label say Black Pale Ale or Black IPA? Because it sure smells like an IPA; hops are obvious, plentiful and dominated by a leafy, rich with pine, forest-like quality. The malt side of things is much more quiet but offers an impeccably delicious latte note.

Seriously, I wasn't expecting such pungent hops nor this brand of rich, roasted maltiness. A lot of flavours register on both ends and the combinations are interesting: barbecued grapefruit, green tea dark chocolate, espresso served with a shot of birch serum or pine sap. Tasty and neat!

Surprisingly, the bitterness tastes like it stems from a black, super dark roast coffee instead of hops (though a strongly steeped black tea-like astringency is also present, that probably courtesy of the hops). Coffee isn't listed as an ingredient but you'd swear it was. The big taste notwithstanding, this very much has the body of a 4.4% offering and would certainly benefit from a little beefing up.

I'll admit I rolled my eyes at the idea of a "Black American Pale Ale" but it turns out I was being presumptuous; so-called 'black' pale ales, just like standard pale ales, can offer every bit as much hoppiness as their stronger IPA (or Black IPA) counterparts. In fact, they're capable of providing the rich, roasty dark malts of a stout too! At least Break Of Dusk does. Impressive stuff indeed.

 

 

 

Only cafe. Very drinkable well malted with moderate hops.