Our Dark Secret | Moylan's Brewery

3.64/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at The Salted Pig in Riverside, CA.

Pours a hazy brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and citrus zest aromas. Taste is much the same with cocoa and citrus zest flavors on the finish. There is a medium amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with a much better citrus hop presence in the aroma.

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3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

3.25/5  rDev -9.7%

3/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

3/5  rDev -16.7%

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

2.7/5  rDev -25%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75

So I had this on tap at the Local Taphouse as part of their 'Dark Side' makeover. I heard in passing that it was the version brewed at Moylan's but I'm not 100% sure. If I'm wrong please correct me, especially as, well I didn't like it that much.

Pours a red colour, fairly pale. Pale beige head, fairly thin with some decent lace. Looks nice, but pretty light.

Smells like an IPA. Fruity citra-esque hop notes with passionfruit, pulpy mango and orange peel. Decent hops but has no darkness at all.

Thin flavour. Hops are dominant throughout with passionfruit and citrus late. But not much malt or other flavours to balance. Bit of booze heat late, without the sweetness to match. Pretty unimpressive and thin and bland.

Thin mouthfeel. Really thin. For the ABV there's just no presence until the very back. Actually almost impressive how little body there is for the size.

Wow. Have no idea what went wrong here. So much pedigree. Just not showing through.

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3.25/5  rDev -9.7%

3/5  rDev -16.7%

2.5/5  rDev -30.6%

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

3.25/5  rDev -9.7%

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

4.25/5  rDev +18.1%

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

4.25/5  rDev +18.1%

4/5  rDev +11.1%

4.02/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a rich dark brown/black with a three finger light tan head. Fairly frothy and leaves some great lacing on the side.

Smells of piney, herbal, peppery hops with that common dark slightly burnt smokey grain note I expect from black ipa's. Lots of brown bread, toffee and nutty notes. Taste is nicely balanced with the nutty slightly burnt toffee and toasted wheat bread. Hops are very piney and peppery and mix nicely with the roasted grains and woody character.

Mouthfeel is lighter than I was expecting and mildly carbonated. Slightly dry which makes me want to try one more sip after the other.

Overall it's a fantastic black ipa. Very well balanced and subtle in all of the roasted, burnt, hop notes. This is way more drinkable than other black ipa's out there. I would love to try this on tap.

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