Night Swell
Heavy Seas Beer

Poured into a grip shaped goblet: color is dark brown, than head that presents 1.5 fingers thick with thin top that remains, some lacing.

Smell is roasted malt, some chocolate malt, lighter sweet base malt, notes of hops with earth, pine, grassy notes.

Taste is similar with blend of roasted and chocolate malts, lighter sweetness backing, hops are more earth like with pine and grass notes; slightly full and dryer feel to the taste.

Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, low/moderate bitterness, light drying.

Overall a very good dark IPA - notable roast/chocolate flavor, mild sweetness, crisp earthy hops, full presence and lightly drying.

 

 

Pours deep brown with a thick tan head that fades to a tan ring. Aroma is light coffee with a hint of hop floral notes. Taste is an odd but I think interesting mix of hoppy IPA and a brown ale. There’s hop and roasted malt notes both together but they are complimentary. Feel is vert nice, sort of the brown ale aspect, coating and pleasant aftertaste. Overall it’s an interesting, easy drinkable brew.

12 ounce can poured into a Duvel tulip glass.

L---Rich mahogany color with a big, khaki head of super fine bubbles. Very good retention and excellent lacing. Stray floaties that settled, not that there's anything wrong with that.

S---Sweet malts. Caramel & cocoa. Vague fruitiness.

T--- Follows the nose. Roasted malts and Cocoa with vague fruitiness.

F---Medium/full body. Well carbonated.

Poured into one of my tulip glasses, this beer pours a very dark brown, almost black color that is not letting in any light. Has a creamy, frothy looking tan head that's an inch thick when first poured. Head settles eventually to a thick ring lining the inside of the glass and some swirls of film layer surface foam and excellent lacing. Aromas of roasted malts. some coffee and bitter dark chocolate notes, and earthy and piney hops. The flavor profile is very similar, with the roasted malts along with some coffee and bittersweet dark chocolate notes and resinous, earthy and piney hops. The flavor profile is well balanced. Has a slightly crisp, mainly smooth and creamy/frothy, medium to full bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Has a nice roasted and resinous aftertaste that sticks around on my palate long after each sip.

Eric

 

 

 

 

 

Dark brown, nearly black appearance with an average size tan head that faded to a thin cover while leaving spotty lacing. Aroma of roasted malts, some coffee and semi-sweet chocolate with resinous hop accents. After the initial taste of coffee and caramel fades, the piney, flowery hops take over and remain in charge. Earthy, bitter aftertaste. Medium to full bodied, decently carbonated mouthfeel leads to a long lasting finish.

Seems similar to the Black Cannon Heavy Seas made a few years ago except maybe a little lighter in color. Nonetheless, a style I enjoy and this one is a solid example.

 

First thought was that this was exactly the taste I was hoping for tonight...

Appearance: Deep brown with light tan foam and lacing down the glass
Smell: Fresh...just a nice clean, refreshing, and somewhat floral hop aroma
Taste: Roasted flavor combines evenly with a clean and strong but not aggressive bitterness that is mostly fruity in character (more lemon-like than the more common grapefruit bitterness); flavor disappears pretty quick after swallowing leaving behind a light piney aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied that finishes clean; really nice carbonation: almost effervescent

Overall: This beer is exactly what it says it is, which goes a long way with me. The smell is hop-forward, but the overall taste is balanced with rich roasted malt flavor and enjoyable, interesting bitterness. Deep flavor, although not complex, that I reckon is a solid representation of the Dark IPA style. Recommended. I would definitely buy again and certainly hope to...

 

 

 

A: caramel brown with 1/2" head that recedes to thin effervescence with mild lacing and small bubbles.
S: Hop, malt, caramel, nice aroma, inviting on the nose.
T: Malty, but not sweet, strong bitter hop finish, alcohol warming.
M: Prickly effervescence, body is a little thin.
O: A malted dank IPA, hops are not well-balanced. There is an aggressive bitterness with insufficient floral front end to match the malt and caramel notes. Fine to try and enjoy, but not too sessionable for the winter.

 

A: crystal clear; the color of maple syrup; 1+ finger finely pored tan head that receded to a wispy cap; very nice lacing;

S: earthy, chocolate, and roasted grain;

T: a balance between chocolate and roasted grain; the grain gets stronger toward the end; finish is moderately bitter and long lasting;

M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;

O: interesting; Heavy Seas calls this a "Dark IPA", which led me to expect black - so the color caught me by surprise; if the hops had stood out in more contrast to the malt, I would have liked it more;;

 

Rich brown color with some ruby highlights. Tan head falls to a nice cap. Leaves some nice lacing behind. Aroma of roasty malt, dark fruit, some pine. Taste is a good, balanced mix of roasty, caramel malt and fruity, slightly piney hops. Some bitterness, but not aggressive. The flavors fade out quickly after swallowing. Feel is medium-full. Nice carbonation. Overall it's a tasty brew and a good mix of flavors.

Not as hoppy as I would have liked. Very malty with coffee and chocolate notes. This is an after dinner drink for me. I like it but wouldn’t call it and IPA.

 

12 oz can with a July 2020 BB date stamp on the bottom.
Pours with a near black body with a good tan head.
Unlike too many black IPAs, this one has a harmonious interplay of malts and hops. There is, however, a sharp contrast between the aroma and the flavor. The aroma suggests a very high malt/hops ratio but these are mixed in about equal strength in the flavor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a black color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of roasted malts. Taste is roasted malts, light coffe, hops are present but in the background. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a decent beer and maybe too easy drinking at this abv.

 

12 oz can. Aroma and flavor feature pine resin, some citrus, moderate bitterness, and some nice roastiness. Delicious. Bottom line: I need to drink more black IPAs. This is so much tastier than the average IPA, especially in fall/winter.

 

12 oz can, unclear date on bottom

pours a dark brown color, not quite black. cream colored head. aroma has earthy hops and deep cocoa and coffee notes. similar flavor, good balance of flavors. medium bodied.

12 oz can poured into a shaker.

Appearance
Rudy red with mahogany shadows. Lively carbonation. Good clarity. 1 finger of creamy tan head.

Nose
Cocoa, caramel, grapefruit, pine, candied citrus, and dark candy sugar.

Taste
Roasted barley, cocoa, and black coffee highlighted by grapefruit zest, pine needle, and candied orange. Caramel, toffee, and dark candy sugar maltiness.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus bodied, crisp, silky, creamy, and smooth with a medium-light bitterness.

Overall
A solid Black IPA. Again, I don't think the style gets enough respect.

Extremely dark garnet, thick tan head. Good retention, pretty lacing
Fruity, citrusy dank hops, a bit of chocolately malt underneath
Rich malt up front, a little chocolate, some dark caramel, fruity and herbal hops
Pretty chewy
I dig it for the season

12oz can stamped BEST BY 03/16/20 poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass at fridge temp 7.5% ABV. The beer pours barely hazy with some floaties in a medium brown color. The head is light brown, somewhat persistent and leaves a nice lace. The aroma is roasty and chocolate malt with pine and earth. The taste is more chocolate at first transitioning to roasty, piney bitterness on the end. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied, adequately carbonated and dry in the finish. Overall, good. I've always enjoyed black IPAs and this one is pretty solid. Could have done without the hop particulate, but one of the better beers I've had from Heavy Seas.

This is very nice, well-carbonated black IPA, full of a somewhat bitter, coffee-hinting flavor. It goes down nicely, and I recommend it to people who like full-bodied dark IPAs.