Black Brewing – XXXPA Imperial IPA, 2017, 9.8%, 330ml bottle.
Drank on 3/12/2017, from Bottle-O, Vic Park.
Appearance: 2.5 – Orange amber, clear, nice white head on pouring, not much carbonation.
Smell/Aroma: 3 – Sweet malts, passionfruit, mango, pineapple. Denali hops were used.
Taste: 2.5 – Sweet maltyness accentuated by the big alcohol, the hops cover the alcohol well, but its obviously noticeable. Piney bitterness. Fruity. Almost cloying really, and a little hot.
Mouthfeel/Palate: 2.5 – Slick, resiny, not much noticeable carbonation. The alcohol and the hop merge well.
Overall: 2.5 – This is good, but its not really a sipping style, and you cant drink a nearly 10% beer too fast. Interesting hop style, would love to try it in a lighter beer. This is really getting into Barleywine territory,