Remember when I said I hope to be doing a lot more reviews as the summer progressed? Yea, about that...I have the sufficient stockpile of great brews, but have recently lacked the motivation. They say the first step is the hardest, so maybe this will jump start a slew of entries...or maybe I'll continue to be a lazy bastard.Appearance: Surprisingly, black ales are black! This is a different black though, like your soul gets sucked into the glass and never returns black. It is capped with a little under a finger of creamy beige head.
Smell: I first noticed some earthy hop tones that mix with coffee/chocolate malt notes. Then came a hint of floral hoppiness that piqued my interest in this beer.
Taste: Chocolate malts dominate the palate then finishes with a faint alcohol and bitterness combo. The more sips I take however, the more I notice the floral and piney hops from the scent.
Mouthfeel: Relatively smooth, medium bodied, dry finish, slight alcohol aftertaste, and just a hint of carbonation, great for letting the other characteristics shine.
Drinkability: The appearance may be off putting, giving you the impression that this would be a filling thick stout, but that's not the case. The smoothness and medium body make it a relatively easy beer to drink, considering it weighs in at 9% abv. The bottle boasts itself as "The Antithesis of Unearthly" which is an accurate description and part of its appeal. I don't have much experience with black ales, but because it's so new and fresh to me, maybe that's why I like it so much. 9/10
Glass type: Duvel tulip glass
Serving type: Bottle, 22 oz.
