beer_name: Iniquity (Imperial Black Ale)
text: On tap in a pint glass at Bodega on 7/22/10 Reviewed as a Cascadian Dark Ale Dark brown, though light is able to pass through. At times seems like tobacco, crimson & ruby highlights. 1/8th inch head quickly skims out. Hardly any retention. Lacing picks up about halfway through but dries out quickly. Smells of American hop goodness; definitely CDA worthy. Pine & juicy citrus aromas - grapefruit & orange. Dark malt notes that don't seem sweet. Faintest hint of dry roast. No booze. The dark malts come across as more assertive to taste. Roastiness is more pronounced & full-flavored. Notes of cocoa, dark chocolate, caramel & maybe a spot of molasses. Definitely a dry malt profile. Still, the hops aren't overwhelmed, though they are kind of muddled. Pine tar offers a modest bitterness. There's a citric element that seems largely concealed. Full bodied, sticky & resinous - a dense brew for sure. Some appreciable alcohol slickness, but not hot. Moderate carbonation has its work cut out. Roasted, piney & juicy residuals linger. Rather impressive. Tasty, with a nice aroma & well-hidden abv. Overall, a solid representation of the CDA style, as opposed to a hoppy porter (though at times it wants to lean toward the latter).