India Ink - Beer Camp #42
Draft service into a balloon goblet at Selma's in Rancho Santa Margarita. According to the menu listing, the abv is 7.5%. A: Opaque black color that transmits clear, dark brown at the periphery; over two fingers of light beige foam collapses to a thick, persistent pad. Heavy lacing remains, showing as regular increments on the glass. S: Dark toast and herbaceous green plant stems are most prominent in this mild-smelling beer that also shows some clean notes of charcoal. T: Begins off-dry, with balanced roasted grain and citrusy, herbaceous hop aromatics that remain understated in flavor. The lack of powerful hop flavors are made up for by the restrained nature of the acidity, which is extremely well-behaved here. The middle dries out almost entirely as bitterness surges to a moderate level through the finish that is both slightly smoky and spirituous . M: Thin to medium viscosity, extremely smooth on the palate due to eminent creaminess and a slight acidic bite, with low carbonation. D: Ooh, another Beer Camp beer to try. I cannot help but compare this to the last product of beer camp that I had the opportunity to sample--the excellent Blackbird black IPA. While Blackbird was a roasty and strong imperial contribution to the style, this beer is more moderate in its approach. Low acidity and a remarkably smooth texture, coupled with balanced, less-intense flavors, make this effortless to keep returning to--despite the fairly robust abv. As an heir to the most attractive qualities of Blackbird ale this beer is a remarkable success, and ends up being even more approachable in the bargain. If Sierra Nevada eventually puts one of these recipes into production, they would do well to preserve those qualities as well--starting with the heavenly texture.