Menage A Singe
First, I think that classing this as "American IPA" is incorrect since this is clearly a "Black IPA." Overall, I found this to be a very good beer, rather interesting, but not great, not complex, to me another example of the dubiousness of having a "Black IPA" category. It's not only inconsistent to have a black IPA since IPA by definition is Pale, but ultimately what is a black IPA but a hoppy type of porter or stout? There have long been many porters or stouts that are bitter and/or hoppy, and this includes even at least a few from the UK, not just the US. This beer struck me as essentially a strong, hoppier porter or stout. Another "Black IPA" I've had really just struck me as nothing more than a porter or stout. I find this to be another faddish claim to have created a "new" style when in reality it is just an interpretation of an old style (like American Imperial Pilsner, for example). Anyway, this is deep, dark red-brown, almost totally black but not quite. It has a very big pale tan head slowly shrinking to a puffy top with some nice lace. It looks great. Aroma is grapefruit and orange rind, caramelised apple, somewhat musty pine sap. It is a bit like Napa Smith Amber ale, for reference, but much better and less pungent. Smell has no real roasty quality and is almost entirely of the hoppy, perfumy barley character described. It's not bad, but not great and lacks depth and complexity. Taste is a bit better. It has darkly caramelised plum and raisin immediately up front with light bitter orange hints and hint of wine, lightly bitter grapefruit from start to finish. Then, a hint of bitter artichoke follows after the initial up-front character, then again lightly singed grapefruit and bitter orange. Almost gets too bitter then backs off. Some bitterness lingers a bit too much in the aftertaste.