To Øl / Brewdog Hard Core Maelk Black IPA at 10.1% ABV (C$12.5 at Sherbrooke Liquor, 330 ml, no bottle date or best before)
Appearance: nearly solid black with one fat finger of rocky mocha head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dark chocolate, liquorice, floral, whiskey, roasty malt, coffee with cream. (9/10) Taste: moderately strong sweet, moderately strong bitter. (9/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, medium duration slightly warming finish. (4/5)
Oh yeah – that is some serious shit right there. Run, don’t walk, yadda yadda yadda. To Øl Sort Mælk RIS blended with Brewdog Hardcore DIPA: you get the full creamy character of an RIS, combined with the floral hops of a DIPA – what’s not to like? (And, this might be an example of weaknesses cancelling out – in particular, I’ve found the Brewdog Hardcore to be a bit too malt forward for my preference, but in this collab/blend, that somewhat minor sin gets washed out by the heavy sweetness of the RIS anyway, so it doesn’t really count for much.) Yes, it’s a bit of a kitchen sink of flavours, and it’s not something you’re likely to session – at least, not for very long – but it is something you’re gonna want to try. Given the fact that this is actually a blend, I’m not completely sure this is really a true “Black IPA,” but if it is, it’s probably one of my favourites of the style. (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
