DuClaw Brewing Company Black Lightning

Black Lightning

 

DuClaw Brewing Company in Baltimore, Maryland, United States 🇺🇸

  IPA - Black / Cascadian Dark Regular Out of Production
Score
7.09
ABV: 6.5% IBU: 65 Ticks: 15
First brewed in 2011, Black Lightning is all that it’s name implies and more. Combining the style defining characteristics of both dark beers and IPAs, this stormy balance of subtle, roasted dark malt flavor and the citrusy, floral character of Northwestern American hops, a moderately strong alcohol presence (6.5% abv) and an electrifyingly hoppy finish. Grab a bottle or a pint and hold on tight; it’s time to ride the lightning.
 

Sign up to add a tick or review

Join Us


     Show



8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Thanks Nate.
This was poured into a nonic pint glass. The appearance was a black color with a finger’s worth of white foamy head that held for a little bit and fell off at a decent pace. Light stringy lace.
The aroma had a thick roasty malt up front and then some grapefruity and piney hop bitterness. Some subtle dark chocolate more so at the end.
The flavor had a nice blend between roast, hop bitterness and sweet. Added in a little bit of some sprucy slight woody taste which followed into the aftertaste. Mild roast and bitter sort of finish.
The palate was medium bodied with a fair sipping quality about it due to the style I’m guessing - good palate wrecking capabilities. Carbonation felt fine. ABV felt good.
Overall, pretty good black IPA that calls all of the shots I expected it to do.

Tried on 23 May 2017 at 15:49


5.2
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5

Sampled on draft at the House of 1000 beers this beer poured a dark cola color with a medium sized foamy beige head that lingered and left decent lacing. The aroma was malty wood and cola. The flavor was bitter toasted malts, a bit of roastiness underneath and then smoke, faint fruity hops, cola and pine. Long roasty, smoky and piney finish. Medium body. Ok.

Tried from Draft on 17 Mar 2013 at 10:28


7.5
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Dark brown coloured body with a thick, five centimetre tall, soapy tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, grass, light hops, alcohol and quite a bit of milk. Medium-bodied; Assertive roasted malt flavour with licorice, oatmeal, anise and caramel all noticeable at first which slowly fade to pungent hops, alcohol and a good amount of earthy bitterness. Aftertaste shows more character than the initial tastes with milk, oatmeal, pitted fruits, caramel and deep metallic bitterness percolating. Overall, a good Black IPA that borders on a porter, but has a good complex finish that works well with the style. I sampled this twelve ounce bottle purchased from Total Wine in McLean, Virginia on 24-October-2012 for US$1.79 sampled at home in Washington on 18-December-2012.

Tried from Bottle on 18 Dec 2012 at 23:35


7.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

12oz bottle. Pretty solid offering, par for the course. Roasty mint tinged chocolate caramel. Balanced and well executed. Deep brown black body, vibrant beige head, pretty steady. Enjoyable, full body. A solid offering, albeit a middle of the road and forgettable beer too. Respectable.

Tried from Bottle on 02 Dec 2012 at 21:56


7.5
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

12 ounce bottle. Transluscent dark brown color. Small bubbly tan head. Aroma of roasted malt and dark chocolate. Bittersweet roasted malt flavor upfront. Herbal hops with a peppery, earthy finish. Lot’s of bitterness throughout. Long bitter aftertaste.

Tried from Bottle on 07 Nov 2012 at 18:03


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Draft at NOVA BrewFest. Poured a mostly opaque black color with an off-white, light tan head. Aroma was fruity notes, dark roasted and slightly toasted malts, nutty notes, sweetness. Nice hop notes, good bitterness, nice balance between the hops and dark malt - something missed in a lot of Black IPAs that end up super malty, without a decent hop character to it aside from some earthy notes. Palate is pretty darn smooth, but it may have been a bit too cold for a proper estimation. Enjoyed.

Tried from Draft on 23 Jun 2012 at 21:57


6.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

Location: 12 oz bottle from Norm's, 4/20/12

Aroma: The nose is heavy on roasted malts, some nuts, hints of chocolate, and subtle pine hops
Appearance: This one pours a dark brown-black color with a small beige head that leaves drippy lace
Flavor: The flavor is all roasted and nutty malts up-front, with a later light-medium pine hop bitterness
Palate: This brew is medium bodied, with a smoothish feel, soft carbonation, and a dry, roasty finish
Overall Impression: This one was pretty solid, thought it may have been a bit lacking in complexity. Also, I would have like to see the hops be a bit more prominent. It does have a bit of a dryness on the finish, but for sure, this beer was all about the roast.

Tried from Bottle on 20 Apr 2012 at 15:33


7.5
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Draft. Almost black, small tan head, fair lacing. Aroma of cocoa powder, burnt coffee and pine. Taste is similar. Nice.

Tried from Draft on 19 Feb 2012 at 13:35


7.9
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9.5

Unpleasant gym sock smell with only faint hints of pine and char. Clear black/mahogany, medium tan head. Charred oak, blackberry, smoke, lemon zest flavor, which comes together beautifully. The smoke stays on the palate with a citrus like quality. I was prepared to say this was the wost Duclaw I’vehad by the aroma, but it drinks very well. Extremely well crafted.Drinkable,with great balance and complexity. I have no idea what is is wrong with the aroma.

Tried on 25 Sep 2011 at 08:58