Big Cone Black Ale

On tap at the Santa Barbara location. Pours dark brown to black. Biscuit, milk chocolate, floral, grapefruit. Medium body. Fine.

Draft. A black beer with a lazing tan head. The aroma has notes of spicy hops, malt, and exotic fruit. The flavor is sweet with notes of roasted malt, citrus fruit, bread, and hops, leading to a bitter finish.

Bomber from Total Wine in Huntington Beach, CA. Pours darkish brown with a creamy beige/tan head. Aroma is earthy/floral over darkish malt. Med body at least. Flavor is earthy/floral, dark malt, and gives way to something very like coffee and citrus. Or chocolate and citrus, or chocolate and guava? Quite different flavor profile to me. Almost like a highly hopped brown ale. Maybe more than almost. Interesting flavors and quite drinkable.

Keg at Figueroa brewpub, Santa Barbara, 01/05/14. Light black with a good sized tan head that retains well. Nose is pine resin, hint of liqourice, light roast, dark berry fruits, tropicana, hop waftings. Taste comprises light roast, a good pine bite, earthy cocoa nip, bitter grapefruit, Ribena berry pangs. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close laced with Ribena berries and balanced hop bitterness. Decent CDA.

Sampled at GABF on Saturday October 13, second sessionDark brown to black color, brown head. Sweet, hoppy, citrus scent. Citrus, bitter, hoppy taste. Medium mouthfeel, high bitterness.