Hybrid of imperial stout and imperial IPA - in other words an ’imperial’ black IPA rather than "a style not shared by Ratebeer"... Thickly ’membranous’ lacing, creamy, dense, stable, pale yellow beige head over a black beer with mahogany brown edges, only distinguishable under bright light. Rich and pungent aroma of roasted hazelnuts, burnt pine wood, hemp, dried grapefruit peel, pipe tobacco (unsmoked), treacle, cappuccino, nougat, dried seaweed, elderberry, cedar wood, salmiak, caramel, burnt barbecue meat, bitter honey, cloves, wet leather, old dried rosemary or even oregano, hints of liquorish, orange peel and chestnut. Sweetish onset, quite stout-like indeed, with impressions of candied fig, yellow raisin and pear, surrounded by a thin but effective edge of beef stock-like umami, in a softly carbonated physical environment with smooth, slick, somewhat resinous and oily mouthfeel. Deeply nutty malt middle, caramelly sweetness quickly shifting to toasted bitterness, evolving into a hoppy finish with tonic water- and grapefruit-like, long-lasting bitterness deep into the throat, not overly harsh though, and retronasal pine, dried citrus peel and black pepper-like aromas; warming, whisky-like alcohol in the end as well, actually pairing well with the remains of the nutty and notably chocolatey bittersweet malts, traces of residual sugary sweetness, thin but unmistakable coffeeish roasted bitterness, a liquorish-like aftertaste and the resinous hop bitterness. Atypical but accomplished BIPA, clever, bold and self-aware, smooth and slick with sufficient hop character to qualify as one, but at the same time one of those ’typically’ European BIPAs - it seems black IPA, or perhaps better put: Cascadian dark ale, is silently developing its own identity east of the Atlantic, in a less exuberant, more earthy form than in the States. If history proves me right on this case, this example will be a very good one in that particular context, but otherwise I guess it could do with a tad more ’exotic’ American hop fragrance... Difficult to judge, but by all means a very enjoyable and interesting beer.

Bottle shared on Level 42 27/07/2016. Many thanks to Kenny for this one. A reddy mahogany brown coloured pour with a loose tan head. Aroma is tangy jammy fruits, brown malts, toasted bread. Flavour is composed of of sweet malts, jammy fruits, strawberry, chocy malts. Palate is medium sweet, moderate carbonation, rounded. Ok.

Bottle at Level 42, thanks to Kenny, 27/07/16. Dark mahogany brown with a decnt khaki swirl. Nose is leafyhops, spice, light charr, tea bags, cocoa notes, dull fruits. Taste comprises light charr, vegetal notes, spice, cocoa, burnt toffee, red berry linger. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close with a leafy hop edge. Ok CDA, drinks well below the ABV but doesn’t deliver in terms of depth of flavour.

Bottle thanks to Ken at level 42. It pours clear dark brown with a medium beige head. The aroma is soft, mellow, earthy roast, bitter - sweet, cacao and coffee. The taste is smooth, mellow, toasted action, rich roasted malts, coffee grounds, pepper, cacao nibs, charred wood, alcohol and coffee cake with a dry, peppery finish. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Works pretty well.

Bottle shared in London - many thanks to Kenwise. Pours deep brown with a creamy, tan head. Interesting aroma, some earth, dry cocoa, raisin. Medium sweet flavour with light tangy berries, cocoa, earth, a little alcohol. Medium bodied with fine carbonation. Lightly warming finish, a little resinous, with more raisins, berries, cocoa, toasted pine. Fine.

Draft @ Billie’s Bier Kafetaria. Dark brown/black brown foam. Roasty, coffee, porter. Hoppy fruitiness. Sipper, not easy drinkable. Nice.

Thx! Sampled draft @ Billie’s Bier Kafétaria. Black, creamy tanned. Nose is low cheese hops with mocha chocolate & low roast. This is more of mildly hoppy roasted porter than a modern BIPA, this is a bit more like BIPA’s used to be, body is a bit empty, thin glue taste leading into roasted chocolate, herbal, rather bitter roast & herbal bitterness, low cheesy hops, some sweetish mocha. Creamy coffee body & bit empty. Rather messy & bit incoherent but decent beer, not really a modern BIPA, decent & enjoyable enough beer all the same. To they make it clear that for them this is a new style, fine by me.

Bottle from Boxbeers. Hazy dark brown with a lasting beige head. Aroma is sweet, roasted malt, caramel and moderate hoppy - citrus. Flavor is quite sweet and rather bitter. Dry and rather bitter finish. 200616

Draught at Tap10. Pitch black with a thin, lightly tanned head. Roasted aroma with dark malts, rather rich. Citrus fruits and caramel malts, liquorice, coffee and chocolate. Taste is bitter. Full body with an oily texture and a soft carbonation. Finishes dry and bitter roasted with citrus fruits. A big, fat beer. Some soy sauce.

Draft @ Bootleggers Craft Beer Bar, Copenhagen. Pours a black color with a small off-white head. Has a roasted malty hoppy citrus aroma. Roasted malty licorice hoppy caramel flavor. Has a roasted malty licorice hoppy bitter caramel finish.