IBI85 Black IPA
Brouwbar in Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium 🇧🇪
IPA - Black / Cascadian Dark Regular|
Score
7.54
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Brewed with Wim VL's (Ratebeer' & Brewver's 'Alengrin') 10,000th review in mind.
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Alengrin (11609) reviewed IBI85 Black IPA from Brouwbar 3 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8.5 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
When I started putting ratings on this site, I never genuinely thought I would make it this far, but here it is then: my ten-thousandth rating. Honouring the tradition of having a beer produced for this occasion, I turned to Brouwbar with the idea of 'amplifying' their regular black IPA (regarded as a local classic in its style here in Ghent) and lo and behold, a few weeks later this imperial black IPA came into existence with my '10K' in mind - I feel both honoured and humbled, so I cannot thank Benjamin and Jolien of Brouwbar enough for this celebrational brew! Tasted on several occasions (of course) from tap, both at Brouwbar and the Ghent Beer Fest. Pale yellowish beige, slightly irregular but stable and well-structured, moussy head on a hazy very dark chocolate brown beer - as good as black, but with a slight mahogany hue. Strong aroma of grapefruit peel, black peppercorns in hot olive oil, bitter black chocolate, pine resin, burnt bread crust, toasted hazelnuts, black coffee, old cheese rind, stewed onion, marijuana, hard caramel, whisky. Restrainedly sweetish onset with a 'clean' and subdued fruity aspect of old raisin and dried fig, as well as a very mild umami note of black olive, medium carbonation with full, oily and somewhat 'fluffy' mouthfeel. Deep bitter-chocolatey maltiness then fills the mouth cavity, edged by a heavy bitter toastiness, a sweeter 'caramelliness' and - towards the end - a roasty coffee-like bitterness, which is superseded by a very powerful hoppiness at just the right moment for this style, adding piney, grapefruit peel- and wormwood-like aromas and bitterness which lasts and lasts. A black 'pepperiness' remains - accentuated by a slight hop burn in the beginning, but this effect has vanished in a week, so I guess the beer has now become even better than it was a week ago - and who knows, it might even improve further with a few more weeks on it. Utterly satisfying finish, staying connected with that roasty 'black' aspect, but offering more than enough retronasal hop aromas as well as downright spicy hop bitterness to keep everything firmly in IPA territory. I like the ordinary black IPA by Brouwbar a lot, but this one ups the ante considerably - believe me when I try to remain as unbiased as possible, but for me this is among the very finest Brouwbar has ever produced (and not because it is dedicated to my personal milestone of 10,000 beer reviews). I could not have wished for a more appropriate beer to celebrate this occasion, even if this particular style is neither known nor loved by every beer drinker. Huge thanks again to my beloved Brouwbar - and now for the next 10,000!
gave a cheers!
nathanvc (6963) reviewed IBI85 Black IPA from Brouwbar 3 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
20 August 2022. At 12de Gents Bierfestival. Cheers to Anke, Pieter & the whole crew!
Hazy black, stable, foamy, beige head; decent lacing. Aroma of black pepper, black olive, chestnut, cashew, old grapefruit peel, mango, toast, cold coffee, fondant, something vaguely off like chlorine but not disturbing. Taste has sweetish fig & pear and sourish brambleberry underneath kept together by a firm toasty & toasted-nutty maltiness with fine edges of herbs, bitter espresso and something savoury-umami. Dry, bitter, peppery hoppy finish (indeed hinting at black pepper!), balancing grapefruit, resin, toast and coffee roast terrifically, with a dash of warming brandy-like alcohol in the very end. Medium to full body, creamy texture, soft carbonation. We were all equally impressed with this brew at the table (and beforehand, happy to learn that Brouwbar would create an Imperial Black IPA) - this greatly showcases Brouwbar's craftsmanship. A fitting tribute to Alengrin, congratulations on your 10K ratings and for your ever insightful 'beer reports'! And by the way: this should be on tap at Brouwbar by default!
gave a cheers!
mike_77 (15875) reviewed IBI85 Black IPA from Brouwbar 3 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8.5
Very dark brown colour. Aroma and flavour have plenty of piney, bitter hop notes. Touch of roasted coffee too. Very flavoursome. Congratulations Alengrin!
tderoeck (22711) reviewed IBI85 Black IPA from Brouwbar 3 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
13/VIII/22 - on tap, shared @ Brouwbar (Gent), BB: n/a (2022-991)
Pretty clear dark brown to black beer, small creamy beige head, stable, a bit adhesive. Aroma: very roasted, lots of coffee, very hoppy, quite some soy sauce, hoppy. MF: ok carbon, medium to full body. Taste: very roasted start, bitter, hoppy, a bit sweet, malty, very bitter, a bit resinous, caramel, dark chocolate, more coffee, sugary, lots of alcohol. Aftertaste: bitter, some caramel, hoppy, a bit resinous, bitter, very roasted, a bit sweet, sugary, nice stuff, really decent, a bit young maybe, this will definitely improve with some age!