American Black Ale
Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸
Porter Rotating Out of Production|
Score
6.95
|
|
Sign up to add a tick or review
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
kp’s Fest of 26 Pours with a big tan head over an opaque black body. Caramel and spice aroma, which echoes in the flavor. Chocolate and some coffee notes, some roasty malt flavors, almost touching on burnt.. Smooth, nice beer.
Clarkvv (16327) reviewed American Black Ale from Founders Brewing Co. 19 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
I think this one was last brewed in late 2003, so this bottle was at least 3 years old upon consumption on 8/20/06.
Mahogany-hickory brown body is clear (sediment left behind), with deep auburn highlights and a moderate-sized, light-tan head that shows fairly strong retention for its age, though little/no lacing.
I think the recent raters are mistaking the products of age for what was intended here. The descriptions of "tart", "lactic", "sour mash", "funky", etc...while true, can’t possibly have been intended. The vinous qualities stem from the roasted barley and seem to have become dominant in this lighter bodied ale. There’s also a good chance of a light lactic infection. Anyways, there’s plenty of oxidation to go around as well. The beer is way passed its prime and shouldnt be rated here, unless you are going to cut it slack for the oxidative and heavily vinous/lactic qualities it possesses. Ripe, black berries are piquant in the nose, with a fresh, creamy oat-like note that helps soothe. Roasted barley nuttiness with a bit of ash on the side, is unmistakeable. Hops certainly have faded, though I’m not sure that they would have benefited by enjoyment anyways. Other than the influence from specialty grains, it has a solid, well-malted edge to it, with a range of chocolate, caramel and toffee. Still a very vibrant beer, despite the oxidation, and quite a strong aroma to boot.
Plenty of oxidation in flavor, but a sticky, chewy, well-malted body and sound attenuation can’t be beaten down by oxidation and vinousness. Mild roastiness, moderate caramel/toffee and lighter sugar notes. It’s obvious they were going for some near-session strength/style ale or a dark ipa-like beer, but with the addition of roasted barley and/or chocolate malt. It works well, I’ve always been a fan of dark IPAs or whatever you might call it, and this is no exception. Thanks for the bottle, Styles!
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Pours a almost black with almost no head. Aroma is malty. Flavor is chocolate and malt. I can almost taste no difference from the black rye i had from the same brewer. The beers are basically the same. If you like chocolate and coffee tasting beer both the rye and the black are for you.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
It is very tempting to rate this as a porter, but I resist. Pours dark ruby, with a thin head and burnt aroma. The flavor proved interesting, as I noted dark fruit and smoked notes along with bitterness. It is thinner-bodied than most porters, and the flavor is distinctly different. An interesting style.