I really am hooked on this style. As of right now, there is nothing I'll put ahead of a new CDA when browsing the beer stores. I've always loved IPAs, and the ones that have always stood out for me are the ones with unique malt character. Along comes the CDA, and I couldn't have asked for anything more perfect. Anyway, here's Oakshire's take on the style.
Simple to call this one black, but it definitely comes out as a very dark brown when exposed to strong light. The head was a slight-tan and barely skimmed the surface. It drained quickly and left little lacing. Definitely not too carbonated. The aroma isn't incredibly strong on this one. What does come through are piney hopes with a splash of citrus. There's also some noticeable spice. A bit yeasty and definitely a much stronger burnt, rich malt character that I haven't seen from most others in this style.
My first impression upon tasting this is that is has a very nice bitterness. Nothing to offensive but enough to take notice. The flavor of the hops would best be described as woody. There's a ton of malt flavor in this. It's very dark, dry, and a little burnt. The malt lingers in the end with some roasted and chocolate notes. The body is pretty thin and the entire flavor profile is very mellow and smooth.
This one is good, but definitely far from my favorite in the style. It seems they wanted to put a stronger emphasis on the malt character, which works great if that's what you're looking for, but I prefer a hop grenade.
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