Otter Creek (Alpine) Black IPA - Otter Creek Brewing / Wolaver's

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BA SCORE
87
good
-
319 Ratings

rAvg: 3.89
pDev: 11.05%
Reviews: 197
Hads: 122

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Brewed by:
Otter Creek Brewing / Wolaver's

Vermont, United States

Style | ABV
American Black Ale | 6.00% ABV

Availability: Year-round. bottle (168), on-tap (23), growler (5), cask (1).

Notes:
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.

The word Alpine has been dropped from the name. Please review here: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profi ... /119/77274

View: Beers (17) | Reviews (5) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by nhindian:

nhindian

Pennsylvania

3.9/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a Dogfish Head Signature glass. Bottle generously provided as an extra by CharlieMurphy, thanks a lot!

A - Pours fairly dark, a few shades lighter than black and has some deep chocolate highlights. There is a light tan head on here, 2-fingers in height, that has nice retention. When it fades it leaves a thick cap that still continues to obscure the darkness beneath. Lacing is very nice as well, with thin strands of foam covering most of the glass.

S - The smell I get at first is a slight roast with caramel in it. This is quickly contrasted with bursts of citrus and grapefruit. Smells pretty hoppy, but I feel that the two smells clash a bit and leave you hanging somewhere in the middle of both styles.

T - The taste comes together much more smoothly than the aroma and is a breath of fresh air after having numerous examples of both of these styles lately. The hops give off a nice orange flavor that when combined with the roast, gives a flavor similar to drinking a coffee with an orange sorbet or orange-flavored creamer. It's well-integrated and smooth, especially when getting the toffee and caramel as well. It's fairly resiny, and the finish is almost pure hops with a bittersweet chocolateness to it.

M - Mouthfeel is moderately light-bodied with good carbonation. It leaves a lasting bitterness that is part roasty and part hoppy. Definitely an interesting feeling.

D/O - Drinkability is moderately high. For my first beer in the style, I have to say it came off a bit better than I was expecting. Smelling a dark beer and getting crisp hops is definitely a strange feeling, but I just see it as taking the hoppy stout to the next level. I will definitely be seeking out some other Black IPAs now!

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2011 19:50:44 | More by nhindian

More User Reviews:

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5 rDev -10%

04-29-2013 05:57:45 | More by Kelp

Chris77McGrath

Ohio

4/5 rDev +2.8%

02-08-2013 20:09:46 | More by Chris77McGrath

DmanGTR

New York

3.25/5 rDev -16.5%

01-29-2013 20:14:21 | More by DmanGTR

agreenman19

Connecticut

3.75/5 rDev -3.6%

01-06-2013 01:33:45 | More by agreenman19

HippieHops

Ohio

3.75/5 rDev -3.6%

01-05-2013 23:16:59 | More by HippieHops

sneaks2210

New York

3/5 rDev -22.9%

11-17-2012 16:58:39 | More by sneaks2210

Mack

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5 rDev +9.3%

11-10-2012 22:26:57 | More by Mack

Chugs13

New Jersey

3.75/5 rDev -3.6%

11-10-2012 22:05:04 | More by Chugs13

acurtis

New Jersey

3.75/5 rDev -3.6%

10-12-2012 23:17:46 | More by acurtis

slim2043

Connecticut

3.75/5 rDev -3.6%

10-01-2012 00:52:49 | More by slim2043

TheSarge

Illinois

3.85/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured this brew into a 12oz pilsner glass, and the brew makes a three finger thick milky brown head, with good retention. The body is black and opaque with reddish hues on the outsides of the glass.

The aroma is cola, coffee, dark chocolate, metallic, and mildly earthy.

Taste wise it's leaning more towards coffee, and a little subtle hint of dark chocolate.

Feels medium in body, and dry to the palate.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 00:17:09 | More by TheSarge

Aleforme

Washington

4/5 rDev +2.8%

09-13-2012 21:53:37 | More by Aleforme

thedoubler55

New Jersey

3.08/5 rDev -20.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Dark brown in color, with a little bit of a tan head at the top and no lacing at all.

S: Roasted malts, a bit of hop notes and not much else, slight scent of coffee.

T: Almost exactly like the nose with a bit of booze up front, and some chocolate notes.

M: Smooth, mid carbonation.

O: This beer was OK, nothing to brag about. It tasted good but was very watery and not to hoppy.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2012 20:25:36 | More by thedoubler55