Otter Creek Black IPA - Otter Creek Brewing / Wolaver's

MasterSki

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle thank to Greg (Reagan1984). Served in an Alchemist pint glass. I'm guessing there's some kind of meaning to the code printed on the neck - 3182011712. Perhaps this is from mid-January?

A - Nice two fingers of creamy tan foam that settles to a thick cap, leaving behind plenty of glass-coating lace. Body is a very dark brown that verges on black, with the faintest hint of transparency at the edges.

S - Nice blend of pine, roasted malts, cocoa, caramel, and perhaps a hint of floral hops as well. Quite nice, particularly if you let it warm up for a few minutes.

T - The taste isn't quite on the level of the aroma, but it's still quite good. There's a tad more bitterness than I prefer from this style but it's still at the low-to-moderate level. Pleasant cocoa, grapefruit, pine, sugar cookie, light roast, and the faintest hint of smoke in the finish.

M - Carbonation is medium-high and zesty - definitely tingles the upper lip. Resinous hop oils coat the mouth, with a bit of dry roastiness to the texture. Medium body is plenty ample for the listed 6%.

D - Really well done Black IPA that avoids the major pitfalls inherent to the style. Maybe not at the sublime level of Hill Farmstead's offerings, but pretty excellent for a beer available in six-packs at the local store. Would happily drink this one again.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 03:52:14 | More by MasterSki

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The nose on this one really struck me as more malty and chocolate-y than I would expect from this style. The flavor is a bit different than what I'm usually getting from the black ales. But this is an okay version of the style. Perhaps it's an issue of preference. This one works and is certainly no trainwreck, but the finer points of others win me over just a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 08:18:37 | More by RblWthACoz

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Otter Creek : Black IPA

Pours a dark brown, blackish color. Off white mocha foam forms and leaves a sheet of lace. Aroma of herbal hops, pine and coffee. In the taste, bitter, earthy hops, unsweetened coffee, charcoal, and caramel. Bitterness is at an IPA level, with a nice one-two punch of hops and malt. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and moderately carbonated. Overall, a prety nice black IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2012 04:44:55 | More by Stinkypuss

tdm168

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - black with a half an inch of brown, soft head that fades quickly

S - faint lemon peel and citrus over roasted malt aromas

T - faint chocolate, roasted malts, a hint of coffee, citrusy hops with a faintly bitter finish

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is a decent Black IPA. It's malt forward but there's an obviously heavy hop presence. The hops are a bit at odds with the malt however. The malt is bitter and roasty and the hops are citrusy. A bit of balance would be nice. I wouldn't turn this down. but I won't seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 01:05:03 | More by tdm168

Durge

Connecticut

4.13/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at My Place in Newtown, CT this brew shows a dark, deep brown-black color, opaque, with a thick creamy dark tan head and lots of strapping lace. The aroma is a delicious briney citrus malt with an edge of pine. Very enticing with healthy but tasteful hops. The flavor brings more of that briney, somewhat herbal hop over a decided charcoal malt. The hop bit evolves a little more toward pine but the charcoal is a big theme here. The hops do evolve as you go through it and it ends up being a nice marriage and providing a bit of a dry finish. It’s medium bodied with a fairly aqueous feel that includes that dry edge from the hops. And the hops do prevail in the end. Carbonation is pleasant as is this brew overall. Not quite as great as I recall from the bottle oddly, but it gets better and better as it warms.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2012 04:29:33 | More by Durge

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a clear very dark amber to dark brown in color (almost black) with some lighter reddish brown hints when held up to the light and moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall light beige head that reduces to a medium sized patch of very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of charred wood with some dark roasted malts. In addition, there is a light to moderate aromas of citrus/grapefruit and pine hops as well as coffee.

T: Moderate flavors of roasted malts with just a hint of caramel sweetness. Notes of charred wood/oak and coffee. The finish has solid grapefruit/citrus and pine hops which lend some bitterness that fades eventually.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Clean with light amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: While the taste is not quite as complex as the smell, this is a very enjoyable beer - nice roasty malts with not overpowering IPA hops. Relatively easy to drink and a great deal considering how inexpensive it was...

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 20:56:44 | More by dbrauneis

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a very dark amber-brown into black coloring with a frothy, filmy, low profile, light tan head that quickly disipates across the surface. Aromas of roasted grains, citrus highlights of grapefruit and tangerine, and a resiny, rich hops presence. Not overpowering on the nose, and very well balanced. Flavors of roast and hops hit the palate at the same time, with a bitter campfire balancing the bitter, floral, and tree sap punch of the hops. Some of the citrus shines through on the mid-tongue, allowing a break from the more intense flavors you get on the first sip. The aftertaste is more bitter, and slightly tangy, with the citrus and hops now taking the driver's seat. Smooth bodied, with a clean, slightly drying finish. Very tasty brew!

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 23:21:24 | More by GarthDanielson

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this up at Sunday River, ME on tap and loved it. Called Tully’s on the way back to Boston and picked up a six pack. As good in the bottle. One of my top two Black IPA’s. Excellent beer.
A gorgeous looking beer. Deep brown in color with some light entering at the edges. The head is a dull tan color and is thick and creamy. Rises above the rim, shows excellent retention and also leaves clumps of lace all over the glass.

Aroma hints to a nice balance between an assertive hop presence and also a wonderful dark roasted bounty. More pine comes through as well.

Balance, Balance. Nice assertive pine hop flavors and then to a nice dark roasted malt. Not burnt or ash like at all, but smooth, dark and inviting. Then the blend of the two with some dark chocolate laced in between.

Very smooth, but not creamy… A touch of substance in the mouth feel.

I just love this beer. It’s a great departure from a standard IPA and/or Stout. Not sure what you’re in the mood for? This fits the bill. I will get this whenever I can.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 21:43:48 | More by Reagan1984

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.23/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I bought an Otter Creek snack pack tonight.... we shall see.

Served in a FFF shaped glass.

A: Pretty much black as coal, with a majorly sticky, icky, gooey off-white head that stuck to the glass and then some.

S: I got more char than actual hop here, but it actually smelled pretty good.... sorta like a burnt hot dog with citrus relish.

T: This teetered on the verge of being a porter, but not quite. To be honest, I dug that quality about this one. I got just enough citrus in the to dictate to me the style.

M: Great carbonation here, and more lacing than you can shake a stick at. My palate was stained with charred mandarin orange afterwards.

O: I'm usually not a big BIPA fan, but I dug this one quite a bit. The best in the Otter Creek snack pack IMO.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 02:41:33 | More by Chaney

merc7186

New York

3.93/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this beer on tap at Mr Goodbar in Buffalo NY, poured into a pint glass.

A: Dark Opaque Hue, Passes No Light, Off White Thick Head, Great Lacing

S: Milk Chocolate, Mild Floral, Mild Coffee

T: Black Bread, Mild Chocolate, Mild Coffee

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium to Full Bodied, Dry, Mildly Bitter,

Overall, a decent Black IPA with a nice smoothe mildly bitter aftertaste, drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2012 04:16:18 | More by merc7186

Bung

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz. An excellent looking beverage out of the bottle, basic black with a near 2 finger tan head.

Aroma, pretty evenly balanced roast and pine/floral hops.

Taste, pine and citrus up front, roast malt. Not overly bitter. Kind of a citrus roast coffee finish. Bitter roast lingers a bit.

Just to the right if light bodied. Drinks easy enough. I'd call this a pretty good middle of the road for the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 01:30:59 | More by Bung

chinchill

South Carolina

3.74/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle; code may indicate Sept. 2012 bottling.
A: Pours clear, very deep and dark mahogany in color, looking almost black in the glass. There’s a very short-lived tan head that reduces to some very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. A bit of spotty lacing is left on the glass. Some sediment in the bottom of the bottle (mostly added to the pour).

Aroma: Very dark roasted malts and fruity/earthy hops fight for dominance. Hints of chocolate, charcoal, peat, and citrus fruit: Complex but, like most black IPAs, lacks integration and finesse.

T: Loads of dark and very dark roasted malts with a trace of smoke. Hints of dark chocolate, pine, grapefruit, caramel malt, and bitter chocolate. Mild bitterness ramps up a bit, but is well controlled, in the finish. A rather pleasant smokey-earthy-grapefruit aftertastes lingers on and on, with hops and dark malts in good balance.

M: Medium+ body and carbonation. Clean with light amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: A tasty black IPA featuring more darkly roasted malts, yet with only a limited and quite acceptable burnt quality. Rich and moderately complex, this is a very big beer for 6% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 21:58:24 | More by chinchill

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the brewery. I found this beer to be inferior to the Alpine Black IPA; none of the servers could tell me what the difference was besides “probably different hops.” That seems accurate but this current iteration also had an odd mouthfeel; slightly thick and syrupy, with lowish carbonation that left the beer feeling slightly oily and lacking crispness.

Looks the part; black body; small tan head that settled quickly, patchy lacing. Aroma is quite roasty and bitter, with coffee notes and lots of floral hops. Taste follows the nose; aggressive roasted bitterness, coffee, floral and to a lesser extent, piney hop flavors.

I felt like this beer showed the less appealing side of the “Black” IPA; overly bitter, almost burnt tasting, with slightly harsh hops, and the mouthfeel that was a little off. Pretty middling, unfortunately. I was definitely a fan of the Alpine Black and something went amiss here (perhaps a bad batch?).

Serving type: on-tap

07-12-2012 13:38:29 | More by tobelerone

kangarooAdam59

Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Not to be confused with their "Alpine Black IPA," which is now retired.

Into a pint glass:

A: black body with a quick dissipating tan/off white less than a half finger head, lacing graces the pint glass with some rings around it with a bit of spottiness as it goes down

S: hops up front, coffee coming through fairly strong in a roasty sort of way, light smokiness coming through once it starts warming

T: bittersweet through the hops and coffee, some pine in the back of it, and balanced

M: medium with nothing harsh on the tongue, balanced, dry and bitter aftertaste and finish

O: this is good for its style and great to me.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 01:06:20 | More by kangarooAdam59

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

4.23/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle purchased at Market Basket in Somersworth. Pours a black body with slight ruby-red highlights and and an impressive inch or so of khaki-colored head with some decent lacing. Espresso bean and grapefruit share the aroma fairly equally. Espresso hits the palate first with grapefruit and lemon hitting soon thereafter to balance. Medium in body and carbonation. A bit more malt-forward than other examples of the style I've had, but it's good. The roasty malt and citrissy hops compliment each other quite nicely. Terrific.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 02:40:46 | More by MrHurmateeowish

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into pint glass. Pours a black color with slight reddish hue. Thick foamy brown head and lasts the entire drink. Smells of roasted malts and hops; slight citrus.
Smooth mouthfeel. Not very heavy or bitter.
Taste is of roasted malts and slight hops. Taste like a mix between a porter, brown, and pale ale.
Its not bad at all, but I'm not jumping out of my seat.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 01:10:09 | More by DrinkSlurm

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up in Totowa last week as this was the only Otter Creek offering in stock that I hadn't tried yet. While this wasn't memorable, it was a decent example of the style and probably the most easygoing Black Ale/Black IPA that I've rated, as this almost reminded me of an Irish Dry Stout.

Of course, the pour was dark to this to the point of just a few shades away from being black. The head was tan, somewhat large, and quick to dissipate. Not a lot of lacing here and the nose was of a smoky, burnt feeling with some pepperjack cheese thrown in for good measure. The roasted aspect took hold in the taste, backed up with lots of malt and a creamy mouthfeel. The aftertaste was somewhat weak with just a bit of earthy and metallic hops and stickiness to it, but nothing too heavy or strong or boozy.

This had a slight kick to it but nothing that would knock anyone over. Even though I only bought one bottle, I could probably down a few of these at once, since this was quite drinkable. I like beers of this style to be a bit more bold since this is a groundbreaking category of sorts but anyone who has never tried something of this nature before would be well versed to start with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 20:32:18 | More by JerzDevl2000

ckollias

Maryland

4.73/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this 12oz bottle out of a Belgian tulip glass.

A: Pours a dark black hue with mild amber highlights. Has a thick, 2-finger, white head that quickly dissipates leaving a nice trail down the glass and ending in a solid persistent lace.

S: Strong hoppy aroma with a great toasted malt background..

T: Hops meets toasted malts!

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: I loved this black IPA. Really enjoyed the combination of hops and malts.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 02:29:25 | More by ckollias

neenerzig

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a very dark brown/black color. The tan head is about an inch thick when poured, before settling to a nice surface coating about 1/4 inch thick and a nice thick ring lining the inside of the glass. Good head retention with decent lace. Aromas of sweet roasted malt and floral, earthy hops. The taste is the same, a good sweet, caramel malt presence upfront, followed by nice earthy and floral hop undertones. The beer really balances as it sits and warms up. No one flavor dominates, which could be considered a flaw since with IPAs and off shoots of IPAs the hoppy, more bitter flavors should, to some degree, have some dominance over the sweeter more malt based flavors. A good beer otherwise. Has a nice smooth, frothy, creamy, slightly crisp moutffeel that really coats the palate. Easy to drink in a good way. A good beer all around, but certainly not the best representation of what this style is suppossed to be.

Eric

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 04:17:26 | More by neenerzig

Arithmeticus

Maryland

3.74/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured chilled in ribbed ale glass

A: solid black; one-finger head; avg carb action
S: sweet molasses, oak; pepper; borders on porter aroma
T: semisweet chocolate, roasted barley; nicely hopped to give it complexity; booze is hidden well

Not a bad black IPA

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 00:41:46 | More by Arithmeticus

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12 oz beer was poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: This beer poured a huge mocha head that reduced to a thin layer and left some nice lacing on the glass. It is a pitch black color with no clarity or bubbles seen coming up through the glass.

Smell: roasted, chocolate, and Smokey malts. Some piney and citrus hops in there too.

Taste: Same as above. The malts are the dominant flavor on the palate with the hops bringing up the rear. Some lingering bitterness in the end from the ash, smoke, and hops.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, full bodied, medium carbonation, and a little bitterness.

Overall: Pretty nice black ale. Will look for more of this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 18:07:11 | More by Flounder57

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-dark brown black color with a nice big tan head and great lacing

S-roasted malt with some hoppy aroma and slight herbal notes

T-dark roasted malt, coffee, charcoal, mild hop bitterness and finish

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth

O-a decent drinking beer, but needs better balance asmalt dominates more than I would like

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 23:46:52 | More by MDDMD

magine

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a nonic.

Pours a near black with ruby edges. Good lace, decent pinky thick head remains. Nice layer remains, good patchy lace clings all the way. Good looks.

Brew smells of roasted malts, cocoa, and lingering hops. Good nose.

Brew is full bodied and has nice initial roasted malts, cocoa, and nutty flavors. Has some real good dry roasted malts backed up by some real nice oily hops. Very good complete flavors here, working well to make a full bodied brew. Finishes a little sticky and dry. Very good stuff here.

Brew is one of the best black IPA's I have had. The lower ABV makes this one you can drink all night. Great stuff here.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 01:09:52 | More by magine

FickleBeast

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter.

Pours a near pitch black with a half finger of mocha foam and nice legs. Aroma is more roasty and sweet than hoppy, but it certainly smells appetizing.

First sip is has a nice hoppy kick, which fades to a nice roast/sweet middle, finishing with a firm but not harsh bitterness. Not bad at all, this is nicely rounded, though it may not satisfy the staunchest hop heads.

I like this beer. There is a very nice floral hop flavor, but the roasted malt flavors provide a nice backbone and counterbalance.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 02:44:48 | More by FickleBeast

Dave1999

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured an impressive solid black colour with a small light brown head.

Smells sweet and malty as well as hopy and grapefruit like.
There also a woody tobacco like smell.

The taste is roasted malts,coffee,clean with a little bit of bitterness.

The mouth feel is smooth,medium bodied with low carbonation.

Overall an interesting beer,to me tasted more like a porter than an ipa but this is probably the best black ipa I've had so far.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 23:56:52 | More by Dave1999