Hoppy Cat - Birra Del Borgo

laituegonflable

Australia

3.73/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark-brown colour, quite pale really. Maybe a slight cloud is visible but otherwise clear. Head is pale beige, nice and foamy and sticking around fairly well. Certainly not black but otherwise nice.

Nose is a very pleasant IBA nose. Nice underlying malt, not very roasty but rich and full-bodied, and overlying all is lots of delicate fresh hops. US mostly, with citric and tangy pine qualities. Quite lovely, really.

Taste has a bit more on the roasty side, with a touch of slightly sour under-roasted coffee upfront. Midway switches to the hop side, all US hops with citric and slightly resinous bitterness. Not quite enough though, it doesn't really balance or capture the best of both camps.

A little dry on the texture, good enough body though.

Not a bad brew, a little bitter and not quite enough early hopping for me to really sit up and take notice.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2013 10:35:23 | More by laituegonflable

lacqueredmouse

Australia

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

On-tap at the Local Taphouse in Sydney as part of the Italian Spectapular festival.

Pours a reddish brown colour, both lighter and clearer than I expected. Head is a solid creamy white hue that leaves very solid fine sheeting lace down the glass. Looks good.

Nose is pleasant enough, with some mild roasted notes and mild inoffensive hops, which meld to give a peachy character, spliced with some extra grain from the roast. It adds depth to the aroma, but not a huge amount. Not bad.

Light bitter malt on the front, leaving a grain taste, before the hops display a biting entry. This dissipates rather quickly, leaving the mid-palate feeling a little bit like the lull between storms, and the hops turn fragrant and rather sweet. Finish crescendoes in bitterness, leaving a solid feeling at both the front and the back of the palate.

Not bad overall. Plenty of nice characters done reasonably well. It's not going to knock anyone's socks off, but it's solid enough.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2012 05:09:37 | More by lacqueredmouse

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

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

Bottle from Beer Deluxe. From notes.

A - Poured a really cloudy, dark brown with a nice thick two finger light brown head. Thick lace and a finger of retention. Pretty nice.

S - Really floral. Perfume as well. Really original aroma. Inviting.

T - Citrus, dark fruit, roast, floral and perfumey. Good balance and depth of flavour. Very original black IPA flavour.

M - Nice carbonation, medium body, not overly bitter.

O/D - So smooth and easy to drink. A lovely new take on the black IPA. Good one.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 03:00:58 | More by tbeckett