Secession Black India Pale Ale (CDA) - Hopworks Urban Brewery

snaotheus

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle poured into a large mug

Pours dark blackish amber, not cloudy looking, small but persistent beige head. Smell is hoppy with malty roastiness. Smell is very good, in fact.

Taste starts out with syrupy sweetness, then coffee, then hops, and that sweetness really stays throughout. Luckily it's pretty well balanced against the bitters. It's quite nice tasting, after some ice cream.

Mouthfeel is thick and slightly sticky. Overall, this is quite good.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 03:25:18 | More by snaotheus

jpbebeau

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle to tulip, after much-belatedly raking the yard.

A: Very dark reddish-brown, near black at high volumes. Color only at the edges. Quickly dissipating light-tan head, which leaves lacing you'd expect with an IPA or DIPA.

S: Floral hops and a bit of roast. Leather. Roast, dank, leather hops and malts.

T: Initial porter-like roast malts. Piney hops hit the mid-palate. Lingering throat-puckering aftertaste.

M: Moderate weight. Pretty carbonated. Easy to drink.

Not bad; I'd drink it again, but won't seek it out. Do like the price, though. Not quite sure where I come down on CDAs yet.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 00:06:15 | More by jpbebeau

scootpolute

Washington

3.88/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle from the 2011 vintage, poured into a tulip glass.

Look: jet black, light tan head that leaves a nice lacing.

Smell: heavy hop punch followed with some roasted malt aromas, chocolate, fudge, a little coffee and some alcohol soaked currants. Smells quite good and inviting.

Taste: Hops, sweet currants and coffee flavors stand out, with some more hop flavor and some chocolate, a bit of currant and anise, with a bit of bitterness that seems to come more from the roasted malt than the hops. My mouth tastes like I've been eating raw hops espresso beans after drinking this beer. The alcohol is there but oddly subtle, especially considering how fresh this beer is.

Feel: full bodied, a little chewy good carbonation, just right for the style. Very smooth and easy going down!

Overall: First time I've had this one, second time I've had a beer from this brewery and both time I"ve been impressed! Delicious beer and I should also note that the price only adds to how great this beer is. At 4.99 for a bomber in a market where you should expect to spend over 6-7 for a bomber of anything and much more for a yummy porter'esk' beer like this one, this is an amazing deal.
Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 00:45:19 | More by scootpolute

gkunkle

Oregon

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep brown color, almost black. I just barely get some reddish colors when I hold it up to light. Head is a light tan color and stands about a finger talk after I poured it into a tall tulip. Smell is of citrus and floral hops and has some nice roastedness coming through as well. The first taste to register is the subtle malt backbone, then almost immediately I get a strong taste citrus hops, and a touch of floral hops as well. Wrapping up the taste is the roasted malts. They don't really announce their presence until late in the sip, but it comes in well. The body of the beer is of average thickness. Carbonation is subtle, but it fits the beer well. This is a great CDA, in my opinion it is a great example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 06:41:02 | More by gkunkle

Reidrover

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

22 oz bomber from "Lifesource" Salem. $4.95 Screen printed label..in the colours of the "Doug Fir" flag of the Republic of Cascadia. Mahogany dark brown ale with a nice thick creamy tan head. Great herbal,citric and pine tones from the hops in the aroma,hint of coffee from the malts. Surprising taste..very balanced but at the same time wildly swinging from the piney hops to the dark chocolate,toasted malts..then balanced again. Great mouthfeel very captivating..and a very tasty bitter after taste that lingers..like good dark esspresso coffee. Over all a very nice CDA

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 23:57:25 | More by Reidrover

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a Pint glass.

A - Pours a dark brown with a one finger light off-white head. Good retention and lacing left on the glass.

S - Roasted malts, some hoppy pine and grass.

T - Roasted malts mostly, some of the hops do come through.

D - Perfect body and carbonation. Good balance for the style.

O - The best of the day. Try it!

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 04:16:46 | More by HuskyinPDX

Mahlik

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bomber poured into Deschutes snifter

A- Pours dark brown, almost black, with a two-finger creamy off-white head. Head dissipates after a minute or so. Spotty lacing left behind.

S- wonderful aroma of NW hops: citrus, pine and some "dank" hop oils. Orange aroma comes to the forefront and blends nicely with subtle chocolate notes. A nice underlying roastiness helps balance out the hops.

T- Some coffee and toasted malts hit the palate first. More subtle chocolate notes. But the resinous and citrus hops come in and dominate the rest of the sip. A solid bitterness comes over the palate.

M- Medium bodied with medium-light carbonation. For some odd reason, the body would seem thin at times. Almost no trace of alcohol. The bitterness lasts into the aftertaste.

O - I really want to like CDAs more than I usually do. In this case, I thought this was a quality beer. The NW hop profile mixed with subtle chocolate and roasty malts create a well balanced brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 05:58:08 | More by Mahlik

MADhombrewer

Oregon

3.68/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle poured into a tulip.

Appearance- Black. You have to hold it up right next to the light to get the reddish edges. Big bubbled tan head. 4/5

Smell- Sweet and roasted malts with a backbone of piney hops. I kinda wish it was the other way around. Very small bits of coffee and chocolate. 4/5

Taste- Sweet coffee and chocolate with a small, sharp bitterness. I wish there was more of a hop presence. It gets more bitter as it warms. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel- Good mouthfeel for the style. Medium. 4/5

Overall- Good beer. I wish the hop were more of a presence, though. 3.5/5

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 05:51:24 | More by MADhombrewer

seanwhite

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: BLACK

S: Nose is dank hops, spicy leafy hops.

T: Low roastiness, Hopping is rather restrained. Leafy, tea-ish, tobacco, and a tiny bit piney. Bitterness level is below average for the style. This is not a hop bomb and nor is it malt heavy.

M: Finish is annoyingly chalky.

O: Very good black IPA

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2011 18:02:00 | More by seanwhite

Rippeddisc

Hawaii

4.38/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Flown back from PDX. No bottled date.

A - almost opaque amber brown. just a tinge of red coming thorugh. sticky head, poured 1 finger. fell away quickly

S - can smell hops with bottle sitting next to me. roasted malt with ipa nose...woah. like a hoppy brown?

T/M - toasted malt, more roast...but sweet hop actually up front, evergreen flavor, piney...even coats the mouth...yum

O - definitely a hybrid...a very very well done hybrid. both beers in harmony. pretty impressive.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 05:55:40 | More by Rippeddisc

evlu1441

Alberta (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This one pours a deep dark brown colour. It's nearly black under indirect light. There is a nice tan head sitting on top that settles down to a thin film over the beer. It leaves some nice lacing.

Lots of hops dominate the aroma alongside some caramel and roasted malt. There is a smooth, almost marshmallowy vanilla aroma throughout the background.

The flavour is nice and smooth to start with dark roasted malts. It becomes slightly sweet as the aromatic hops take over and fill the mouth. It ends with some medium bitterness and lingering roasty burnt flavour mixed with fragrant hops.

Overall, this is a nice CDA! I haven't had too many, but if this beer was a bit cheaper, I'd put it high on my list!

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 04:35:47 | More by evlu1441

Kkottonmouthkngz

Massachusetts

2.58/5  rDev -37.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Part of a Hopworks care package via a friend in Portland.
Pours ruby black with an enormous and frothy tan colored cap. Lacing left behind isnt very sticky and slowly settles down to the rest of the brew.
Hops are a little weak and a little burnt on the nose. Im not getting alot that lures me into the glass. Theres a bit of pine to bring it slightly to earth, but overall it just smells pretty boring. Id appreciate a bigger hop profile, minus this burnt aspect that i just cant escape.
The whole front end of this appears toasted, while the backend tapers off a little watery. Any flavor i should be getting out of this just seems muttled. Half a pint glass into this, my palate is already fatigued and im just not digging it. Definitely not a winner to me. i am curious if this is a slightly older bottle, as i cant seem to find any kind of dating on the bottle. perhaps ill seek it out when its guaranteed fresh.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2011 22:52:01 | More by Kkottonmouthkngz

Sky2625

Washington

4.03/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz. bomber found out-of-season in a coffee shop cooler! Wow!

A - Medium thick pour, dark brown to black in color, but a dark mahogany when held up to the light. 2-fingered small bubble head that starts coffee brown and fades to cream colored. Sticky small bubble lace.

S - A mild nose, piney at first, quickly followed by dark roasty malt, with a small hint of coffee.

T - Initial flash of coffee flavor overridden by pine hop bitterness blanketing over a semi-sweet dark chocolate malt. Finishes with a piney hop.

M - Medium body, semi-smooth punctuated with larger carbonation bubbles, chewy finish.

D - Not too hoppy. Smooth enough for multiple rounds, and flavorful enough to keep you interested.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 23:54:15 | More by Sky2625

velosuds

Oregon

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Secession is a Cascadian Dark Ale! - per the label.

That settles it for me. I love the style and don't care much for the BJCP style guideline designation American Black Ale. Actually, according to the Hopworks inspiring label, my native state Washington, my present state Oregon, and my favorite Canadian province British Columbia are going to secede from the soon to be formed North American Union (my spin) and form a more perfect beer republic where we will enjoy our beer in the finest PNW traditions.

A-pours a beautiful dark brown, nearly black hue with a two finger light brown head with decent retention and adequate lacing.

S-Aroma is wonderful. Piney and citric hops and roasted barley.

T-Hoppy bitterness is followed by citrusy and resinous notes against a very pleasing black barley roastiness I especially like in this style, notwithstanding some beer advocates think this quality is more like a stout. I love it and will join the CDA secession movement.

M-Just a tad thin and a little dry. I like just a bit more residual sweetness to give a fuller and smoother body.

O-This is very drinkable. I have only seen this once at a grocery store in Wilsonville with a good selection of microbrews. Wish I had bought more. Most stores, including bottle shops, I frequent either never stocked this or were sold out before I had an opportunity to buy. My second favorite CDA so far. And it's ORGANIC! Well done Hopworks.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 01:32:43 | More by velosuds

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Somewhat diapointing for the style, as a beer. Fresh bottle from Zyn in Calgary. Black body, high IBU, more roastiness in he flavour. Lacey Lots of really roasty as in burnt parts. Hops and citrus in finish. Lace rings. Grows on me, but I am just OK on it.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 21:29:20 | More by northyorksammy

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Deep mahoganny with a light tan head, good retention, great lace.

Huge 'Cascadian' aroma: Catty, pine, tangerine, rind, floral perfume.

Hops are upfront in the flavour, pine, tangerine, grapefruit rind; slight roasted nut & biscuit, hint of cocoa and burnt caramel, solid bitterness.

Well-attenuated moderate body has some hop acidity.

A good drinker and great representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2011 00:51:03 | More by Derek

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber, the label displaying a nice painted visual of a geographical representation of Cascadia - weird how there is still a border between WA and OR, but not between WA and BC - hmmm...

This beer pours a clear, dark reddish cola hue, with one finger of creamy, foamy beige head, which leaves a barely-broken thin paint job of lace around the glass as everything falls away. It smells of roasted, almost meaty malt, and warm citrus and pine hops. The taste is big roasted malt, some dry coffee grounds, and bitter grassy, citrus, and pine hops. The carbonation is prominent, but not overbearing, the body medium weight, a little airy, but fairly smooth overall. It finishes off-dry, the lessened, but still toasty malt getting pushed around by the earthy, piny hop bitterness.

A pretty good Cascadian Dark Ale, representative of the style - balanced, in a high-flying sort of manner. The roasted and coffee flavours add another dimension to the usual bloated malt/hop interplay, and this is interesting in a distracted way, at least until the next mini-evolution comes along.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2011 22:27:50 | More by biboergosum

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a 650ml brown bottle, silkscreen enamel label. Pours out a very dark brown, cola hues when held to direct light. Tall creamy beige head that slowly settles to a thin cap.

Roasty malt and a big dose of leafy citrus hops on the nose.

Roasted malt and bright citrus hops right off the start in the flavour, some coffee notes in the middle, with the dry roasty malt more prominent on the finish while the hops remain ever in the background. Leafy, piney hops get their spotlight in the aftertaste.

Medium-full bodied mouthfeel, silky slick yet full texture, moderate carbonation.

A nicely balanced Cascadian Ale, the roasty astringency workes with the citrus pop of the hops, and they manage to pull off the harmony between the two. Worth checking out of you're into this style.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2011 23:40:49 | More by IronDjinn

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - deep deep deep brown, barely transparent, fluffy mocha head left random sticky lacing
S - very fragrant hops with pine and light florals, light nutty chocolaty malt presensce
T - hops are pine, floral, and lemon citrus, with a strong backbone of nutty and lightly smoky malt, super tasty
M - medium moving to thin and pleasantly bitter
O - very flavourful with a hop kick and a strong malt backbone to balance, i could drink this all day

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 01:35:09 | More by joemcgrath27

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a nice dark ruby red colour, finger of beige coloured head, some retention and some nice sticky lacing.

S - Sweet citrus hops, touch of earthiness and an abundance of caramel malts. A roasted nuttiness also seems to come through on the finish.

T - The citrus hops come through nicely off the top with the bitterness lingering and a earthy tasty to them. The malts, although tougher to detect and a little subtle, do provide a backbone of dark roasted espresso and dark cocoa.

M - Medium bodied that goes down extremely smooth and finishes with a touch of dryness. Great feel to it!

O - I quite enjoyed this Cascadian IPA, offering a nice robust amount of hops and a subtle dark malty backbone. Easily drinkable and poundable, full flavoured with a great mouthfeel. Another gem from HUB!

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 01:24:19 | More by andrenaline

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

650mla bomber poured into pint glass april18 2011

A dark cola with a thick two finger tan head that slowly falls to a thin film that leaves a couple partial rings of lace

S a little citrus with some milk chocolate

T what I smell but stronger with some grapefruit and more chocolate, some very faint coffee and pine, nice combination of dark malts and hops

M a little coarse but nowhere near sandpaper, a little bitter bite and good carbonation

O went down pretty quick so that says something, a good beer that's worth trying

I find this an interesting style but often find myself wishing the flavor profile went one way or the other, hop bomb or dark roast, I do like them combined but its hard to wrap my head around.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 05:23:06 | More by wordemupg

Fatehunter

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Into a pint glass. A dark copper color with a thin dirty white head that quickly faded to the edge of the glass.

S - From a foot away I smelled pine and citrus. Closer up, pine and grapefruit with a mellower undertone of malt.

T - Total IPA at first, citrus followed by a small roasted malt bomb, ending with a nice bitter. The malt sweetness was faintly present throughout.

M - Light to medium body with a light but assertive carbonation.

O - Outstanding CDA with almost perfect balance of maltiness and hops.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2011 00:33:41 | More by Fatehunter

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber into a Weyerbacher tulip. Thanks to vonschplieffen for sharing.

A: Clear dark russet body with two fingers of ultra-fine, frothy off-white foam. Great body/head contrast (this really looks like a BIPA/CDA/ABA/etc), as well as retention, with light, spotty lacing left behind. Excellent.

S: Seaweed and oysters; the hops and roast combine into a decidedly briny piquancy. It's interesting, but less than stunning.

T: Piney hops, coffee roast, and clean bitterness. Simple and tasty, with (thankfully) none of the saltiness hinted at in the aroma. Solid.

M: Fairly light body, with matching carbonation. Soft, delicate, and enjoyable.

O: It's nice to see a beer of this style pull of intense flavor without a super-high ABV; too many seem to clock in over 8%, at which point the delicate contrast of flavors can get a little muddled in the heat. The bizarre smell kept this from being a real standout, but it was undoubtedly a tasty brew. I'd have another, although if I find myself in Portland I can guarantee I won't be seeking this one out. If you're a fan of the style (I'm not, although I don't find it offensive or anything), you could do a lot worse.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 19:22:20 | More by woosterbill

tikibeer

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark ruby brown with a thin white head. Light lacing

Aroma is a nice rich citrus hops and a roasted malt.

Taste is a grassy hop with hints of citrus. Malty, Smokey and dry with a warming bitterness.

Very different beer for me. Never had a Cascadian Dark before. I like it but again it takes a little getting used to for me. I would have another.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 05:47:08 | More by tikibeer

2BDChicago

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Deep clear mahgony brown. The small tan head quickly disapated.

S: Subtle citrus hop aroma surrounded by small chocolately malt. Welcome light is on.

T: Awesome mix of hop bitternes and a slight smoky malt. Fresh and dry, then a fading grassy or woodiness in the final hop notes. Not a heavy mouthfeel, but would have guessed a high abv. I very much sought to try some of HUB brews.

D: This style is not without it's controversy. Let me declare up front that I am a fan of the style. This beer shows the diversity in a young branch of a new american style. I like the sophisticated blend of piney hop resin and smoky woodiness in the dry clarity of a sweetness void. It's an adult beverage.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2011 01:44:22 | More by 2BDChicago