Black(Eye) PA - Right Brain Brewery

FSUplumber

Michigan

4.78/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this during a a stop in TC on a short vacation. It was served on tap.

A-Rich dark brown with a tan head with lace that lasted till the bottom.

S-heavy malt aroma with hints of coffee, chocolet and American hops.

M-Is right in line with any good IPA. but the aroma makes the mind think Porter or stout than the IPA takes over and its right.

D-what can I say, drank 2 pints and took a growler home and I can not get it out of my mind. I hope its on tap the next time I get up north.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2010 01:47:55 | More by FSUplumber

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This brew was served from the tap at Lockhart’s BBQ in Royal Oak, Michigan. It arrived in an etched house pint glass, showing cola coloring, with lighter ruby hues let up around the bottom. It held a quarter finger tall head due to a full pour, showing okay retention into sheets of lacing left dripping down the glass. No haze or sediment was noted, and carbonation appeared to be moderate. The aroma was big and malty with coffee malt roastiness sitting alongside solidly bittered pale malts, floral marigolds, and floral and perfume hops. With warmth comes soured vinegar acidity, raw barley, strawberry syrups, red onion, sweaty saltiness, and pink peppercorns. Our first impression is that the flavoring is surprisingly smoke, with crackling crispness to the darker malts. As we sipped, the taste opened with vanilla extract, pale malt bitterness, clean and stouty dark coffee and lightly chocolate malts, and big char-smoked bite. The peak came with soured lactic acidity, herbal hop balance, and spicy medicinal grittiness. Washing through the finish was a strong mix of buttery diacetyls, floral hop freshness, pale bite, brown malt inclusions, rumbles of clovey phenols, booze, plastics, and a revival of that dark smokiness, enhancing in particular the souring aspects of the sip. The aftertaste breathed of burnt rubber, mineral, grainy yeast, bitterly charred coffee malts, lemony sourness, chalked yeast, drying pales, and smoky leathers. The body was medium, and the carbonation was medium with healthy prickle. The mouth was left cooled and coated thanks to the big froth and cream of the sip. Slurp, smack, and finishing pop were all okay. Otherwise the mouth continued to water, with only mild astringency up high on the soft palate. The abv was appropriate, and the beer drank easily.

Overall, what we liked best about this beer was its flavoring. The bright smokiness actually catches you off guard, adding hearty depth to the grain bill, and keeping things sour enough to contrast against the softer, more aromatic hops. The char also helped to afford nice burn to the aftertaste, keeping things flavorful, but also making you want to come back for more to refresh the palate. The plastic, herbal, and phenolic inclusions added even more to both the aroma and taste, giving you a spicy and nicely sipping beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2013 19:21:10 | More by TheBrewo

redleg64

Michigan

4/5  rDev -6.8%

04-12-2013 19:47:42 | More by redleg64

BlissJunkie

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

01-14-2013 19:44:51 | More by BlissJunkie

StoutHunter

Michigan

4/5  rDev -6.8%

01-13-2013 08:32:06 | More by StoutHunter

rolandboy

Michigan

4/5  rDev -6.8%

11-13-2012 04:38:59 | More by rolandboy

Zaphog

Michigan

4/5  rDev -6.8%

10-29-2012 17:51:56 | More by Zaphog

TGZ32

Michigan

3/5  rDev -30.1%

09-05-2012 14:53:46 | More by TGZ32

dfillius

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -12.6%

07-16-2012 01:52:20 | More by dfillius

BillMueller

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

04-29-2012 22:43:33 | More by BillMueller

elNopalero

Texas

4.98/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I thought this was absolutely fantastic. High praise to be sure, but well-deserved.

This poured a roasty cola-brown color with some tight lacing. I pick up some grapefruit and roast notes on the aroma, which translates into a thick, resiny grapefruity flavored hop profile balanced by a wonderfully roasty malt backbone. Slightly medicinal, kept light with a nice effervescence. Delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2012 22:35:21 | More by elNopalero

UnknownMale282

Michigan

5/5  rDev +16.6%

12-14-2011 15:06:34 | More by UnknownMale282

gratefulbeerhead

Indiana

5/5  rDev +16.6%

12-02-2011 04:01:55 | More by gratefulbeerhead

morimech

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

11-18-2011 23:27:38 | More by morimech

oline73

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

I had this at the brewpub. Poured into a sample glass.

Appearance: Pours black with a layer of tan head. Great retention and lacing.

Smell: Mild roast with chocolate notes as well as a strong citrus and mildly herbal hop bitterness.

Taste: Super fresh hops. Great balance between hops and roast, perhaps the best I've had in this sense. Citrus peel bitterness with a mildly peppery finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, a bit chalky, tingly carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: I think this is the best Black IPA I have ever had. Great balance between the bitterness and roast. I'd love to have another if I get the chance.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2011 18:11:18 | More by oline73

GordonQuid

Michigan

4.65/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On tap at RBB.

Black with a nice on inch head and ample lace.

Smells of a massaive variety of hops and coffee-cocoa.

Tatse is an impressive blend of hops, raosted malts and small portion of chocolate malt. Very interresting and complex.

Medium bodied and satisfying drinkability. I could session a few of these easily.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2010 16:16:15 | More by GordonQuid

hosehead83

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served from growler into a dimpled English "pot" pint glass
Dark brown/black in color, with an ample, off-white head of foam.
Aroma-Cocoa, chocolate,citrussy hops
Taste-Citrussy hops, cocoa and dark chocolate notes. Nicely balanced, chocolate/coffee porter notes versus fragrant hoppy citrus notes. Medium-bodied and very drinkable. Another winner from Right Brain Brewery!

Serving type: growler

07-21-2010 23:44:59 | More by hosehead83