Black The RIPA - Renaissance Brewing

spicelab

Australia

2.58/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

500mL bottle with tanks to Joel from Cellarbrations@Carlisle.

Golden syrup on the pour, chocolate in the glass. Immense beige head of mostly tight, tiny bubbles holds stoutly before gradually collapsing in on itself with a spider web lattice and a raised ring. Looks brilliant

Plasticy phenolics, woody vegetal notes, used coffee grounds and palpable rye presence. Not exactly appetising.

Even drier, thanks to less phenolic character. Loads of spicy rye, dry cocoa powder, moist strong herbs, vegetal compost and mild pine resin. Decent, but a yawning lack of hop action.

Chewy and oppressive, medium bitter-roast finish. Trying.

Unsure of the age and condition of this, but struck me as an over-engineered, inchoate mess. More's the pity, as on paper it features much of what I love.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 09:55:26 | More by spicelab

ADZA

Australia

4.23/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The ABV on this bad boy is 6.4% and it pours the darkest kola hue which lets no light in whatsoever and leaves a two finger creamy head that stays and nice clingy lacing everywhere,the smell is spicy rye,milk chocolate,kiwi fruit,toffee and trifle,the mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation and has tastes of milky chocolate first up followed by a hit of spicy rye,loganberries,raspberries with cream and finished with mix of herbal hoppiness and spicy rye,overall its a nice ABA and could easily drink again.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 10:31:27 | More by ADZA

dgilks

Australia

3.6/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Clearish, dark-brown colour with a smooth, light tan head. Good.

Metric tons of peppery rye malt. Nice earthiness and a touch of malt.

Earthy and peppery flavour. Lots of roast. Lacking hop character on the palate as far as my taste is concerned.

Medium body with moderate carbonation. Fine.

A nice Black IPA but the rye and black malt dominate way too much. It needs more hops.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2012 10:27:10 | More by dgilks