(512) Black IPA - (512) Brewing Company

snax

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed for the first time at the (512) Brewing Spring Party 3/19/2011

A - dark black, tan to light brown head, good head stand
S - slight hint of roasted chicory, full hop nose
T - bittersweet/dark chocolate notes
M - well-balanced with surprising lack of tannic bitterness
Overall - Although a bit subdued for an IPA, makes for a great IPA session beer for fans of light-moderate malt backbone with hop fullness in the flavor and aroma.

Comments:
Organic 2-Row base malt accented by additions of Crystal 60 and Weyermann Carafa III malts contributes to the charred black color and notes of roasted coffee and chicory. Typical tannic bitterness absent. Hop additions include Apollo, Horizon, and Nugget.

70 IBU.

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2011 20:53:28 | More by snax

LittleDon

Texas

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A pint at the Whip-In, Austin.

Black, hard to tell how opaque, but great head retention and lace. Not as hoppy as a typical modern IPA, much greater roasted malt profile. Think of it as a hopped porter rather than a dark IPA. The front is more malt than hops, but the roasting comes off as on the lighter side. Hops show up in the middle and end, particularly at and after the finish, where you get bittersweet chocolate characteristics. Carbonation profile is also interesting in that is shows up and builds starting at the middle rather than the start.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2011 00:18:47 | More by LittleDon

UTCengOwl

Texas

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

Had this on tap at the Draught House. The website says it's a seasonal... but not what season. Any suggestions on how to list it?

Anyway, this was served in a pint glass. Dark body with brown hues when light would pass through. Decent head retention. Pretty standard for the style and company.

The nose was hops. I'm more of a fruity hops guy, so the floral and earthy character of this beer wasn't the best for me... but I understood where it was coming from.

The taste was also mostly hops. Still earthy and floral. However, they were well balanced. The roastiness came through in a subtle way and complemented the earthy notes. The taste was decent and the beer grew on me as I sipped away. This was highly drinkable and up to the high standards of (512). A good effort in bringing another solid IPA flavor to Texas... even if the blackness seems somewhat gimmicky.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2011 06:11:58 | More by UTCengOwl

pitasoup

Tennessee

3.85/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

thanks to jenray for the growler.

a: opaque black - fine off white finger of head that lingers

s: pungent american hops - grapefruit and pine. finishes with hint of something bland and mealy, my only association with this is generic white cake, but that's quite on point. apologies for the lack of vocabulary, but this isn't an unpleasant lingering smell

t: grapefruit bitterness. possibly nugget? (had some NN very recently so it's fresh on my mind.) A touch of coffee and smoked malts (similar to dfh chicory.) The finish leaves an interesting play between hop bitterness and dark-malt bitterness.

m: medium body with a lingering finish. very porter like. no roasted barley stickiness but there is a slick mouthfeel. didn't taste oats or smell diacetyl though.

o: i'm still not convinced i like the cda/bipa style, but this is a very good beer. I wouldn't hesitate to order it, and will probably have more than one pour from the growler tonight.

Serving type: growler

04-01-2011 03:13:48 | More by pitasoup