Black Whole - Cigar City Brewing

hopking311

Florida

4.08/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark Black, thin light tan head.. Great retention and lacing.

smells of sweet licorice, roasted caramel malts

well carbonated, medium body

taste roasty, caramel sweetness, light chocolate malts.

Balanced porter. second time having.. very nice and balanced flavors..

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2011 03:59:47 | More by hopking311

harpus

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

05-14-2013 14:49:10 | More by harpus

leftstagebrew

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

05-07-2013 14:37:59 | More by leftstagebrew

wyatt13

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

04-24-2013 04:07:13 | More by wyatt13

Lare453

Florida

4/5  rDev +11.1%

04-03-2013 20:23:46 | More by Lare453

Auror

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

03-30-2013 21:24:08 | More by Auror

lionssoccer13

Florida

4/5  rDev +11.1%

02-26-2013 15:56:53 | More by lionssoccer13

thebigbambino

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

01-06-2013 20:35:52 | More by thebigbambino

duceswild

Maryland

4/5  rDev +11.1%

11-23-2012 21:21:22 | More by duceswild

robmoak

Mississippi

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

11-13-2012 17:09:15 | More by robmoak

djtomain

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

11-07-2012 02:35:28 | More by djtomain

sendbeer

Georgia

1.75/5  rDev -51.4%

10-27-2012 15:39:44 | More by sendbeer

CGMLS3

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

10-13-2012 21:57:00 | More by CGMLS3

8rand_n

1/5  rDev -72.2%

10-09-2012 20:17:34 | More by 8rand_n

cofeeguru

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

10-08-2012 01:37:03 | More by cofeeguru

HopsintheSack

California

2/5  rDev -44.4%

10-05-2012 21:43:12 | More by HopsintheSack

swetsastonic

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%

09-19-2012 03:24:59 | More by swetsastonic

cjgarland73

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

09-10-2012 18:00:59 | More by cjgarland73

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev +11.1%

09-10-2012 03:26:34 | More by t0rin0

pperez38

California

3/5  rDev -16.7%

08-17-2012 14:48:22 | More by pperez38

Robeerto89

Mississippi

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

08-07-2012 20:56:33 | More by Robeerto89

elkinbrown

Mississippi

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%

08-07-2012 16:56:02 | More by elkinbrown

ms11781

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +11.1%

07-29-2012 15:39:15 | More by ms11781

DIPADude01

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +11.1%

07-26-2012 02:32:45 | More by DIPADude01

stakem

Pennsylvania

2.2/5  rDev -38.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

12oz bottle I picked up at the brewery during my visit over the week of 4th of July. Poured into a matching Cigar City snifter. The brew appears a very dark brown color with a mountainous 3+fingers worth of mocha head sitting atop. The cap very slowly fades down to about a finger but it maintains that finger's strength for the entire duration since it is supported by constantly rising bubbles. It leaves patches of lace sticking to the glass. Overall this brew looks pretty solid. When held to the light, it displays a brilliant ruby clarity through the body.

The aroma initially is a bit awkward. It has a carbonic quality that smells strong of minerals and a tin-like edge to it. The more I smell it, it reminds me of something along the lines of taking a hand full of old dirty coins and holding them up to your face... kinda, well sort of. Under that weird mineral/metallic character is some roasty quality that is somewhat like chocolate mixed with dark fruits. Once the brew warms up, it has a bit more focus on dark fruit but that tin-like mineral edge is still there.

The taste is unfortunately also mineral-filled. It has quite a metalic element that mixes with some roast of the grain that is somewhat like chocolate into the aftertaste mixed with a lot of dark fruits something along the lines of raisins/plums. There is some earthy elements also present faintly like coffee. Taking more sips as it warms up, there is a tangy alcohol aspect that almost has a lemony edge to it.

This is a medium bodied brew with an effervescent level of carbonation. I think the label is spot on. It really is a multi-dimensional ale but unfortunately every dimension of it doesn't work together. It is completely clashing and unenjoyable. I am sitting here trying to imagine what this brew would be like without the carbonic or mineral edge to it and it still doesn't make much sense to me. I guess it would be worth a try if you wanted to try something new but this really didnt work for me. Considering how expensive it was, I am for the first time in a long time experiencing buyer's regret.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 02:36:46 | More by stakem