Black Marlin - Chipotle, Cocoa Nibs, And Orange Peel - Ballast Point Brewing Company

Gmann

New York

3.55/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Pours a muddy chocolate brown color with a short toasted khaki colored head that quickly disipated into a light ring.

The aroma is of a nice brown bread, pumpernickle. Some earthy wood notes as well as a subtle smokiness from the chipotles. The aroma is not very strong but it is pleasant.

I can feel the heat from the peppers before even taking a real sip. The base beer is a fairly weak porter base. Some roast notes but feels light. They can say they put in cocoa nibs and orange peel but you ain't going to taste them beyond the blast of the chipotles. Actually you do get orange peel before the heat blasts you. There is more heat to the chipotles than the actual smoked pepper flavor. The beer is woody and perhaps has a cocoa husk flavor. I can deal with the heat just wish it brought more of the smokey flavor. *Update, the beer does take on more of the pepper flavor as it warms and the heat doesn't seem as strong but it could be that I am just getting used to it.

Moderate body with tingly carbonation. Sweet on the palate with a heat offset? Would drink nice if it didn't have the burn. A little too aggresive with the pepper heat.

An interesting brew. The porter base handles the pepper decently but is ultimately overwhelmed. They should cut down on the heat and focus more on the chipotle smokiness.

Serving type: growler

04-22-2013 00:26:31 | More by Gmann

Halcyondays

California

3.8/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Beachwood I,

A: Pours black with a medium off-white head, fair head retention overall.

S: Chocolate covered orange, some sweet malt, no hint of heat.

T: While the nose is all chocolate and orange, the taste is dominated by a bombardment of chipotle heat. May be the most capsaicin dominated brew I've ever had. Finishes all orange though.

M: Medium-bodied, soft carbonation, but a bit thin at times.

O: This is really a beer where 6 oz. is enough. A tasty beer, but can be tough to drink because of the all enveloping heat.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2013 23:47:18 | More by Halcyondays

srandycarter

California

3.75/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - A darker brown, but not close to black. No head whatsoever. No lace whatsoever.

S - Cocoa and smokiness are the dominant smells. The heat part of the pepper hits the nose at the very end.

T - Nice full porter flavor, the cocoa comes out in the center and the heat gets you a little in the back of the throat in the end.

M - Creamy, smoky texture, medium body, nice balance, lightly carbed.

D - Definitely a fun one to try.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2012 00:17:22 | More by srandycarter

notchucknorris

California

2.55/5  rDev -18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

On tap at O'Brien's

A: Black with a nice looking one finger sand colored head.

S: I expected to get a lot of the chipotle, but instead I picked up a ton of artificial orange, almost like an orange liquor. Reminded me way too much of orange Pine-Sol. Some faint hints of cocoa and leather in the background.

T: I didn't really taste much at first after taking a sip and then, before any flavors could really emerge, there was a huge blast of heat. I never really tasted anything but the chipotles in this. Maybe a hint of tobacco on the finish. A major letdown for me.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2012 16:21:05 | More by notchucknorris

HopHead84

California

3/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

1/13/2012

On tap at the Ballast Point Smokin' Hot night at O'Brien's. There were 10+ new pepper iterations of Ballast Point beers, so I decided to try one.

A: Ruddy dark brown with a small beige head.

S: Pronounced chipotle pepper with spicy notes. Cocoa is evident, and it blends with dark chocolate and roasted grains. Orange peel is light.

T: Chipotle up front with a quick entrance by cocoa nibs and an air of dignified restraint exhibited by orange peel. Pepper heat waxes almost immediately. Malt displays a moderate roast. I'm getting heart burn from this.

M: Lower full body with moderate carbonation.

Overall: The flavor is a big step down from Black Marlin. It also burns the palate and throat. This is reported as a level 2 on a heat scale of 1-5, but I think that's a lie. This is higher than level 2.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2012 05:37:07 | More by HopHead84