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Total Eclipse Black Ale
Hoppy Brewing Co.
- From:
- Hoppy Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Black IPA
- ABV:
- 5.6%
- Score:
- 80
- Avg:
- 3.51 | pDev: 16.24%
- Reviews:
- 61
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Dec 24, 2016
- Added:
- Jan 12, 2003
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 4
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by hunteraw:
Reviewed by hunteraw from China
3.53/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I'm over-amused by the "Hoppy Brewing Co.'s" name, here.
Appearance: Dark ruby in color, not quite opaque and fairly clear. Good bit of head that leaves nice lace.
Smell: Big roasted malt aroma. Roast, roast and more roast. Some coffee notes, too, but bordering on "burnt" Not a whole lot of complexity here.
Taste: Taste is along the same lines. Lots of coffee flavor notes, roasty, chocolate seems like it's trying to get out there but not quite managing it. Not a whole lot in the way of hop flavor. What's there isn't bad, but a little lacking in depth.
Mouthfeel: Lighter and more highly carbonated than I would have anticipated from the appearance or the taste.
Drinkability: Not bad, but not great either. Glad I split the bomber.
Oct 05, 2006Appearance: Dark ruby in color, not quite opaque and fairly clear. Good bit of head that leaves nice lace.
Smell: Big roasted malt aroma. Roast, roast and more roast. Some coffee notes, too, but bordering on "burnt" Not a whole lot of complexity here.
Taste: Taste is along the same lines. Lots of coffee flavor notes, roasty, chocolate seems like it's trying to get out there but not quite managing it. Not a whole lot in the way of hop flavor. What's there isn't bad, but a little lacking in depth.
Mouthfeel: Lighter and more highly carbonated than I would have anticipated from the appearance or the taste.
Drinkability: Not bad, but not great either. Glad I split the bomber.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.35/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.35/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
This may have been the first true black ale I ever had. Has the black appearance, consistency and viscosity like a schwarzbier, 3/4" brown head. Hopping in the nose is apparent, also like a schwarzbier.
Taste is all over the place, you get the dark roasted notes producing a coffee like feel, the bitter hops, smoke, dark fruit. Wow. Continually remains relatively dry and highly carbonated throughout.
Everything they make is always in the bomber format, but it isn't as big of a bummer as most breweries, these are usually kept in the $4-5 range.
Dec 24, 2016Taste is all over the place, you get the dark roasted notes producing a coffee like feel, the bitter hops, smoke, dark fruit. Wow. Continually remains relatively dry and highly carbonated throughout.
Everything they make is always in the bomber format, but it isn't as big of a bummer as most breweries, these are usually kept in the $4-5 range.
Reviewed by BWood from California
2.97/5 rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
2.97/5 rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
Had this on tap at the brewery.
L: dark with great lacing.
S: meh. Not much there.
T: malty with chocolate at the end. Slight hop character. Not bad but nothing to praise either.
F: it reminds me of a porter with its look and taste but doesn't have that smooth feel.
O: average beer. I do not think I would buy it except while I was at the brewery.
Apr 18, 2016L: dark with great lacing.
S: meh. Not much there.
T: malty with chocolate at the end. Slight hop character. Not bad but nothing to praise either.
F: it reminds me of a porter with its look and taste but doesn't have that smooth feel.
O: average beer. I do not think I would buy it except while I was at the brewery.
Reviewed by BierJager89 from California
4.06/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Black with a medium brown head.
S: Chocolate, roasted malt, coffee, plum and other dark fruits in the nose.
T: Chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, really good.
M: Smoothish, and full bodied.
O: Tasty, if a bit boring. Recommended if you can find it. I think it's their best beer, but don't be fooled by the brewery's name. Their beer's are seldom very hoppy.
Feb 06, 2014S: Chocolate, roasted malt, coffee, plum and other dark fruits in the nose.
T: Chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, really good.
M: Smoothish, and full bodied.
O: Tasty, if a bit boring. Recommended if you can find it. I think it's their best beer, but don't be fooled by the brewery's name. Their beer's are seldom very hoppy.
Reviewed by ronniebruner from Arizona
2.59/5 rDev -26.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5
2.59/5 rDev -26.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5
Of all the beers I have had in my life, I cannot remember having one that is so foamy! I was afraid to set the bottle down because every time I did, foam right out the top! Take a drink? Foam! Now, there are a few redeeming qualities about this brew...it does have a nice appearance of dark black molasses, but it tastes of burnt wood. The mouth feel is also going to be rated low by me as well for the unacceptable amount of foam I encountered in this beer. I even let it sit for some time thinking maybe I inadvertently shook it up, but I do not believe that to be the case. When I lived in the Sacramento area I used to frequent the Hoppy Brewery and remember it being a bit run down and I made a trip to Sacramento recently and brought back 2 cases of Hoppy brews. Gotta say I was disappointed. Oh well, next up?
Jan 19, 2014Reviewed by hikanteki from California
4.35/5 rDev +23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 22 oz bomber ($4.49 at BevMo) into a pint glass.
Appearance: The head rushes up. The initial pour was about 20% beer and 80% head, although it settled down pretty quickly and I was able to top it off to a reasonable amount.
Smell: Heavy citrus, with some bitter cocoa coming through.
Taste: Like it smells, and that's a good thing. Citrus and hops first, then cocoa and hops, followed by toffee and hops, and then just hops. But it's interesting how the hops come back strong with each layer. Consequently a bitter aftertaste with some citrus.
Mouthfeel: Pleasant. Not too thin, not too thick, but it coats your mouth and stayed with me. Satisfied.
Overall: I'm not sure whether this is supposed to be a Black IPA or a Stout. It simply says "Black Ale." But whatever it is, it's a darn good beer. It pushes the bitterness level for a stout, and pushes the mouthfeel for an IPA. Well done, Hoppy.
Nov 19, 2013Appearance: The head rushes up. The initial pour was about 20% beer and 80% head, although it settled down pretty quickly and I was able to top it off to a reasonable amount.
Smell: Heavy citrus, with some bitter cocoa coming through.
Taste: Like it smells, and that's a good thing. Citrus and hops first, then cocoa and hops, followed by toffee and hops, and then just hops. But it's interesting how the hops come back strong with each layer. Consequently a bitter aftertaste with some citrus.
Mouthfeel: Pleasant. Not too thin, not too thick, but it coats your mouth and stayed with me. Satisfied.
Overall: I'm not sure whether this is supposed to be a Black IPA or a Stout. It simply says "Black Ale." But whatever it is, it's a darn good beer. It pushes the bitterness level for a stout, and pushes the mouthfeel for an IPA. Well done, Hoppy.
Total Eclipse Black Ale from Hoppy Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
80 out of
100 with
99 ratings
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