Blackball Belgian IPA - Karl Strauss Brewing Company

Dope

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Bottle foams over as soon as I pop the cap. Hastily pours a super cloudy orange. Big super fluffy offwhite head. Fades super slowly with impeccable retention. Almost fully solid wall of fluffy lacing.

S: Lost of raisin in this one. Also has a lot of ...dusty/dirty aroma?

T: More raisin with a little citrus. Sharp, grainy malt with lots of yeast. Earthy in the middle. Drying in the finish with that dusty, yeasty flavor I mentioned in the aroma. Some spicy bitterness in the finish as well. Long lingering dusty aftertaste.

M: Medium bodied, drying.

O: Odd beer, I wonder if I got an old bottle. Impossible to tell because of no bottle date. Has lots of belgian yeast aspects but not much else. Almost no hoppiness to balance it out. Has a sort of blandness to it that I can't quite describe. Not horrifying but nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 04:19:34 | More by Dope

2dogbrew

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-14-2013 02:37:41 | More by 2dogbrew

halo913

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

04-27-2013 02:06:49 | More by halo913

danwho

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

04-11-2013 16:07:44 | More by danwho

kingmaker

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

04-07-2013 02:54:56 | More by kingmaker

pepelemofo

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

02-20-2013 02:01:35 | More by pepelemofo

cheetsmageets

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

01-11-2013 01:16:38 | More by cheetsmageets

miadw3

California

3.5/5  rDev -14%

01-10-2013 07:40:56 | More by miadw3

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Subtle and masterfully done. A little like a black IPA, with some Cascadian. Deep yellow with retained head. Nice use of spices. Very good drinkability and refreshing. Hoppy, but not at DIPA level, even more bitterness would be interesting.Bottle from Ronald Bland.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 06:09:40 | More by northyorksammy

AdamPaul

California

4.75/5  rDev +16.7%

01-05-2013 22:13:53 | More by AdamPaul

UCLABrewN84

California

3.6/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle pour at the BevMo Holiday Beerfest held at Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a murky honey orange with a foamy orange-tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, citrus zest, and Belgian yeast. Taste is much the same with a medium yeast and hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but I think this one smells better than it tastes.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 21:09:54 | More by UCLABrewN84

BMart

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.7%

11-28-2012 17:37:59 | More by BMart

BrewTasting

Nevada

4.75/5  rDev +16.7%

11-26-2012 17:33:44 | More by BrewTasting

jdougherty

California

4.75/5  rDev +16.7%

11-20-2012 05:41:38 | More by jdougherty

mactrail

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Amber with a golden glow in the Saxo tall tulip. Lovely foam and inviting appearance. Spicy aroma with fruit and hops.

Starts out with some malty sweetness with an edge of bitterness. After a few sips, you realize that the subtle Belgian character has crept up, filling the mouth with the dry and yeasty taste. It's less bitter overall than many beers using the Belgian yeast. The hoppiness is also less extreme than most in this category. Fruity like a Tripel, with pineapple in the front. Green apple as the flavor melts in your mouth. Rich and flavorful with a dry finish.

Another modestly-priced 22-ouncer from Karl Strauss. Some may quibble with the house style of malty and mellow, but this one is totally likeable. Clean and well made.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 05:01:15 | More by mactrail

BoRaeCho

California

3/5  rDev -26.3%

09-19-2012 16:27:01 | More by BoRaeCho

jasewaaang

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

09-16-2012 07:00:43 | More by jasewaaang

wethorseblanket

California

3.5/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap in Universal City.

A: Pours a clear amberish copper with just a whisper of white head which clings to the rim. A swirl brings a 1/4-inch head again.

N: Mild bready yeast, faint citrus and spices. After warming up this becomes more floral and estery.

T: Yeast, sweet malt and spices. Again, upon warming get more esters and floral notes. Alcohol heat also becomes evident.

M: Medium body and light carbonation. Semi-dry finish with bready yeast.

O: Served much too cold. Give this time to open up as it warms. For me, just an O.K. Belgian IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2012 22:21:53 | More by wethorseblanket

rawfish

California

4.13/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours hazy amber, with a small-ish finger high head. Decent retention that leaves plentiful spotty lacing upon the glass.

Fruity esters of apricot and nectarine blend well as the hops come in with a lemon zest and light pine aroma. Distinct Belgian spices on the end that increases as the beer warms, clove and yeast.

Solid malt profile of bready grains and a touch of honey that part easily to a pine and citrus hoppiness that lays it to you in the flavor rather than the bitterness. Spices and yeast on the after taste, clove and some soap and powder as it warms. Drying finish.

Average body that gets a bit heavy near the finish, fantastic, active carbonation that ends crisply without much drawn bitterness or aftertaste.

Bold hops, just enough Belgian spice and phenol influence to keep it interesting on the palate. Very refreshing and clean delivery. Enjoyed this quite a bit. These specialty beers are cut above Karl Strauss' regulars. Keep it up.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 03:05:14 | More by rawfish

codynevels

California

3/5  rDev -26.3%

02-01-2012 05:40:10 | More by codynevels

kenzak

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

01-31-2012 02:57:01 | More by kenzak

CEDAMA

California

5/5  rDev +22.9%

01-13-2012 20:58:14 | More by CEDAMA

brentk56

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy amber color with a massive head; great retention that leaves some strands behind

Smell: Quite a bit of toffee, with coriander, orange pith and vinous grassiness

Taste: Spicy from the outset, with pithy citrus (accentuated by the Curaçao), vinous grassines and coriander elements blending atop the toffee malt; after the swallow, there is a building sweet biscuity flavor that lingers, though the bitter, herbal flavors act as a counterpoint

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: An interesting take with a lot of complexity, but a little too sweet for my liking

Thanks, jodan, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 23:31:13 | More by brentk56

Exiled

Texas

4/5  rDev -1.7%

11-25-2011 02:17:59 | More by Exiled

sergio1va

California

4.72/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle. Great foam appears as you transfer this beer from bottle to glass and the great aromas of hop extract emerge, inviting you to savor this beer. No sign of the IBUs on this brew but after a few sips it seems to hover around 50 to 60.
The color of this brew is of a light copper color with a white foam head. The immediate reaction on the palate is that of a definite hop profile and a subtle dry finish. A spicy flavor is definite in every sip but overall well balanced so as not to discourage finishing this great beer. Wouldn't mind re-buying this beer for a second take, only problem is that it will be hard to find.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 04:49:55 | More by sergio1va