Black Perle Dark IPA - RJ Rockers Brewing Company

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #39 (Apr 2010):

Is a new beer style emerging? The Black IPA, known by some as Cascadian Dark Ale, and most seem to be double in strength. Hoppy dark beers? We are down with that.

Dark and heady, not nearly pitch black but pretty damn dark, and the lacing does a great jump, staying on the glass. Minty, piney and mildly orangey hop nose runs up against a wall of toasted grain and brown bread aromas. Smooth, with a well-rounded medium body. Very light-roasted maltiness throughout; carob powder and mild roasted coffee comes to mind. Hops keep on coming back around with pungent waves of pine, citrus and herbal hop oil. Bitterness is clear in its intention and cuts through the beer quite easily, yet the malt base does not fall apart ... balance is present. Hoppy and choco- laty make for a bittersweet finish.

"New style" debate aside, this is an amazing beer--heavy on malt and hops with a whole lot of balance for the taste buds to be pleased with.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 02:24:52 | More by BeerAdvocate

djre4orm

Virginia

2/5  rDev -47.1%

06-13-2013 20:31:12 | More by djre4orm

JMUbrewz

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

06-12-2013 21:16:02 | More by JMUbrewz

InfernoBoss

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

05-22-2013 06:02:17 | More by InfernoBoss

FUwolfpacker

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +5.8%

05-18-2013 12:49:29 | More by FUwolfpacker

Sparty55

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

05-05-2013 02:53:15 | More by Sparty55

JMS1512

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

04-27-2013 22:49:34 | More by JMS1512

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

04-13-2013 21:49:33 | More by DaPan

bensbeers

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Interesting brew for sure. Pours out a huge, fluffy tan head over a pitch black body; minimal lacing. Smells rich and warm - notes of bourbon, vanilla. Even a little bit of oak. Taste is bitter, mostly smoky at first. The bourbon and vanilla sweeten it, but still mostly bitter. Feels medium bodied, but still light on the tongue.

Not sure where the IPA name comes from. Didnt get any hop taste or smell, the quintessence of an IPA. I would definitely classify this as an imperial stout - boozy, malty and smoky. Still a great brew though. And a killer bottle - love the wax. Just not what I was looking for on a warm day. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 00:50:19 | More by bensbeers

jaswilson2

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

04-03-2013 14:38:56 | More by jaswilson2

M1A2

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

03-25-2013 13:47:55 | More by M1A2

redliner8

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

03-24-2013 01:44:03 | More by redliner8

gkatsoris

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Black duh. A huge, monster tan head. The head disappeared within 30 seconds, with no lacing at all. But the head was huge.

S: Wood. Vanilla. Bourbony. Roasted Malts. Alcohol. Floral hops. Butterscotch.

T: Pretty woody and bland. Roasty malts. Really close to an APA.

M: Medium bodied. Thin and chewy.

O: One and done. And let down.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 01:34:47 | More by gkatsoris

GRG1313

California

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

03-08-2013 05:28:30 | More by GRG1313

weezarc

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

02-22-2013 23:03:38 | More by weezarc

EkimGram

New York

3.79/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Entry from my beer journal dated 3/3/12

Appearance: 22oz bottle poured into a snifter. Colour is dark, oil black with a thin toffee-coloured head that fades to just a film.

Smell: Lots of dark, roasted malts backed by spice, dark fruits, and alcohol.

Taste: Primary flavours are burnt and roasted malts followed by strong and bitter hops. There are two very distinct parts of this beer. A little unbalanced but tasty nonetheless.

Mouthfeel: Solid, medium body with a nice, soft, velvety feel to it. A mild amount of carbonation brings this beer to life.

Overall: An extremely roasty, burnt, and bitter beer that isn't for the faint at heart. Its appearance mirrors its flavours.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 04:17:21 | More by EkimGram

macrosmatic

Florida

4.14/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to my buddy Glenn for this bottle. Reviewed from notes. Poured from wax-sealed bomber into a CCB pint glass.

A: Pours a very dark brown, nearly opaque, with low visible carbonation. Forms a half-finger tan head.

S: Dark roasty malt chocolate with bits of coffee, vanilla & toffee. Pine and grass hops, boozy, with an almost oaky sweetness and vanilla.

T: Follows the nose. Sweet roasted malts - cacao, vanilla, caramel-sweet toffee. Some pine hop bitterness with the roasted malt bitterness, but these don't last long on the palate.

M: Hefty weight to the body for a black IPA. Moderate carbonation sensation, and the alcohol is noticeable but doesn't detract.

O: I'm torn how to score this one. This is a tasty beer, and a solidly enjoyable porter. But it doesn't come close to me as a Black IPA. I think they either need to go back to the drawing board with the hop profile, or just relabel it as a somewhat-hoppy porter. I think I'll give scores for the beer overall. I'd estimate 2.75 for style as listed.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 03:32:17 | More by macrosmatic

Boone757

Maryland

4/5  rDev +5.8%

02-10-2013 19:58:11 | More by Boone757

PaBeerLover

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

02-10-2013 01:46:05 | More by PaBeerLover

brauseboof

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

01-18-2013 21:37:55 | More by brauseboof

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler served in a goblet.
A-Deep brown, fluffy tan head, excellent lacing
S-Roasted malts, coffee and alcohol
T- dark chocolate/roasted malts with a bitter taste of hop, coffee
M-creamy,medium body, moderate carb.
O- Great beer, thought it was more of a bitter hopped porter than a black IPA but would get again.

Serving type: growler

01-11-2013 22:47:31 | More by Damian74Shensky

Dave_Treat

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

12-17-2012 05:15:35 | More by Dave_Treat

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

12-17-2012 03:58:42 | More by t0rin0

mactrail

California

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Very attractive pour in the Duvel tulip. Dark brown with chestnut edges, with a fine grained foam and nice swirls of lacing along the glass. A serious mouthful with a nice sudsy character.

Rich and malty at first taste, and slightly sweet. The hops emerge with a long bitter boil. There are a lot of black, charred flavors with burnt sugar. Sort of salty. Overall, this is a huge beer with the whole array of dark malt flavors in all their variations. Hops are just restrained enough but more than ample in the aftertaste.

Quite sippable big dark brew. I wish I could remember where I came up with this bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 05:54:24 | More by mactrail

Nightrain87

California

4/5  rDev +5.8%

11-22-2012 18:29:08 | More by Nightrain87