There Will Be Black (Brewmaster's Reserve Winter 2012) - Brooklyn Brewery

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.9%

03-02-2013 07:44:38 | More by RblWthACoz

Kendo

New York

3.94/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Poured from the growler ($6.50 for the half-growler at Westmere) into a pint glass. Body appears black until backlit - then it's dark brown with mahogany hues on the edges. A solid 1-finger tan/khaki head settles on top, leaving good amounts of foamy lacing on the glass.

S: Not terribly strong in the nose - burnt bread, char and a touch of chocolate malt. Also some piney hops, but I've gotta bury my nose in the glass to really get the olfactory sense stimulated.

T: First impression: it's like a hoppy porter. Char/charcoal and a woodsy bitternesss over a base of roasted barley malt. Some sweet malt tastes are evident too: molasses, chocolate and toffee even makes an appearance after my palate adjusts to the burnt/char and hoppy flavors. Hop bitterness is pretty strong on the finish and into the aftertaste - piney or even sprucey.

M: Surprisingly a little slick in the feel; also a bit thinner than expected.

O: Good, but not great.

Serving type: growler

05-24-2013 01:29:51 | More by Kendo

Busker

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-21-2013 18:27:50 | More by Busker

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-17-2013 12:53:51 | More by InspectorBob

leprechaunandfatman

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +23.4%

05-12-2013 19:17:56 | More by leprechaunandfatman

chinchill

South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark brown, nearly black, with a durable tan head.
Smells quite hoppy. with a dark malt base.
Tastes less hoppy with dark malt in the background; basically as expected but rather simple. Pine and citrus from the hops seem to clash more than mix with the nutty and chocolate notes from the roast malt backbone. Slight burnt note in the moderately bitter finish.

Medium body with moderate carbonation.

O: With somewhat low hop flavor, this tastes more like a Black PA than Black IPA. Not a problem, especially given the hoppy aroma, but the failure of the dark malts to blend nicely with the hop load is a detriment.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2013 15:49:15 | More by chinchill

DIPAFAN

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

05-12-2013 00:07:21 | More by DIPAFAN

ystazi

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-11-2013 17:31:34 | More by ystazi

bcm75

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-11-2013 17:28:41 | More by bcm75

Mullinger1980

Ohio

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-11-2013 11:07:41 | More by Mullinger1980

homebrew311

Illinois

3.76/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Appearance is black/ dark brown wih tan creamy head and heavy lacing. Nose is straight pine tips and roasted malt. Taste is heavily hopped with bitterness from both the hops and the roasted malts. Makes the taste somewhat one dimensional. Mouthfeel leans towards the thin side and highly carbonated. Overall, a drinkable one dimensional black ale that is a little thin.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2013 22:11:45 | More by homebrew311

dalepryor

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

05-07-2013 20:54:39 | More by dalepryor

ESeab

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-07-2013 15:08:21 | More by ESeab

tubeyes

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

05-06-2013 22:41:50 | More by tubeyes

Gonzoillini

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.9%

05-02-2013 23:31:11 | More by Gonzoillini

Sludgeman

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

05-02-2013 02:57:11 | More by Sludgeman

ShawneeIrish

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

04-26-2013 20:35:05 | More by ShawneeIrish

barczar

Kentucky

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear deep brown with a frothy half inch tan head that lingers, eventually leaving a coating of foam as it dissipates.

Resin, pine, citrus, and chocolate add complexity to the roast malt backbone. Nutty notes of toasted malt are evident.

Underpinnings of grapefruit and lemon accent the roast malt. There's a hint of char at the slightly bitter finish. Resin is somewhat subtle initially. Flavor seems to be cut short, somewhat.

Body is moderate, with moderate carbonation and a slight astringent bite. Borderline carbonic.

Lacks a bit in flavor. Citrus hop flavor is fairly banal, and roast malt is pretty much the only grain character present.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2013 02:22:52 | More by barczar

kingslotty

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.9%

04-05-2013 02:41:24 | More by kingslotty

salthemonster

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

04-04-2013 21:54:23 | More by salthemonster

slim2043

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +3.9%

03-30-2013 02:27:16 | More by slim2043

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Amongst the thickest, strongest heads I've ever seen you could bounce a quarter on this thick beauty. Dark, opaque and just plain black the brown head christens a gorgeous brew.

The scent is of dry graham cracker and even drier chocolate.

The taste is chocolatey but a dry malty breadiness stands out. Not so diverse as to be confusing this black ale is exactly as billed....it's a black ale. Very dry in taste and feel, it's delicious with strong chocolate and even stronger bready crackery maltiness.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2013 02:20:17 | More by KYGunner

SuyoonShin

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

03-27-2013 01:09:02 | More by SuyoonShin

slay

Delaware

4/5  rDev +3.9%

03-24-2013 23:28:42 | More by slay

JohnQVD

New York

4/5  rDev +3.9%

03-17-2013 19:43:58 | More by JohnQVD