Butchertown Black Ale - Speakeasy Ales & Lagers

Arbitrator

California

2.63/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

Chilled bottle into a glass.

A: Pours a clear maroon body that appears opaque in the center of a large pour. The head is a limp formation of beige bubbles that falls quickly into a mild collar. Some streaks of lace are left in the head's retreat, but there are no curtains or register marks during the drink.

S: A modest aroma of roasted grains and possibly some nuts and cocoa. No hops on the nose. When I first opened the bottle, there was a strong burst of citrus hops, but they're considerably weaker in the nose. I detect some pine needles.

T: Roasted grain with baker's chocolate: the two contribute a light bitterness that segues easily into pine needles, hemp, and some grapefruit. It's not a bad flavor profile, though it lacks the boldness and punch of some of my favorites in this style.

M: Light-medium bodied, watery finish, with a metallic aftertaste.

O: This is a fairly easy drinker. I was expecting a lot worse. Still wouldn't buy it again when I could pick from SSR, Stone 15th, and some others on the shelves right now.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 03:35:46 | More by Arbitrator

lsummers

California

2.78/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance looks great, a nice almost opaque brown/black with some great lacing.

I feel like it goes downhill from there, it has a caramel berry smell to it that comes out even more in the taste. I can't say I enjoyed the taste that much even if the hoppiness in the backend was nice. It just felt like there wasn't much body. It's not a bad beer, but I was expecting more. It definitly hides it's abv for sure.

Overall, I don't know if I'll ever have this again. It might be my fault I don't like any blueberry flavors that come through in my beer. But I'm overall unimpressed.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2012 02:33:36 | More by lsummers

kojevergas

California

2.83/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Served on-draught into a plastic cup at Speakeasy's decrepit warehouse - I mean - brewpub. Reviewed from notes.

Presentation: I couldn't be turned off to a beer more. When a brewer sees no issue with serving beer into plastic cups, there's a big problem.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger head of nice cream, fair thickness, and decent retention. Colour is black.

Sm: Hops - that's it. A moderate strength aroma.

T: Hoppy, but with an unnaturally strong malt and barley foundation. It's very simple to the point that there's little to describe. I won't pretend to know what hop variety is used merely by the taste. Simple but decently built. Largely imbalanced. Fortunately, no alcohol comes through.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Standard fare. A touch too thick. Meh.

Dr: Drinkable but unremarkable. I won't have it again. Maybe fans of the style would appreciate it more. It does hide its ABV well, but there's nothing unique or inspired going on here.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2011 21:33:56 | More by kojevergas

mactrail

California

3.01/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

Pours quite a dark, near black color in the tall Stella glass. Handsome off-white foam. Winey nose with a hint of hops. Carbonation and foam last well.

Not very sweet, but plenty of malt flavors. Even fuller bodied than what you'd find in stouts. It's just a big strong ale that happens to be black. Some burnt flavors but the hops take over with a lot of herbal bitterness. Very bitter aftertaste that borders on the medicinal. Better than some of the Speakeasy brews. However, that dank flavor with the murky burnt taste keeps this from being much of a pleasure.

From the 22 oz bottle bought at Coit Liquor in San Francisco.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 05:18:16 | More by mactrail

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

pour is black with red hues, creamy light brown head with some larger bubbles. Nose is milk chocolate, tobacco, butterscotch, and faint herbal hop. Thick and creamy with roasted malts, faint chocolate and vanilla with a fair amount of butterscotch. Tinge of herbal hop and bitterness, very creamy but flavors are surprisingly light. Assertive carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 18:13:57 | More by cpetrone84

lordofstarside

Nevada

3.2/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bomber to snifter, no freshness date

Pours pitch black with a finger and a half of foam, good lacing and lots of carbonation on the sides. Pretty impressive retention also, looks good

Smells of hops, strong malt, chocolate, smoke, pine, and some alcohol. There's not much to this

Taste follows the nose, which unfortunately isn't the best. Strong up front malt melded with some hops, very distinct taste of tobacco, some smoke, and alcohol

Feel is full and creamy, pretty thick. Alcohol isn't very detectable

Overall I think this might have been sorta old, but this was not an enjoyable experience. Too much malt over powering everything, nothing came together well. I'm already pretty out of it, there's no way I'm going to be able to finish it. Steer clear of this beer

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 07:17:21 | More by lordofstarside

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Nose is all piney citrus. Flavor is like cold black tea mixed with beer. Ick. Hopefully that is going to change over time. It doesn't seem to be. And if it stays that way, it makes this a pretty weak black ale. Can't really say that I suggest this one.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2012 05:28:17 | More by RblWthACoz

20ozmonkey

California

3.38/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Got a bottle at Healthy Spirits today. Poured into a tulip.

Beer forms a surprisingly light tan head that forms quite strongly and is dissipating fast. The beer is clear, but is so dark brown that you almost can't see through it.

Smells fist and foremost of piney and citrusy hops. Can't smell much more than the hops.

The hop flavor is actually subdued compared to the smell. Or maybe it's just an overall subdued flavor? The hops are the foremost flavor with a sort of stale coffee finish with the bitterness of the hops lingering.

Light carbonation, plain mouthfeel. It leaves an odd feeling in the back of my throat.

I was quite excited about this as I'm always looking forward to a new Black Ale, but this beer is perhaps a bit too dull. I could very easily drink large quantities of this if I were looking for an easy drinking beer, but this doesn't seem much like a "special" beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 22:09:11 | More by 20ozmonkey

TheSixthRing

California

3.4/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Final Gravity Taproom in Roseville, CA.

Appearance - Pours near black that shines a dark ruby brown when held to any light source. The head is light tan, about a finger thick and with fair retention. The lacing is spotty with decent stick.

Smell - Musty aroma, hitting on mostly faint notes of pine. Earthy. Not much else.

Taste - Hits on pine hop bitterness to start. Earthy notes. leaf. Grassy bitterness toward the finish.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium body. Soft, bubbly carbonation. Finishes fairly dry.

Overall - Decent brew. Not a great CDA. Flavors are a bit muddled. Not much in the way of dark roasted malt character. Kinda weak.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2012 22:18:32 | More by TheSixthRing

afrokaze

California

3.43/5  rDev -9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bomber poured into a Perfect Pint. Hard to pass up on Speakeasy, and this might be their best label yet.

A - Deep red but not quite black ale, decent lacing.

S - Lots of piney hops and a little bit of citrus, roasted malt sweetness and alcohol is present but not out of place.

T - Piney and slightly mineral hops (Cascade) with nice roasted malt that has a touch of cocoa. A little citrus bitterness at the end but leaves the palate pretty cleanly.

M - A little thinner than I would have liked, but in line with the ABV and slighlty slick on the palate, carbonation is average.

O - Another solid one from Speakeasy. A bit more work and this could be a great year-round that I'd grab often in a sixer.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 04:33:18 | More by afrokaze

Zorro

California

3.43/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear dark brown colored ale with a small light brown colored head.

Smells strongly of English style hops. Mild smell of patent malt. Smells of coffee and smoke and a little toffee. Slight amount of leather smell.

Starts out mildly sweet with the tastes of coffee and toffee candy. Not strongly flavored at all this is very mellow for the style. Mild carrot taste. After a while this tastes mostly like highly hopped porter.

Mouthfeel is good.

Overall an OK ale, but sort of boring.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 01:49:28 | More by Zorro

DarthKostrizer

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Alucard4 for sharing

Look: Black with brown edges and a 1 inch head and good retention with some circular lacing

Smell: Piney hops with a chocolate background

Taste: Very similar to the nose. Upfront is a nice chocolate malt character that is backed up by the piney hops

Mouthfeel: Medium body and mildly carbonated

Overall: For the style its not bad at all would I drink it again yes. Would I buy it probably not

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 05:41:29 | More by DarthKostrizer

flexabull

California

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep black color with a nice off white head that receded with great lacing.

Aromas are mineral like, some chocolate, espresso, and bread dough.

Taste is mineral like, some tonic water, toasted malts, notes of coffee, and roasted nuts. Finish has a light creamy sweet quality, and mineral hop bitterenss.

Mouthfeel is light, decent crisp carbonation, but lacking body.

Overall, this is a decent, but flawed Black Ale. Not a bad beer, but not a beer I'm likely to repurchase. Pretty average...

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 04:19:57 | More by flexabull

nitro0292

New York

3.53/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bomber, no freshness date.

Pours an opaque shade, just shy of black. Light cream colored head stays around for quite a while than dissolves to a thin layer. Head has mixed sizes of bubbles reminiscent of a milk shake. Inviting. Clumps of lacing cling to the glass.

Smell is of pine hops, some citrus zest, coffee and bitter chocolate aromas. Hops aromas are the feature.

Taste is not as hoppy as the smell would lead you to believe, but still solid. Initial pineyness and bite, with the stout characteristics in the mid palate, finishing with a semi-sweet blend of chocolate, caramel and pine. Not very complex and nothing stands out, but there is nothing that makes this undesirable either.

Mouthfeel is a touch thin and carbonation is a touch light. Could benefit from some oat in the grist.

Overall this is not a bad BIPA/ABA. Very well balanced among the components for the style, stout-like qualities, IPA-like qualities. Not remarkable for what it has or for what it lacks. Give it a go if you (like me) are a fan of the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 03:42:42 | More by nitro0292

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle into snifter

A - Pours a dark brown, with a finger of tan head. Nice retention.

S - Hops and some chocolately malt. A bit sweet, a bit piney.

T - Bit of cocoa, caramel, bit of grassy hops. Some roasted malt. Overall not very complex, but fairly non-threatening. Decent beer.

M - Medium in body with average carbonation. goes down easy. One of the beer's strengths.

O - Overall an average beer in a style full of great examples. Not disappointing, per se, but perhaps not quite what I was looking for.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 18:22:02 | More by greenmonstah

lionchow

California

3.58/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours clear dark brown to black with thin light tan head.

Aroma - roasty chocolately malt melds well with light piney, citrusy hops.

Flavor - Subdued, hoppiness in the aroma isn't totally carried into the flavor, very mild west coast citrus and pine flavors. Malt is well balanced against the mild hoppiness, with mellow roasted malt and dark chooclate. Well, balanced, but perhaps a bit too subdued for the style.

Mouthfeel - nice slight creaminess.

Overall a well balanced but slightly underwhelming beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 02:26:16 | More by lionchow

MexicanSkittel

California

3.63/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep black with hints of brown when held up to a light. A vibrant off white head sat about 1/2 inch tall before falling to a thin layer.

Malty, chocolate, roasted barley, and bright hops dance in the glass. The sweeter notes over power the hops when you take a big whiff. maybe some brown sugar in there too.

I'm finding the sweeter flavors, with a slight pine aspect. Kind of lighter flavors from what the nose was leading too.

Mouthfeel ha a medium body, fairly decent consistency. I'm dissipointed with the carbonation, seems a little lower than my previous bottle. As I make it to the second half of the bomber it's damn near flat :-(

Overall this is my third go at this beer and maybe third time was really the charm but not in a good way. I'm hoping this was just a bad bottle. I will re visit again. If I can find it. No bottle date on the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 01:47:26 | More by MexicanSkittel

womencantsail

California

3.63/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beer Revolution

The beer is nearly black in color with a tan head. Herbal and piney hops with a bit of roasted malt and maybe a hint of licorice. A little bit of grapefruit peel and pineapple on the back end. The flavor is slightly sweet with only a moderate hop flavor to it. Some herbal and pine notes, but it's not super hoppy, though. Medium bodied with sort of low carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2011 18:09:58 | More by womencantsail

UCLABrewN84

California

3.65/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

First thing I have to say is that this is the coolest Speakeasy bottle I have seen thus far. Nice design and graphics.

8.2% ABV per the label.

Pours an almost opaque super dark brown with a 1 inch puffy khaki head that settles to a thin cap. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark malt, chocolate syrup, and some citrus zest hops. Taste is of dark roasted malt and herbal hops. The chocolate and citrus zest aromas I was getting don't make an appearance in the taste. There is a mild bitterness on the palate each sip. This beer has a crisp level of carbonation but finishes smooth. Overall, this is a pretty good black ale but the smell is a bit misleading in terms of how it actually tastes.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 03:56:21 | More by UCLABrewN84

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at The Cannery. Its the way they make the style, a very good aroma of hops and roast .Black with a big head and lots of lace. The taste does not deliver, its muted,herbal but it is a smooth mouthfeel. Chocolate malt. Not the bold taste I have come to expect in the style.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2012 13:36:39 | More by northyorksammy

Jmoore50

Nevada

3.8/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The appearance is dark with a khaki head. Very small head that left fast. Leaves a light lacing. The color is black with light brown edges, pretty interesting color once you taste and smell it.

The smell is super citrus and dry bitter hops. There is a bit of an earthy background with a bit of the ABV present as well.

The taste is very hop forward, as expected. It presents itself with some citrus and pine hops and the malts present something different. There is a very earthy taste that lingers in this, not roasted malts or chocolate, just earthy. It is not strong either, it is just a faint background taste that distracts from the hops a bit.

The mouthfeel is thick and a bit chewy. I like my IPA's oily and bitter, but I feel like the malts paired with the hops bring down some of the great characteristics these hops have.

Pretty drinkable, but I would of preferred a regular hoppy golden IPA. This is good for a dark IPA, but I preferred Port Brewings Black Lie IPA.

J

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2009 19:35:45 | More by Jmoore50

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Picked up a 22oz. counter-pressure filled bomber of this at Bierkraft in Brooklyn, NY. Poured into a Narragansett pint glass.

A: Dark, but slightly translucent, brown with a beautiful "tight bubble" head that starts as a monster but then dwindles down.

S: There's not much going on here. I mean, I know I'm a little stuffy but I don't get anything in the nose here.

T: Now we're talkin'. Very well balanced - not too much hop or malt component. Slight chocolatey aspect too.

M: Good, but could have a little more body for 8.5% ABV.

D: The best feature of this beer. No problems here.

Serving type: growler

10-13-2010 00:47:57 | More by hoppymcgee

illidurit

California

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at The Red in Santa Cruz. Pours a really dark ruby brown but not quite black. Not difficult to see through it with some backing light. Head is creamy and tan. Aroma is graham, bread crust, and a fat dose of piney hops. Flavor is similar but the emphasis is even more hop-focused. A touch of dark wheat bread crust gets steamrolled by big herbal resinous hop flavors, with piney and citric accents. Nice solid bitterness with no astringency. Pretty significant alcohol burn. Mouthfeel is nice with a medium body and great carbonation. The only flaw here is the booziness. This is the west coast version of a black IPA for sure: just enough malt to contribute to the complexity, but not so much that it turns into a cloying undrinkable mess.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2009 05:47:58 | More by illidurit

Viciousknishs

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- pours coal black with a finger of light tan head. Decent head retention with some lacing.

S- soft aromas of roasted malt and dark chocolate with a note of char. Very woody hop aromas with a bitter orange citrus peel and some dank hemp qualities. Hop oils blend in as well.

T- initial burst of roasty malt and bakers chocolate hits the palate at first. Woody hop flavors soon take over with notes of hemp, pine and orange citrus peel. Finishes with a bitter bite and an astringent char.

MF- slightly oily slick mouthfeel with a light medium body and average unassuming carbonation.

D- decent drinkability.

Overall a good brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 01:20:38 | More by Viciousknishs

peacebone116

California

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Listed at 8.2%ABV, I poured this ale from the bomber into a Delirium sinfter on 11.7.11.

A: Midnight black liquid fills my glass topped with a significant off-white head. The head recedes eventually, leaving wisps and delicate lace at the leg and clinging to the sides as high-water marks.

N: A not-overpowering aroma of roasted grains (a smack of coffee and chocolate) rises from the glass. As it warms, there is a slight detection of citric pine from the hops, but this is very and only becomes more distinguishable after tasting and as the beer warms.

T/M: Roasted coffee/bitter chocolate and grains dominates the palate of this big black ale. Not overly complex, but definitely delightful and tasty, there is a nice citric piney note on the back. The beer is full bodied, but not heavy, with a medium mouthfeel. It has a bit of an oily texture, presumably from the hop oils.

This beer is more stout-like than I expected, but I really appreciate the hop presence. It makes for a delightful sipper on crisp Bay Area evenings in the fall.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2011 00:47:29 | More by peacebone116