Duck-Rabbit Hoppy Bunny American Black Ale - The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery

SerialHiker

Illinois

4.16/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours a very dark, dark brown to black…head is mocha colored and made of tight, tiny bubbles…it starts thin and dissipates after only a few minutes...has a nice color, but lacks a bit of carbonation…(3.25/5)

Smell: Yum, tons of aroma here! Lightly roasted malt and a light dry chocolate up front…it’s really got a light, airy smell…balanced with fresh, light lemon peel citrus hops…as it warms, I catch a bit more of a earthy, roasted coffee bitterness…a very inviting aroma! (3.75/5)

Taste: Yum! Roasted malt, oats, lemon citrus, mild piney hops up front…I also get some dry, bittersweet chocolate and roasted coffee bitterness notes as well…it’s a very fresh taste, that is very balanced with tons of flavor…both the malt and hops are strong and could easily stand alone but combine to create something fantastic here…while it’s not overly complex, it’s simplicity is delectable…(4.5/5)

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with light carbonation…it fluffs up a tiny bit bringing roasted malt and mild roasted coffee bitterness to the palate…my mouth waters after every drink…a malty, roasted bitterness lingers in the after taste…(3.75/5)

Overall: This thing is fantastic! I’ve been loving the black IPA’s lately and this is definitely one of my favorites…the flavor is fresh and zesty while being full of roasted malts…though the exuberant hops keep this from straying too close to a porterish stout...Duck Rabbit likes to say they specialize in dark beers and this limited edition brew is more proof of that...having been one of my favorite microbreweries for the past few years, I always look forward to trying their seasonals/small batch brews…if you are in the N.C. area or anywhere where D-R is distributed, pick up a sixer of this solid beer and enjoy! (4.25/5)

www.brewreport.blogspot.com

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 02:47:36 | More by SerialHiker

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Pretty much poured like the picture deep black hue, tons of carbonation leading to a dense inch and a half layer of head, and the only difference seems that my head is more of a darker shade of mocha. Excellent lacing.
S - Very hoppy in the nose as expected, very Black IPA like with roast and chalky yeasts as well. Hopefully it's not too dry.
T - Fairly dank hop profile leading to a somewhat acidic hop experience. The hops even rest on the palate seconds after sipping. After a few sips I do detect some roast and a touch of bittersweet chocolates. It's good but not great.
M - Smooth, very hoppy, and somewhat chewy.
Overall this is not something I would pick up again but it's a fairly decent Black IPA. Definely more hop forward than I expected.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 22:55:14 | More by DrDemento456

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.76/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

No label information. Hoppy Bunny ABA is brewed in the style of a Black Ale/Black IPA. Date on bottle is notched at September 2012.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a Duck Rabbit snifter. Served upwards of 50º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours an explosive thick, creamy light brown head with very good retention over a solid black body. Lacing is thin and streaked. The appearance is solid and the head looks fantastic for the style. There's plenty to look forward to in this beer. 4.5

(Smell) A robust aroma for a black IPA, swings slightly sweet with deep roasty characters. Heavily roasted caramel and a touch of black malt, notes of molasses and licorice in tow. Expect an earthy, resiny hop aroma presence with a moderate bitterness. Yeasty profile is a tad buttery and fruity; I get whiffs of plum and blueberry most notably. Some slight alcohol is also present. People will enjoy this aroma if they're interested in a malt-heavy and sweet black IPA, but a touch more hop presence would balance out the aroma and make the beer even more approachable. 3.75

(Taste) A little more laid back is the flavor- the malt takes a balanced role with the hop presence. A blend of resiny and soapy hop flavor prevails with a medium bitterness paired with a heavily roasted malt base. Some mild char and licorice graces the finish. Much less diacetyl throughout than the aroma had suggested. I like the balance a bit better than similar beers within this style as the hop flavor is better utilized and there's a bit of flavor diversity to be had here with the hops and yeast, although the hop choice is relatively one-dimensional- some citrusy bright hops would have been a great choice for this style but are largely absent. Not all flavors mesh ideally when lumped together- the problem points will likely become known to each individual consumer on a case by case basis. 3.75

(Mouthfeel) A bit creamy despite low carbonation. Body is medium+ for the style and medium overall. Alcohol presence is low. Could have used a touch more carbonation activity to bring some more attention to the hop character. 3.5

(Overall) This Black IPA is malt-forward but carries a sufficient hop profile as well. I found some questionable issues with the hop selection (mostly resinous but limited in variety and brightness) and the yeast profile (odd buttery notes and dark fruit presence), all of which were suspiciously odd picks for the style, but made for a different drinking experience. I haven't found my ideal Black IPA choice yet, but this one is certainly memorable for taking lots of different directions than I'm used to with the style, and thus it's a welcome addition to the Black IPA family. 3.75

The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery's
Duck-Rabbit Hoppy Bunny American Black Ale
3.76/5.00

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 02:33:53 | More by Jadjunk

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.69/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

a deep brown/black in color, 2 inches of tan head leaving behind a ridiculous amount of lacing. smells mostly of chocolate and roasted grains, along with a subtle grassy hop note. the taste is, once again great. these guys know dark beers, that's for sure. a wonderfully balanced subtle smoky, chocolatey, toasted black ale. barely any sign of hops at this point (best before 11/12 stamped on the bottle.. guess i was sold an old bottle, oh well) but that's more than ok since it's a wonderful malt profile.
the mouthfeel is odd.. highly carbonated yet a thick medium body beer. creamy on the lips/palate.

a great dark bitter ale. i'd love to try it fresh and see what the hop profile is like, but by no means can complain about it with a bit of age on it.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 04:22:50 | More by facundoCNB

devilben02

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from my home keg with a nearly opaque color brown color and a thick beige head that leaves a lot of lacing on the glass. The aroma is a dull but varied mix of chocolate and herbal hops. The flavor is a bit more lively, with an earthy combination of hops and roasted malts. The light, resinous mouthfeel supports this flavor profile nicely. Overall, this beer is roasty and multi-dimensional without being too overbearing like I find many in this style to be, making it a flavorful selection that goes down easier than its alcohol percentage would suggest.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2013 14:57:50 | More by devilben02

Callaghan

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Found this in my regular store, and bought it on the recommendation of the owner. Little did I know how good it would be.

A: I poured this into a pint glass slowly. Living up to it's name, it is BLACK. Virtually no light penetrates through this beer. Two finger head is mocha colored and thick, giving you the ability to rest a popped cap on top of it. It fades slowly, but never becomes less than about 1/4". Lovely.

S: Smokey malts dominate, but after a little agitation, a sweetness that is unexpected. Almost like when you cook with brown sugar, hard to describe. Some hops underneath it all, but it's subtle.

T: A very nice balance of hops, toasted malts and alcohol. A blend of floral, pine and citrus hops hit right away, quickly followed by smokey malt and sweetness. Now, that's not to say that it is sweet, because it isn't, but it has just enough to compliment the bitterness. In the middle, A bunch of dark fruits and chocolate. Dark cherries, raisins, prunes, and then some citrus comes through. Grapefruit peel mostly, and some other sour tastes are real light on the tongue. The finish is a mix of sweet, burnt brown sugar, bitter chocolate, and a reminiscence of hops. A hint of alcohol at the end puts the just the right finishing touch.
As a note: Maybe it's the batch I picked up, but the malts seem overly "toasted", as in I get a burnt malt flavor. By the third beer, I didn't notice it, but on the first beer it was very apparent. I would have scored higher if it wasn't for this.

M: Really nice! Creamy, and smooth, with medium carbonation. Medium bodied, and extremely drinkable. For me, this seems a little thicker, or heavier than a regular ABA. The head sticks around for the entire drink, and even adds a little creamy-ness to each sip Wonderful!

O: A very nice brew. As far as an ABA, it's very solid. Lots of flavor, hops and malts. Very drinkable, and easy to put away a few in a session. One that I will go back to for sure! I am glad the owner of my regular store turned me on to it!

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 02:13:30 | More by Callaghan

wcudwight

North Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pitch black in color with a mocha colored head. The head fades pretty fast. Nice aroma that mixes between hoppy and smokey. The flavor is where this beer shines as it's delicious. Wonderful balance between smokey, coffee, and hoppy flavors. With none really dominate just a perfect balance that makes a delicioius beer. Nice creamy mouthfeel. Thick without being too thick. Easy to drink. This beer is delicious and I highly recommend it. Another fine beer from the dark beer specialist.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 04:17:18 | More by wcudwight

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This has an interesting smoky thing going on to it that I feel isn't usually there for the style, but I do like it. Consistent and thick flavor. Hops are here, but are accents and not hijacking the experience. Smooth drinker, but a sipper. Not too many new beers from Rabbit-Duck cross my path, so always nice to find a new one.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 02:44:44 | More by RblWthACoz

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours an opaque very dark brown (almost jet black) in color with some brown highlights when held up to the light and a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall dark beige head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the majority of the surface of the beer. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of dark roasted and chocolatey malts underneath a bunch of hops - citrus first with some lighter pine/resin notes.

T: The beer starts out with moderate flavors of roasty malts with some lighter dark chocolate notes. On top of the malts, there is a burst of hoppy flavors including citrus/grapefruit and pine/resin. There are light coffee notes in the finish. Moderate bitterness that fades rather quickly.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: This is a very enjoyable example of the American Black Ale style with a nice blend of roasty malts and bright hops. Easy to drink and hides the alcohol quite well.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 03:56:59 | More by dbrauneis

dirtylou

Washington

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz single, served in a duck rabbit glass. I still think its a rabbit.

appearance: very dark, ebony body, big creamy mocha head with some nice retention

smell: dank green hops, bakers chocolate, a whiff of coffee

taste: Tasty stuff - moderate bitterness from the smoky roast, green leafy hops, bakers chocolate, cocoa powder

mouthfeel: creamy and rich, nice bitterness

overall: dug this

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 22:10:20 | More by dirtylou

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque dark sable-brown with a fairly thick tan head that leaves some good lacing. Smoky, hoppy aroma has notes of roast malt and anchovies. Flavor has woody and smoky components plus a fishy hint and a bitter hoppy undertone. Smooth texture has about average body but good fizz and leaves a burnt-wood finish that has a hint of fish.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 00:47:52 | More by Cyberkedi

Dodo2step

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

P- Thanks to my buddy Trask for this brew!

A- motor oil black that is opaque. Half finger head that is tan in color. Splotchy lacing on the pint.

S- fresh pine needles and roasted malt with hints of pumpernickel bread

F- Dark roasted chocolate malts with the pumpernickel bread flavor as well.

M- heavy and creamy stout-like. The malts saturate the tongue and mouth.

O- I havent had too many black ales but this is the best i have had. Flavorful and not to hard to put back.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 17:36:52 | More by Dodo2step

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a black color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of hops, some roasted malts. Taste is like the hops and roasted malts going toe to toe throwing haymakers, with the malts finally winning in the end. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall, despite the somewhat high abv, this beer is extremely drinkable and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 14:48:22 | More by tone77

tewaris

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks Chris!

Pours quite dark with a good head, good retention and good lacing. Aroma is green with hops at first but roast and chocolate follow soon after. Chocolaty, herbal and bitter with a very bitter but pleasant finish. Not sure what separates it from a hoppy porter but it drinks well and that's the bottomline. There is a certain note that doesn't sit right with me but whatever. Medium feel, medium-high carbonation. Not bad.

4, 3.5, 3, 4, 3.5

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 08:58:57 | More by tewaris

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: pours a dark deep brown almost black with a 1.5" thick light tan caramel colored head that slowly dissipates leaving moderately thick lacing on the side of the pint glass
S: floral, citrus, slight smell of fresh pineneedles, slight fresh baked pumpernickel
T: hop character hits up front with supreme bitterness, beautiful dry acidic finish with lingering citrus hop flavor, just enough dark roasted malt to provide balance, no detectable taste of the 7.3% ABV
M: medium body with just enough carbonation to keep tongue interested, lingers on the tongue and back of the throat without leaving a thick coated feeling
O: This is a superbly hopped American Black Ale with qualities resembling a lighter IPA but having a richer more lasting finish. Overall an excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 01:45:24 | More by M_C_Hampton

CHickman

New York

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review from 7/11/12: pours pitch black opaque color with a creamy 2 finger tan head that was full of bubbles and faded slowly leaving excellent foamy lacing and rings as it went down.

Smells of huge hops up front, with floral hops, citrus hops, orange peel, grapefruit, chocolate malts, caramel, molasses, syrup, coffee, toasted grains, vanilla and earthy notes; aroma is full of sweet notes, roasted malts and juicy hops, which makes for a nice well balanced nose that is smoky, hoppy and quite enjoyable.

Tastes like it smells with huge hops up front, floral hops, flowers, citrus hops, orange peel, grapefruit, lemon, chocolate malts, caramel, molasses, syrup, coffee, pine cone, toasted grains, charcoal, vanilla, toffee, pepper, light spices like coriander and earthy notes like peat moss and toasted wheat; roasted malts and juicy hops battle for control of your taste-buds, and it's a very tasty competition that is a pleasure to experience.

Mouthfeel is creamy and oily slick, with light fizzy carbonation, a medium body and a chewy feel that is roasty and quite bitter like a Starbucks coffee with dry hops in it.

A very tasty and enjoyable beer that is very complex and gets better as it warms. This was a really good beer and went down easy; plus, it threw a nice hop punch to add bitterness and balance to the roasted malts. The balance and complimentary flavors make this one to seek out as it was very well done.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 03:35:40 | More by CHickman

nickfl

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with one finger of medium brown foam on top of an opaque, black body. The head settles pretty quickly and leaves moderate lace on the glass.

S - Dark, roasty malt with notes of chocolate, roasted nuts, and smoke as well as some green pine character in the background.

T - Dark, smoky chocolate up front with some dry, black coffee. More dark, almost charred malt in the middle and a touch of pine hops. Finishes with smoke, barks chocolate, and char as well as moderate bitterness and a bit of fruity hop character,

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - Kind of odd re,arrived to the emerging style profile for a black ipa, with a dark malt character that is out of proportion to the relatively modest hop flavors. Still, I can't help but like it, the dark malt is expertly handled and it does work well with the pine hop flavors that confine themselves to the background.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 01:49:35 | More by nickfl

kylehay2004

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: thin tan head on a black body with red tints of light passing through.

S: fresh coffee grounds, roasted malts, hint of dark chocolate and black licorice. little in the way of hop character.

T: burnt toast, roasted malts with a very musty earthy and grassy hop character with metallic notes up front. finishes with a fairly bitter coffee note.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: Different for sure from other black IPAs I have had. The hops are well represented in the flavor without being overpowered by the strong coffee presence.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 01:47:17 | More by kylehay2004

flagmantho

Washington

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: nearly black hue with just some brown highlights around the edges. Head is a two-finger ap of frothy tan foam. Quite attractive.

Smell: big chocolate nose with a notable helping of piney, citrusy, herbal hops. Reminds me more of a hoppy porter, but this style really does blur a lot of lines. I like it.

Taste: bigger hop character than the aroma, right up front. Emphasis on citrus and a little bit of conifer; I think the acidity contributed by the roasted malts exaggerates those characteristics. Chocolate and roastiness are still present, but play second fiddle to the hops. I think this is a pretty good execution of the style.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a nice, well-integrated carbonation and a satisfying creaminess. I like it.

Overall: a tasty and drinkable ABA. The style can be really hit-or-miss, but I think Duck-Rabbit has something here.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 04:11:17 | More by flagmantho

charlzm

California

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Consumed September 18th, 2012 from a standard pint glass. Bottle seems to indicate "best by 12/12".

Beer pours a deep, clear brown with garnet highlights. Head is three fingers tall from a moderate pour: light tan, composed of very fine creamy bubbles and very clingy.

Aroma is cocoa: thinner than a rich stout, more like a porter. Some nuttiness as well. Soft powdery, floral note in the background. Interesting.

Flavor is likewise cocoa, both upfront and as a slightly powdery, almost granular taste on the finish. In between, a bit of well-tamed resiny pine warms the palate. A little grassiness as well. The ABV is not apparent in the flavor.

Medium-bodied with a slight carbonation prickle.

Overall, this is a safer, saner take on the ABA than most I've had. I think I prefer this subtle, well-modulated (and sneaky : 7.3% ABV!) example of this hybrid style to the bigger, cruder examples that seem to hang out on the west coast.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 03:00:09 | More by charlzm

Chaney

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Duck Rabbit snifter.

A: Poured out a dark, dark brown color, with a thick, dense mocha head that looked both frothy and infinitely creamy.

S: I got a good bit of charred malt, with grape juice, and BBQd grapefruit. In other words, this one is roasty!

T: I've never had an IPA of any sort from Duck Rabbit, but this is a good on. Despite the bitter grapefruit and ash, the finish was pretty smooth and inviting. I got a bit of the same sort of dark fruit undertow that I usually get from Russian Imperial Stouts.

M: Thick and creamy, with a very dense concentration of flavor. The glass came out clean which was surprising, and I didn't get any hint of booze.

O: I used to hate this style, but as long as BIPAs continue to be made with this quality, I'll continue to explore.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 18:30:58 | More by Chaney

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to crunkchiggin2002 for this one.

Pours a big fluffy darker colored head hits 1.5 fingers and fades slowly with nice lacing dark almost black murky super dark brown color.

Nose brings dark malts little roast, cocoa, caramel, creamy, and hops light pine earthy and some citrus. Light fluffy oatmeal like too.

Taste starts with chocolate, oatmeal, dark choc, some roast and bitter almost char like, little caramel and toasty malt. Then hops, slight earthy and spicy, some pine, little citrus and floral hops. Finish is fairly bitter, long slightly earthy piney hop finish little chocolate caramel malt.

Mouth is med to slightly bigger bodied little fluffy, decent carb, hint of warming booze.

Overall pretty good, as usual not my fav style, nice malts, decent hops, and blend fairly well but just not a great style as too juxtaposed flavors.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 19:03:17 | More by jlindros

cyclonece09

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours a nice black color as the name of the beer advertised with a nice froffy brown head that dissipates slowly. Smells of coffee and flowery hops, very nice. Tastes of chocolate, coffee, and some flowery hops, a nice combination. Medium bodied beer finishes well and has good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 01:56:04 | More by cyclonece09

mntlover

Tennessee

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a black looking until held to the light nice reds showing through. Nice fluffy two finger head falls to ringed scum that laces well.

Aroma is roasted malts nice chocolate light smoke notes good dose of hops to finish it off.

Taste is on par for the style good roasted malts chocolate with descent coffee notes. Finish is nice and hoppy vegetable/herbal like hops. Pretty good would buy and enjoy again but have had better examples of the style.

Mouthfeel is light side of medium with average carbonation.

Overall enjoyable brew, tasty easy drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 00:44:06 | More by mntlover

Viciousknishs

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- pours a very dark brown almost black. Two fingers of healthy medium tan head is produced with great retention and mucho lacing. Awesome looking brew.

S- milk chocolate and malted milk balls at first with a leafy spicy hop note. Mild roast character with more chocolate!

T- light roast flavors with a mocha character. Cream and sugar French press coffee in the middle with a subtle hop note. Spicy woody hop flavor with a great bitterness on the back end. Dark chocolate in the aftertaste.

MF- smooth creamy mouthfeel with a medium body. Average carbonation.

D- Great drinkability.

Not a beer to knock your socks off but beautifully crafted and rather tasty.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 06:02:28 | More by Viciousknishs