Thursday, February 27, 2014

Otter Creek Black IPA

Otter Creek Black Brewing Co.   Middlebury, VT

Notes:
Black I.P.A.
12oz Bottle
6.0% ABV


Appearance:  Pours a dark brown to black...a nice deep, dense color...head is mocha colored and about a finger width thick...with a couple swirls, it livens up nicely...this is a good looking brew...(4.25/5)

Smell:  Light, airy aroma, but malty notes do standout...i'm picking up roasted malts (barley?), coffee, dry chocolate and a bit of oatmeal...hops presence is minimal with light citrusy/lemon bringing some softness...it's not overly aromatic, but what i do pick up is nice...(3.5/5)

Taste:  Hmm...very light flavors for being a black IPA...i'm getting some roasted malts, subtle and unagressive...there are some citrus/light airy hops notes that balance well with the darker malts, however this thing lacks pizazz and really doesn't stand out...(2.75/5)

Mouthfeel:  Light body with ample carbonation...light roasted malts and a light, airy lemony bitterness comes across the palate...it's almost refreshing, very odd for a BIPA...light flavor lingers into aftertaste...(3.25/5)

Overall:  This brew lacks a little character in the flavor department and makes it somewhat disappointing...i love black ales, but this is so light and crisp that it drinks way more like a summer's pale ale than anything robust or roasted...a high bar is set in the Black IPA category by many breweries (Firestone Walker, 21st Amendment, Duck Rabbit) and Otter Creek's version just doesn't come close to matching that...it's worthy of a mix-a-six, but don't expect to be wowed...(3/5)

Score:
(3.23/5)

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