Tag Archives: cda

Tombstone Piledriver Black IPA – Kettle River Brewing Co

by Mike

From Kettle River Brewing in Kelowna comes their “Tombstone Piledriver Black IPA” a Cascadian Dark Ale.  The beer pours a more or less opaque black colour with a brown head.  The aroma consists of some roasted malts, tropical fruit, citrus and a floral hops finish.  The flavour is of roasted malts, earth, resin, pine, tropical fruits, citrus and a big bitterness finish.  The beer is really balanced between the fruits and roasted malts.  The alcohol content comes in at a nice strong 8.7%.  This lands right in my wheel house for Cascadian Dark Ales as it still feels like and IPA and not a very roasty stout.

Midnight Black IPA – Stanley Park Brewing

by Mike

From Stanley Park Brewing (Turning Point Brewing) in Delta comes their “Midnight Black IPA” a part of their new Sampling Series in Bombers.  The beer poured a very deep black with a brown head.  The aroma consists of roasted malts, pine, earth, mild fruit notes and floral hops.  The flavour is of roasted malts, chocolate, toffee, earth, pine,  mild fruits and bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 7% with an IBU of 65.  This is a nice mix of flavours for a black IPA and I am happy to see Stanley Park Brewing tackle this style.  Stanley Park Brewing is now owned by Labbat.

Commercial Description:  Embrace the darker days as the seasons change with our exceptionally smooth and hoppy Midnight Black IPA. Bursting with aromas of freshly fallen pine needles and ripe berries from Simcoe hops, it’s like we took the forest of Stanley Park and bottled it…

Cherry IPA – Strathcona Beer Company

by Mike

From Strathcona Beer Company in Vancouver comes their “Cherry IPA” a Cascadian Dark Ale.  The beer pours a deep black with a brown head.  The aroma consists of mild roasted malts, cherry and floral hops.  The flavour is of roasted malts, ash, earth, cherries, sweetness and medium bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 7.3%.  I was surprised this was a Black IPA as it didn’t say it on the can but I enjoyed this one for sure.

The Obsidian Dagger IPA Noire – Dead Frog Brewery

by Mike

From Dead Frog Brewery in Aldergrove comes their “The Obsidian Dagger IPA Noire”.  The beer pours a deep brown colour with a brown head.  The aroma consists of roasted malts, coffee, pine, citrus and some floral hops.  The flavour is of roasted malts, coffee, earth, pine a hint of citrus and bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.5% with an IBU of 50.  I was hoping for a little more fruit characteristic but I did quite enjoy this brew.

Commercial Description:  SPARKS FLY WHEN BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL HOPS MEET A DARING AND ROASTED MALT BASE.  THE HOP FLAVOURS AND AROMAS OF A POWERHOUSE IPA ARE BALANCED PERFECTLY WITH THE DEPTH AND INTRICACY OF A COMPLEX DARK ALE.

Food pairing as per the brewery:  GRILLED PORK, SPICY CHICKEN TACOS, SWISS CHEESE

 

Maraca Passionfruit Black IPA – Andina Brewing Company

by Mike

Andina Brewing Company in Vancouver is now open. My favourite of their launch lineup was their “Maraca Passionfruit Black IPA”. The beer poured a deep brown with a brown head. The aroma consists of roasted malts, Passionfruit and floral hops. The flavour is of roasted malts, burnt coffee, Passionfruit, almost some tartness, earth and bitterness. The alcohol content comes in at 5.2% and an IBU of 50. This is quite the mixture of flavours and well executed tasty brew.