Oikein hyvä black ipa, moniulotteisempi kuin nämä yleensä ovat. Tuoksussa yllättävästi hedelmää, appelsiinia ja tummaa suklaata. Maku on tyypillisesti kuiva mutta runko pyöristää makua mukavasti ja tuloksena on oikein tasapainoinen suutuntuma. Jälkimaussa on samalla kuivaa humalaa ja siirappisuutta, ihan mielenkiintoinen yhdistelmä. Oikein hyvää.

Day #3 of Advent Calendar. Imperial Black IPA is not my favorite beerstyle but I'm always ready to take a walk on the wild side. The beer is matte black and doesn't allow light to go through. Short-lived carbonation creates a sand-hued, soapy head that well exceeds one finger. Retention is truly long as s cute lace ring kisses the rim of the glass and bends attractively upwards. A dense haze accompanies the ring. Burned malt, a coffeeish hint and charred asparagus constitute the olfactory supply. The vegetal nuance is — surprisingly enough — not unpleasant. After a while, the whole package turns to toasted rye bread. Interesting. The tongue likes roasted malt, scorched hay and a bit of burned wood. Fortunately, there's nothing vegetal in the palate. Furthermore, I can locate a pinch of burned coffee beans, licorice and truly distant blackcurrant twig among the taste elements. Overall, the package is balanced and not very demanding but fails equally to offer layers that I hoped for. The body is light-medium to medium. Perhaps closer to medium than not. The finish is relatively similar to the actual taste identity but licorice seems to elevate higher at this stage. The aftertaste finds a compact cassette and starts immediately listening to rockabilly of the early eighties. the mouthfeel is medium, slightly crisp, roasty and a tad burned. It's also a bit dry and woody. Furthermore, the beer is fairly unchallenging although by no means too easy and excessively approachable either. As good as a DBIPA can get.

Mustanruskea olut kaatuu lasiin reippaan vaahdon kera joka kestää hyvin. Tuoksussa appelsiinia ja ananasta. Suutuntuma neutraali, hieman kuivahko. Maussa jännä yhdistelmä palanutta mallasta, mallaskakkua ja sitruksia. Katkerointi vahvistuu pitkään ja jää suuhun pyörimään mausteisena puunkuorena. Mallasrunko riittävä. Kokonaisuutena oikein hyvä olut. Yllättävä.