Beer Review: More Brown Than Black IPA

Reviewing the More Brown Than Black IPA, a collaboration between The Alchemist, Ninkasi, Stone Brewing Company.
Score: 89

2011 vintage bottle says "drink fresh - do not age." I picked this one up in late December 2011. Served in a Stella Artois Chalice and enjoyed on 02/26/12. This is a backlogged review from a beer tasting I hosted on Oscar night.

Appearance: Pours a deep brown soda, Coca Cola-like, color with layers of caramel highlights at the top and bottom of the glass. Despite the dark color, there is an unfiltered, sedimenty appearance. Two fingers of khaki colored sea foam head at pour. Average lacing, above average retention. 3.5/5.

Smell: Lemony Pine-Sol or lemony dish-soap dominate the nose. Fresh nondescript tropical citrus is in the aromatic mix too. A hint of creamy chocolate malt and a light amount of caramel. 4/5

Taste: Tastes like an IPA with a caramel twist. Lemon, grapefruit and caramel throughout. Hint of chocolate malt. Finishes with spiced hops and caramel. Pretty straightforward, but quite tasty. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation. Smooth and oily mouthfeel. Savory, slightly biter finish. 4/5

Overall: A super solid black IPA offering from some of the heavy hitters in the hops/IPA community. Nothing stand out or special, but certainly refreshing and enjoyable.

Recommendation: If you see a bottle on the shelf, I would recommend snatching up a bottle. Not worth breaking your back to get a bottle, but certainly worth seeking out. Probably a good "starter IPA" for casual beer drinkers that are not fans of aggressively hopped beers.

Pairings: Beef tacos.

Cost: $2.99 for a 12 oz bottle.