Session # 127 | Deschutes | Hop in the Dark | 6.5% ABV
Black IPA/Cascadian Dark Ale | Bend, Oregon | Rating: 90/100
One year ago: Laughing Dog Dogzilla
Deschutes is a brewery that has made its fair share of good beer, and they’re doing it from one of my favorite beer states (Oregon). As part of their Bond Street Series, this Hop in the Dark Black IPA/Cascadian Dark Ale is no exception. It is brewed like a traditional American IPA, however the malts are much darker and richer than is typical for the style. This creates a slightly sweeter and more robust mouthfeel. Out of the glass, it pours very dark…almost solid black, though there is a touch of ruby red and brown color around the edges. The light tan-colored head is very durable with a strong amount of lacing. The aromas definitely showcase the hops that are used (Cascade, Citra and Centennial), but there is also a definite sweetness. Faint dark fruits tuck themselves behind the sweetness and hops, which unveils a floral component that’s quite nice for the beer. The mouthfeel is definitely medium at 6.5% ABV, and it is something that is pretty drinkable indeed. It’s only available between May and September, so if you missed your chance this year you’ll have to act quickly in 2011.
Up Next: St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
Others: Laughing Dog Dogzilla, Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous, Southern Tier Iniquity
Check out all sessions of The Hopry here.
This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Joy Division “Decades”
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Posted by theReaper16 on December 15, 2010 at 9:58 AM
I absolutely hate the attempt by Pacific Northwest breweries to name the style “Cascadian Dark Ale.” Hate it. It’s a transparent attempt at ego-boosting, especially when research indicates that 1.) the style was first brewed in America in the state of Vermont by Vermont Pub & Brewery, and 2.) the style came to recent prominence not on the backs of any brewery by the Cascade River, but by Stone’s 11th Anniversary Ale (later added to the regular list of Stone beers as Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale).
Black IPA suffices as a style name for me, but my preference lies with India Black Ale. Because that’s what it is. Replace the most of the pale malts with darker malts and there you go. Plus, IBA sounds close to IPA.
Posted by thehopry on December 15, 2010 at 10:48 AM
Well I’m sure we have plenty more style names to come in this new industry. It’ll likely become a marketing tool like everything else, which whatever…
It’s like all the sub-genres of music like IDM, Glitch, Micro-House, etc… It’s bound to happen.
Posted by thehopry on December 15, 2010 at 10:59 AM
Oh yeah…and Funeral Doom. Can’t forget that sub-genre.
Posted by theReaper16 on December 15, 2010 at 11:16 AM
Funeral Doom is pretty descriptive of what the music sounds like, at least. Ah, sub-sub-genres. What fun.
You’re totally right, of course, that as craft beer becomes more and more popular, we’re going to see invented style names as a marketing tool. We’re perhaps going to see transparent attempts at landing an appellation ala Champagne or Lambic (in Belgium). Hypothetical future scenario: “Only Cascadian Dark Ales from Washington and Oregon can be called Cascadian Dark Ales, the knockoffs from inferior soil have to be called Black IPAs.”
Posted by Louie on December 15, 2010 at 12:37 PM
Hey, you’re reviewing this thing three months after you’re supposed to… HAHAH.. Okay I’ve had my fun. Good review of this one – not my favorite black IPA, but definitely worth trying. For me, Hop in the Dark was just a little too creamy. The best black IPA I’ve had is a collaboration Three Floyds did with a new brewery here in Bend called Boneyard – - THE ARMORED FIST – - incredible beer with supreme hop character. I guess technically they called it an “Imperial CDA.”
Also – I have to agree with theReaper16 – and your idea is great, Mark. For some reason “CDA” is awkward to say, but “IBA” totally works.
Posted by Louie on December 15, 2010 at 12:48 PM
Whoops, I credited Mark with theReaper16′s idea. All the same, you’re both right. I will say I am a Doom Metal purist, though…
Posted by thehopry on December 15, 2010 at 6:25 PM
If you’re a doom metal purist, then you’ll want to go immediately to my Dark Lord review and scroll down the the music link. It’s one of my favorite.
http://thehopry.com/2010/05/01/dark-lord-special-session/
Posted by Louie on December 16, 2010 at 12:15 AM
I’m only a purist in the sense that I like Saint Vitus – and I’m actually full of shit cos I totally like “stoner doom” bands, I just don’t think of them as that.
Posted by theReaper16 on December 15, 2010 at 6:37 PM
I think my favorite Funeral Doom song is “Marche Funebre” by Until Death Overtakes Me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1OU6DuDvqM
Posted by builderofcoalitions on December 16, 2010 at 11:21 AM
A friend from Seattle brought me one of these a while back. Then he told me that it was his regular beer of the moment as every bar in Seattle had it on tap. I died a little inside upon hearing this. That said, it’s one of my two or three favorite in the style, which I refer to as a “Black Bitter.”
Posted by thehopry on December 16, 2010 at 9:13 PM
What others have you had/been able to find in the area?
Posted by builderofcoalitions on December 17, 2010 at 7:43 AM
In the area? Laughing Dog Dogzilla, Southern Tier Iniquity, and I swear I’ve had one called The Black Pearl, but I can’t remember who brewed it.
Others: Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous, Brew Dog/Stone Bashah, Deschutes Hop in the Dark
Posted by Big Mike on December 17, 2010 at 8:28 AM
How’s that 1001 beers to try book?