As of late, I’ve been on an IPA kick; I just can’t seem to get enough hops. Typically, I like to spread things out – an IPA here, a Barleywine there, maybe a blonde or a trippel in between. Blame the weather, blame lazy days off, but whatever the reason, all I can say is bring on the hops! And so, when I recently discovered that my beer reserves had reached a critical level (that is, completely dry) I felt a pang of wanting. I had a craving for hops, yet no quenching source was in sight. Despair and woe surrounded me, and I wept myself to sleep. Ok, no, no I didn’t, but it was late, and I didn’t feel like making a beer run. But then, like a herald from the Brew Gods themselves, a shape caught my eye, tucked away behind a bottle of Gatorade in the corner of my fridge. It was Buckeye Lake’s Black IPA, stoically awaiting the day for me to remember that I had placed him inside for safe keeping. And so, with reverent awe and a silent thanks to the Lords of Hops, I withdrew that Twenty-Two ounce beauty, ever-so-gently removed his crown, and proceeded to drink it with much gusto.
If you’ve never heard of a black IPA, it also goes by the name of American Black Ale. I prefer Black IPA, as it doesn’t make a lot of sense. How can a black ale be pale? Is it grey? No, Buckeye Lake’s iteration was as dark as the most imperial of stouts. As it pours, a magical contrast of fresh, floral hoppage and richly roasted, slightly charred malts collide just under your nose. Imagine a mixture of stout and IPA, and you’ll have a good idea of what a Black IPA is all about. This bottle also featured a mild sweetness on the nose, seemingly from a faint fruit quality that I couldn’t quite pin down. For an instant, it appeared as if an aroma of plums and cherries was evident, but before I could be sure, it was gone, replaced with hints of coffee and a bit of smoke. Beneath, the roasted malts continued, bringing body to the aroma while keeping things impressively dark. The hops flirted with notes of grapefruit, but only for a moment, before settling firmly within a mildly funky, fresh-cut vegetation smell, bringing out a resin-like quality that spoke of a pinch of pine spice and moderate juniper qualities. As the aroma ended, faint notes of chocolate finished things off, further contrasting the IPA to Stout ratio. In addition to its pitch black body, it proudly wore a crown of fluffy, khaki foam that clung to the inside of the glass.
On the tongue, the dual stout/IPA vibe grew, as initial notes of damp, floral funk and fresh vegetation mingled with hints of chocolate and black roast and charred malt. The nearly sweet fruit qualities of the aroma had almost disappeared, relenting to the heavier qualities of rich malt and bright hop. Each mouthful was not only complex, but different from drink to drink. One might begin with a hop-forward surge, covering the tongue with a gin-like zest and a floral spiciness before morphing into a rich, cascading darkness of coffee and black malts. The next taste may begin with the crispness of the hops, but the flavor of smoke and roast before assuming a smooth bitterness. Despite that, no matter the combination of flavors and feelings that settles over the tongue from one taste to another, each characteristic is crisp and defined, remaining explicit and up front even as more layers and qualities settle above. It makes for quite a wonderful drinking experience. Even better is how smooth this beer is. It goes down like a bottle of liquid silk, relying on its rich, velvet darkness and healthy base of roasty char, while at the same time bringing a bright and zesty burst of crisp hop bitterness to lift the flavors from the tongue at just the right moment. And, it finishes clean despite its decent heaviness, capturing an impressive amount of flavor in a moderately short time on the tongue.
Buckeye Lake’s Black IPA combines the best things about IPAs and stouts. The hop bite of an IPA works its magic up front, while a dark and stoutly power rumbles across the back of the tongue, all the while swirling and mingling with each other in between. It’s like wearing a tuxedo over a swimming suit – suave, smooth and reserved, but capable and more than willing to strip down and cannon ball into a pool of hoppy goodness. Be prepared for a mouthful of flavor, and a subtle alcoholic strength that’ll sneak by beneath the charred malt base and hop glow. You won’t even realize how warming this beer is until you too begin to feel the urge to wear a tux and a swimming suit. Perhaps the best part of this beer is just how refreshing it is, despite its heavy darkness. The potent hop qualities keep the flavors crisp and controlled on the tongue, without succumbing to that clinging stoutish weight. Like a bottle of liquid superhero, Buckeye Lake’s Black IPA appeared just when my libationary spirits were at their lowest, saving the day and teaching an important lesson: always check the back of your fridge. Who know’s what wondrous discoveries you’ll make.
