Black Top - New Glarus Brewing Company

Black Top

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Overall: 9.25/10 by 4 dudes

Standard Deviation: 0.15 or 1.65%

Trend: 9.25/10 over past 5 reviews

Style: American Black/Cascadian Dark Ale

ABV: 6.90%

Season: September through December

Have Another: 100%

310 beers rated with a 8.28 average
  • 9.40/10 have another
  • A: 9.0 | T: 10.0 | L: 9.0 | M: 9.0 | O: 9.0
  • sDev: 1.62% Color: Dark Brown
  • Pours a clear dark brown with a light yellow one finger head. Head dissipates after a few minutes leaving a thin swirl of foam floating on top. Very little lacing.

    The aroma is big on citrus and floral hops. Very inviting and refreshing.

    The taste is very similar to the aroma. A nice tropical citrus hop flavor with a light floral hop that is well balanced by a roasted malt.

    Light to medium body with light carbonation. Watery mouth feel with a slightly dry finish.

    Overall a very nice beer with a great hop profile that is perfectly balanced by the roasted malts. A very solid beer that should be a guide for Black IPA brews.
  • 638 characters
  • Reviewed: Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 22:48:46
  • Tasted: Thursday, January 19, 2012
  • $1.50 for 12 oz. bottle
113 beers rated with a 8.19 average
  • 9.00/10 have another
  • A: 9.0 | T: 9.0 | L: 9.0 | M: 9.0 | O: 9.0
  • sDev: 2.70% Color: 16
  • Aroma- fantastic. Slight toast- maltyness clean hop

    Slight coffee over flavorful malt and a great cascadee hop.

    So well balanced- so easy to drink.

    This is a young style and there are a lot of contenders out there. I think the mid west has a great entry for a standard to compare others to. This is an enjoyable cascadian dark and that's the key point I'll hold others to. Loving it.
  • 391 characters
  • Reviewed: Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 22:48:16
  • Tasted: Thursday, January 19, 2012
  • $1.67 for 12 oz. bottle
370 beers rated with a 7.94 average
  • 9.24/10 have another
  • A: 9.0 | T: 9.0 | L: 8.0 | M: 10.0 | O: 10.0
  • sDev: 0.11% Color: Deep Brown
  • A: Deep, dark brown with medium thick light-tan foam.

    S: Light floral and citrus. And the very light roasted malt has a slight nuttiness or woodiness to it. The flavor notes synch up into a very appealing aroma.

    T: Really nice taste, and again the flavor notes mix very well together. The hop fruit is most like pineapple, but it blends so quickly into the most perfect roasted malt taste I've ever had. It's very refreshing and almost seems light for a medium weight and alcohol style. If there's a hop bitterness it's as a perfect ingredent, not a distraction in any way.

    O: This is a really good beer and like the best of New Glarus it's perfection is slowly revealed. Any doubts that the Black IPA style is a gimmick should be dis-splled by this brew. And, the other myth of this style being only done well by the West Coast brewers is shattered. Another big win for a championship team.
  • 894 characters
  • Reviewed: Thursday, September 08, 2011 at 22:18:01
  • Tasted: Thursday, September 08, 2011
  • $1.50 for 12 oz. bottle
1,467 beers rated with a 7.84 average
  • 9.34/10 have another
  • A: 9.0 | T: 10.0 | L: 8.0 | M: 9.0 | O: 9.0
  • sDev: 0.97% Color: Deep Brown
  • Pours clear on the edges until it fades to opaque. Tan foam covers the beer an inch deep. Retention is quite quick with a ring-like lacing.

    Aroma is mixed as it comes and goes, interestingly. Fruit (tropical) and citrus hops play with light roast.

    Taste is clean. Hops start immediately: tropical (pineapple) and citrus then a mix of caramel and light dark malt. There is a fruity bitterness that finishes quickly and nicely.

    Medium body and light end of medium carbonation. Of course the hops dry.

    Another solid offering from New Glarus. Over the last year they have flexed their hop muscle, proving they can brew any style and well. Enjoy!
  • 653 characters
  • Reviewed: Thursday, September 08, 2011 at 22:12:23
  • Tasted: Thursday, September 08, 2011
  • $1.50 for 12 oz. bottle
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Beer Notes
  • We invite you to discover this newest beer style Black IPA. Political debate rages over the origins of this jet black beer as both coasts feel they deserve credit. Our Black Top is a pleasant road connecting Villages and Communities statewide on a ride of Black IPA discovery.

    Expect this beer to pour a hop forward jet black glass brimming with aromatic bitterness. Brewmaster Dan skillfully weaves molasses and chocolate malt undertones with a soaring rush of clean citrus and pine hop notes, to deliver a drinkable Black IPA. Savor Black Top, like Wisconsin’s miles of licorice ribbons of ink that meander through armies of corn and bovine mowed fields. Enjoy the journey on a road less traveled.
Cost Breakdown
  • $1.54, 4 serving(s), 12 oz. bottles
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