"Is a new beer style emerging? The Black IPA, known by some as Cascadian Dark Ale,
and most seem to be double in strength. Hoppy dark beers? We are down with that.
Dark and heady, not nearly pitch black but pretty damn dark, and the lacing does a great jump, staying on the glass. Minty, piney and mildly orangey hop nose runs up against a wall of toasted grain and brown bread aromas. Smooth, with a well-rounded medium body. Very light-roasted maltiness throughout; carob powder and mild roasted coffee comes to mind. Hops keep on coming back around with pungent waves of pine, citrus and herbal hop oil. Bitterness is clear in its intention and cuts through the beer quite easily, yet the malt base does not fall apart ... balance is present. Hoppy and choco- laty make for a bittersweet finish."
Beer Advocate Magazine (Issue #39, Apr 2010): 94 pts Exceptional