Had lunch at the McMenamins Thompson Brewery in Salem today. They have a dark IPA on tap called Black Opal IPA. As far as I could tell it was nothing more than a heavy-citrus IPA that had been darken with something that contributed no flavor whatsoever. Granted, I had just finished a pulled pork sandwich with a stout/BBQ sauce and a porter, but I really could not find any dark grain flavor. I'm certain my taste-buds were not fried at that point, because I had a Workingman's Red for dessert and that was fine.
Someone will get this right. Cascades and burnt coffee don't play well together. The best efforts that I've tasted so far have used earthy hops and de-husked dark grains.
Someone will get this right. Cascades and burnt coffee don't play well together. The best efforts that I've tasted so far have used earthy hops and de-husked dark grains.