Back Road Oak Aged Black IPA

Brewed by Back Road Brewery
Style: American Strong Ale
LaPorte, Indiana USA

Date: 03/07/2008
Mode: Growler
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: black, big tan head, lots of drippy lace,
Aroma: sweet oak aroma with a touch of roasted malt and sweet citrus,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: big oak flavor balanced with lots of citrus hops, bitterness rises out of the oak, chocolate and roasted crawls out from beneath the oak to add complexity,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.8/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

12 oz hand bottle shared by tjthresh, courtesy of BBB63 - enjoyed at the csbosox tasting on 3/7/08. Pour is black-brown-ruby with a nice dirt brown head. Aroma of piney hops, licorice, bright spiciness. The oak is present as well. Taste of bright hops, moving quickly into the grainy oak woodiness. Vanilla notes become evident in the finish / after taste. This was a very creative and well made beer. Huge thanks to both Mike and Tom!

12 oz . Handbottled and traded to me by BBB63. Many thanks for this very good hybrid. I’m jealous of those that can enjoy it on tap. Poured a black color with mahogany edges & a 1/2" tan head. Spotty lacing coats my glass. Aroma was not huge. Grapefruit & malts. Mouthfeel was on the dry side with just right carbonation. I served this brew cold, fridge temp, and at first the hoppy bitterness was strong. Very much like grapefruit & citrious fruits. As the brew warmed the bitterness became more subtle and some background flavors of malt/bakers chocolate became more pronounced. Just a hint of the oak aging flavored the brew. I’m not an IPA guy, but this was pretty damn good. Thanks again Mike!

Thanks go to Mike for the hand-bottle! Poured quite deep brown with a creamy, thick cap of yellowy-beige head and thorough lacing as it descended. The aroma picked up sweet floral and toasted nutty notes upfront, with lingering oak and medium-skinned fruits beneath.. the oak was even more present with warmth, and provided a fine platform for supporting this one. The flavor was chock fulla toasty oak all the way through.. caramel and mild grapefruit pair with a bit of chocolate and lots of pine bitterness across the middle.. bitterness was quite high by the end, and the sweet chocolate-y and piney finish was very enjoyable. Medium-plus bodied, and it left a lot of piney bitterness and toasted oak sourness on the finish.. well-balanced and very solid all-around!

Hand bottled by BBB63 who hooked me up w/this to try. First of all, this has a very weak smell. Hardley any aroma floating over the head. That is the only quality I didn’t like about this one. Poured pitch black with tan quarter inch bubbly head. Nice soothing oak bite with a refreshing piney finish. Hints of smoke throughout. Easy to drink, could knock back quite a few of these if given the chance. Would definately buy this if the opportunity arose. Solid, different, and interesting should be called the mystery beer. Thanks Mike

Sample Hotshots Feb Indy tasting from a BBB63 growler - Aroma is roasted dark malts, oak, fresh pine hops and a touch of smoke. Pours black with a small head and no lacing. Flavor is resiny hops, strong oak tannins and roasted malts followed by a slap of citrus hops. Palate is tart and dry. Interesting, different, very tasty and something I wish I could get locally.

22 oz hand bomber from BBB63. Pours a cola black with a red tint and a medium sized creamy beige head. Nice lacing. Aroma of roasted malt, tar, pine and faint grapefruit. Very unique taste of roasted malt mixed in with wood chips, pine needles and a hint of grapefruit. This is quite enjoyable tasting all of these different flavors in a brew. Very nice. Thanks Mike for allowing me to try such a oddity.

12 oz. hand bottle courtesy of a trade with BBB63, thanks Mike! Pours a virtually opaque black with a moderate light brown head with dense froth and ample lacing. The aroma is surprisingly light for such a dark beer with notes of pine, grapefuit and lightly roasted malt. Not so with the flavor - lightly roasted malt up front with some very soft wood flavors and then bam!!! - the hops kick in. Just the right amount of hops bitterness that lingers well beyond the swallow. There is also a very subtle coffee and roasted malt flavor that rises ever so slightly at the finish as well. This is really a unique beer and very well done. Kudos to the brewer on this one and my thanks to Mike for sending me this gem.