Baird First Impact

My Bottom Line:
This bountiful India Black Ale offers a scintillating kaleidoscope of hop resins, blackberry fruitiness and roasted maltiness that dazzles the tastebuds throughout the glass. Quite bitter, it still presents balance within its intensity.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A veil of foam tops the ruby black.
-The hops possess citrusy tips.
-Alcohol is not a factor in the flavor profile at all.
-This is really similar to their Divine Vamp III...although in a slightly more intense presentation.

On tap at Ushitora.

Had this at "Ushitona" in the Shimokitazawa district ofTokyo with TimE. We both selected this as our first beer that night! A dark brown cola colored brew, no head to mention. Strong citrus/pine hop scent with plenty of rich malt sweetness to balance. Fruity, rich, like a prune dessert (flambes?) A delicious lingering bitterness follows. Tim is writing notes that rival War & Peace, he said "This beer is awesome", I agree!

This is a supped up version of their IBA and is supposed to be loosely based on Rogue’s Brewer. Dark brown color, no head. Sweet malty nosewith hints of dark chocolate, toffee and cherries barely make any presence on top of the lucious citrusy, cotton candy hop bomb. Wonderful. Up front bitterness attacks on top of milk chocolate brownies, cherries and toffee. Mouth is sweet, but dripping hops seem to make things balance out. Gangster rap style hardcore bitter finish. No-hop heads need not apply. Somewhere between Rogue Imperial IPA and Theakstons Old Pec. A work of art.