Hoppy Total Eclipse Black Ale

Brewed by Hoppy Brewing Company
Style: Stout
Sacramento, California USA

man, i thought this was a schwarzbier!... fairly black ... opaque with a frothy greyish beige head and spotty clingy lacing. it smells a bit like scorched cream... a bit ashy, smoky, roasty and a little chalky. the flavor is the same... with a strange tartness and woodiness before an ashy finish. the aftertaste is mildly of coffee. light bodied with a sharp feeling and drying mouth feel. 5/4/5/3/11/2.8

Aroma of coffee.... Black with light tan head.. Flavor is pure black coffee.... Slight hints of dark chocolate... Finish is pure coffee... Feel like I’m drinking carbonated coffee... Okay at best

Always see this at the Sacramento BevMo, and it always seem to be in stock (along with the other Hoppy brews). Picked up all of them on my latest trip to Sacto and drank this one while watching the Lakers beat the Magic in Game 1 of the NBA finals (f’n Lakers).

The beer pours out a dark brown/black color with a thick 3" thick foamy off-white/light tan head. Aroma is really metallic. Either I’m extremely sensitive to whatever causes this aroma (odor is more like it) or this has it in spades. Light lemon zest, heavy dark malts and chocolate but that metal...ugh. Flavor is roasted malts, chocolate, some bitterness which reminded me of bitter chocolate or coffee, with a bit of a smoky finish. Bitterness lingers a awhile after the finish, which I could do without.

Deep dark brown coloured body with a ense tan head atop the beer. Aroma of metal, blood, malt and a bit of citrus - odd! Medium-bodied; Strong malty flavour with some effervescent flavours and a light twang of nuts atop a coffee and pit fruit tastes. Aftertaste shows very light flavours with some good tastes, but very mild. Overall, a good but very mild stout - not much going on with this one, but good to try. I sampled this 65 cL bottle purchased from Lee’s Discount Liquors in Las Vegas, Nevada on 07-February-2009, sampled at home in Washington on 21-May-2009.

A royal thanks goes out to cquiroga for this large bottle from western America, californ-eye-aye. I’ll add this to my ‘collection’, heheheh!! Pop the lid and pour; looks like a nice big foamy mug of sweet rootbeer. Some resemblance to dark cream soda as well. Hefty craggy chunky, slowly deflating head that never goes away. Rather volatile and clean on the olfactory. Initial carbonation on the palate is sizzling and it never ends, down to the last drop. Excellent example of a dark beer experience. Bitter charred notifications continue thru. Comes across almost creamy and chocolate at times during the session. Goes down very easy but flavors come across as stronger beer. Biting burned bitter Schwartz finish. Overall, bubbly and fun to drink.

Dark black rich pour with a frothy amber head. Roasted aroma. Taste is roasted malt, smoke, coffee with a nice hop bite at the end.

22oz Bottle, A sweet trade extra. A clear dark brown/black with a huge rocky off white head that leaves loads of lacing all the way down. Aroma of dark roasty malts,bitter coffee,a bit of chocolate,charcoal,pipe tobacco. Flavor is just roasty enough, some light smoke,roasted coffee, and this light malty sweetness for some great balance, clean refreshing mouthfeel,medium carbonation, and a slightly dry finish. Very drinkable, a very well made craft brew ,and a fun try.

Pours mlackish with dark brown edges and off-white head. Nose is roasty dark malt, chocolate, hops. Tastes roasty dark malty up front, with soem notes of molasses, definite hops, mild coffee. Medium body. Not terribly complex, but by no means offensive in any way.