Friday Brew Review – iniquity (Imperial Black Ale)
It’s my pleasure to inform the faithful OL readership that the FRIDAY BREW REVIEW has been generating a lot more traffic lately. Some of these new visitors may be arriving via word-of-mouth, the pleasant words you share about a weekly-drunkard’s semi-coherent review acting as safe passage. Others are being transported here by means of Internetdimensional-portals, such as that provided by the (fabulous) Reddit beer community. And still others, well, I suspect they’re here because it was the closest place they could find after escaping that hitchhiker who promised a blowjob but offered only a knife-wound. How rude.
No matter how you’ve arrived – welcome.
Before we go any further, baby, allow me to offer a warning to the uninitiated: what follows is certainly a beer review. But the Friday Brew Review is also part diatribe, short story, philosophical meandering, science fiction journey, and drunken affirmation.
Please proceed without caution.
Tonight I’m sipping on iniquity, the Imperial Black Ale from the folks at the Southern Tier Brewing Company. A few factors converged during my regular sojourn to the package store that convinced me to take home a bottle of this ale. First, I’ve historically enjoyed imperials, finding their dense flavors worth savoring and their elevated ABVs facilitators of connections to the universal mind. More practically, the beer-store I frequent carries fat-ass 22oz bottles of iniquity, which is perfect for those nights when I don’t want to put away too much liquid. And lastly, I liked the hexagram design on the label.
Which is funny, `cause I’m usually more of a pentagram guy.
Before diving into the brew, I carefully studied the bottle’s label. I was particularly taken by the following:
Wishes of good fortune often collaborate with the brewer’s creativity to yield dramatic results. We carefully chose the name for this imperial IBA, Iniquity – a word opposing goodness. Why? This beer is contrary to what one may expect from an IPA; this is an ale as black as night. It is the antithesis of Unearthly?
The opposite of an IPA? Fugg yes, I hate IPAs! The antithesis of unearthly? Yes! This is a drank for the fuggin’ Black Lanterns!
I poured iniquity into a short square glass, probably contrary to anything advisable, and took not of the color. The ale poured mega-dark-brown, nearly black. On top of this obsidian liquid rests a noteworthy beige-colored head which would later tickle my mustache. Ooh! In terms of aroma, iniquity is sweetish, conjuring up olfactory remembrances of an over-cooked apple crisp fresh out of the oven.
In terms of mouthfeel, iniquity is medium but rich. I never got full while drinking, but the ale definitely left its mark. I always appreciate a beverage that doesn’t go in (or out) as easily as water.
Okay, time for the most important part – taste! The Southern Tier Brewing Company has truly made a dark ale worth mentioning, providing some creamy roasted notes that counterbalance the characteristic bitter sensations of a stout. I can definitely pick up on the alcohol, but iniquity doesn’t give itself away as having a 9% ABV.
With a rich taste and wonderfully deceptive alcohol content, this is a brew worth tossing back.
Anyone would be lucky to have an entire den of iniquity.
A-