MALEVOLENT ~ NICKEL BROOK

Malevolent is an Imperial Black IPA. Sampled from a tin the beer poured almost black with deep burgundy highlights. It had a large creamy dark mocha head, which lasted quite a while and left a good amount of lacing on the glass. Aromas contain coffee, piny resinous and citrus hops (Simcoe, Columbus and Centennial hops were used), roast malts, molasses, and perhaps there are some subtle fruits in there too. The taste is a wallop of piny and citrus hops followed by dark roasted malts. Notes of chocolate, dark roasted malts, coffee, chocolate and earth also are found in this brew. The finish is bitter and slightly drying. The alcohol is well hidden. The carbonation is average and the beer is full bodied and creamy. This is a bold but refined brew, there is lots going on, but the tastes don’t compete with each other. Most excellent.

9.5% from Burlington, Ontario 8o IBU