munchies

It's the post-holiday doldrums alright.  I walked into a beer store to be greeted with practically empty shelves.  The owner said, a little sheepishly, that the supplier hadn't been able to deliver before the last big day off, so things were down to the bare bones.  Fortunately, a beer store has good beer, in practically every case.  I'm not exactly the biggest fan of black IPAs, although some can be just wonderful, but that never stops me from trying things out.  Mascarat Black Rye IPA seems to promise that it will make people reveal their secrets to you.  I am not sure who is supposed to drink the beer for that to happen.  Maybe you have to share?

There's a sharp smell of IPA, although not one of the very citrusy ones.  Even the aroma has a base of bitter.  It's a little foamier than normal, and an extra cloudy brown.  Settles down pretty nice in the glass, though.  There's a creamy feel to it, along with the sourness of the rye, which makes it feel like a very traditional sort of beer - and I mean the traditions of millennia ago, with beer juice being made from the grain that didn't go in the bread.  I would go so far as to say it is what I would have expected more from the kvass in Bhatamari, that very fermented bready sour flavor.  But, the kvass was quite light and Mascarat has a full body to throw around.  I guess you can't be shy to get those secrets.

Supplier: Cerevisia
Price: €4.20

flashback

So, there's another Bad Flash bar, not in an inconvenient location.  I thought I should visit them too, since I'm here and all.  The selection was similar, as was the decoration, although not quite the same.  Not as many mirrors, for one thing.

The stout from last time was there, but a black IPA can be about as good for me.  Bad Flash Black List could fool you into thinking it's a stout if all you go on is sight.  It has a real IPA aroma, though, tingly, hoppy, bright and citrusy.  There's kind of a burnt orange flavor, mostly smoky with a hint of sweet orange underneath.  A little heavy for an IPA, probably because of the toastiness, but generally smooth.  Well, the beginning of the sip is smooth anyway, the biting IPA presence comes roaring out pretty quickly.  Still, it's a good balance of sharp-sour IPA and smoky black beer, a bit more weight on the ale.  By the end of the glass it has distilled into a rather mild IPA, relinquishing a lot of the smoke from the beginning.  The flavor stays dark, quite pleasant even for a warm evening.

Next I had something on the lighter side, BF/Thornbridge Hoppy Lager.  It's a good beery color, like honey, with a light and somewhat thin foam on top.  Not terribly aromatic, a little bit of a hoppy funk and an underlying graininess.  Smells like a lager, really.  There's a surprisingly dark and even spicy bitterness in the flavor, not the bland grassy sweet the scent had led me to expect.  I find it peppery, with a fairly dry hoppy background.  It doesn't take long to settle down into a more typical lagery presentation, with a bitter front end blending into a sweeter, grainier tail.  Even as the taste falls into a general beeriness the smell remains a little prickly, even devilish, with a hint of sulfur.

While I was there they tapped a stout, so that couldn't go untasted.  Bad Flash Torpid Mind Die-Hard Imperial Stout is beautiful in the glass, with a fine dark color and a light beige head of good consistency.  The aroma is a little sour and wild, slightly fruity.  Like a chocolate raisin bar, maybe.  There is a definite bit of chocolate in the taste, but fruitiness follows right along, kind of a dried fruit I'd say.  It's not soft and subtle enough to be plummy, there's certainly a higher note to it.  Maybe grapey?  It keeps the sour chocolate flavor with a little bit of typical stout earthy bitter resting on top.  It's a snappy and attention grabbing stout, on the arrogant side even, but within reason.

There are some waiters who do their jobs very well, maybe even too well.  I was ready to leave, but got talked into one for the road, Zichovec Jane's Paradise APA.  I feel like it's nice to leave on a lighter note anyway.  The aroma is very aley, hoppy, a little pick-me-up.  The taste is citrusy, of course, but quite light.  It's fairly typical for a pale ale, although I get a bit of clove in there too.  Very nice to finish a night on.  Or begin, I guess.  It looks like I forgot to get a picture of it; enjoy the decoration of the bar instead!

Of course, when you're done drinking you have to walk home.  Or to the bus stop.

black cats for luck

I couldn't resist grabbing something to go from Oktoberfest Artesanal, going with a brew from Tyris.  Black Pussy Palace is a black IPA, so the right color to start the month, and as an IPA it should be a little snappy to get me out of my warm evening blues.  It's October already, it shouldn't be 80ºF!

I didn't get a lot of head on it, but it's a black and secretive looking beer.  It has kind of a plummy smell, more like a porter than a black IPA.  It definitely doesn't have a porter taste though - at first.  First there's a strong and heavy bitterness, much like a stout mixed with an IPA, so there's bitter without the citrus.  But, after a couple of seconds, an undertaste of sweetness starts to bleed through, rising up to cover the rest with the swallow.  There's a slight aftertaste that's a lot like what you expect from a porter. While delicious, it's a surprising beer, one that will grab your attention.  For those looking for a light and non-distracting bit of refreshment, my advice is to look elsewhere.  Those of us who cherish the drink will take care of this one.

For some reason I feel like he's singing a pirate song.  Privateering?

the mystery!

I had a beer in my refrigerator for a few days, and damn if I don't remember where I got it.  I know I bought it, it didn't appear magically, I just can't remember what store I found it in.  It's La Quince Young Gifted & Black IPA, not a brand that you only find in one or two stores.  Wherever I got it, it'll be good, being a trusted brand.  Black IPAs are a little weird for me, being that they look like stouts but are IPAs in every other way, confounding my tastebuds when I drink them.

It definitely smells like an IPA on opening, but there's that weird contrast of looking like a stout and smelling like an ale that gets me.  I'm not sure what to expect (I think I should expect an IPA, though).  It is citrusy and sharp at first, although not overwhelmingly so, much like most craft IPAs.  Then, suddenly, the aftertaste lights up a little smoke.  It's not just ale bitter, it's a wink at strong, bitter stouts.  I try again, to see if it comes back, or if it's the power of my mind, and it's not quite as noticeable.  I think I've convinced myself that there should be a little bit of stout just because of the appearance, that's a beer that could fool somebody completely.  I can see a blindfolded taste-test driving some poor soul crazy.  If I ever remember where this bottle came from, I'll be sure to raise my glass to them for their stock.

New glass, that didn't get any black beers for its debut

EDIT (5 minutes later!) Supplier: Cervecissimus (definitely deserves the toast)
Price: €3.40 (...it's craft, what can I say?)