My new favorite style : the black IPA. Combining the strong hop flavor of an IPA and the dark roasted malt richness of a porter, this is a little bit of everything good. This face off is between Blue Hills Black Hops and Clown Shoes Hoppy feet. Both local in Massachusetts and both Black IPAs in 22 oz bombers.
When it comes to black IPAs I want some good hop flavors but balanced with the richness and malt of a porter. Before this face off, the only beer that does it for me in the Black IPA category is Otter creeks Alpine Black IPA. The clown shoes hoppy feet I feel is slightly better. There is honestly no real competition here between the hoppy feet and the black hops. The hoppy feet pours a thick creamy head that stays, the black hops has a thin head that dissipates quickly. They are both right in color "black". But the flavors are where the beers take 2 separate paths. The hoppy feet has a damn good hop flavor but it is consistent and fantastic all the way throughout unlike the Rogue black IPA. I love this beer. The black hops is a decent beer and easy to drink, but I really don't feel the hops are strong here for the style. It is almost like a slightly hoppy porter whereas the hoppy feet is exactly what I am looking for. Hoppy feet will be tough to beat and a definitive beer for the style. Black hops 3/5. hoppy feet 4.5/5
Winner : Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet
Also can't wait to try Clown shoes hoppy feet 1.5 which is an imperial black IPA !
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