Hoppy Brewing Company Total Eclipse Black Ale

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

I like everything about this beer.....except the aroma. Kind of skunky on that end, so not sure if old or what, but besides that a solid brew. My first sample from Hoppy and am impressed. Not sure if a porter or black ale like the label says. I'd say more like a porter. Flavors of chocolate, coffee, little bit of finishing hops. Tastes like some burnt sugar which may be the bitter aftertaste. Has potential, but the skunk aroma is bringing this rating down a bit, otherwise would be about a 4.0-ish.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

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.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 8

Hoppy Total Eclipse Black Ale 3.3 cheapdark 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.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

another pleasant surprise after the hoppy claus debacle. a solid porter, if not one of the best, with a nice balance and chocolate hoppy flavor. aroma is typical. body is thin-medium.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 8

Coal black pour with a robust cocoa colored head. Roasted nose, leading to a light bodied and easy drinking brew. Very enjoyable.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Black color, large head. Roasted malt aroma. Medium hopped. Intense roasted malts. Good balance. Finish is clean. Aftertaste is bitter, roasted malt flavor.