Sierra Nevada Blindfold

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

The first beer from a "Pick Your Own 6-Pack Sampler" offered by the local super store. Usually the singles are of a lesser quality, but I think I got some winners in this 6-Pack. Pours a dark brown color with a reddish hue when held up to the light. I forms a 1 1/2 finger, foamy, tan head with leaves some long lasting, clinging lacing. Chocolate, earthy hops and roasted malt on the nose. Roasted malt and some bitter hops on the taste. Tastes like a hoppy brown ale. Full mouthfeel. Nicely carbonated. Tasty hybrid. Sierra Nevada has a reputation for putting out affordable, flavorful beers. Blindfold is another example of their expertise.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Pours a dark mahogany with a thick, light tan head. Smoky, woody, roast malt aroma has hint of coffee - and a lot of appeal. Hoppy, woody, smoky flavor features a touch of mocha. This beer successfully blends the characteristics of a good IPA and a quality stout. Smooth ,fizzy texture rounds out another winner from Sierra Nevada.

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

6.8% ABV- The name makes sense....'cause if I was blindfolded and tasted this I would not think it was Sierra Nevada. Actually thought this was the best new one in the new 4-way IPA (not counting Torpedo), but still on the weaker side as far as flavor and quality. I think they are cutting corners somewhat in order to mass-produce their beer. Compared to their standard darker beers (Porter and Stout), this seems only about average. Reminds me of a hoppier version of Yuengling's Black & Tan. You can taste the chocolate malt, and you can taste the hops...but both on the thinner side. There are better new black IPAs out there.

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

Black body with a thinish tan colored head.Aromas and flavors of earthy and piney hops over top of bitter chocolate and a tinge of licorice,some sweetness is there but not overly so.Not real complex but there are some decent flavors going on.

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

Not as deep as expected...a little more for the masses if you will. They've made a great black ipa before so this pretty good one was a little bit of a letdown. Really little of the chocolate & coffee versus orange peel and citrusy hops that I love. Light porter type roast with lighter than expected aroma and flavor hops with some dry bitterness at the end.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

12 oz bottle. Pours brown with a big creamy light tan head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is roasted chocolate malts and a little bandaid.

The flavor is acidic roasted bitter chocolate malts with some residual sweetness and sprucey hops. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, an OK black IPA with lots of bitterness but it's very acidic and not well balanced.

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

Tasted at the 16th Bistro IPA Festival on April 6, 2013. This Black IPA pours a medium to dark brown color from the tap. Small to medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is caramel, malty and sweet, herbal and earthy. A medium bodied black IPA. The malts are fruity, roasty and sweet. The hops are earthy and herbal. Nice balance. Good Carbonation. Nice roasty malts. Medium to milder bitterness IPA. Very drinkable. Nice balance. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and crisp. Aftertaste is slightly bitter with some sweetness.