Review: Identity Crisis

My view on Black IPA is not a secret... it is not a hoppy stout, it is exactly what the name says... an IPA that is black in color, that's it!  No charcoal, no rich chocolate, no heavy roast, no smoke, no ash, just pure IPA with a mild dark character that is barely noticeable.  If you drink it blind, you would never know that the beer was black.  And that is what I brewed, spot on.

Look:

Pours a dark black with ruby hints, off white head that hits thick  and stays to the end, super sticky with great lacing all the way through.

Aroma:

Smells like blueberries.  Touch of spice, pine cones, resiny hops, light chocolate, grapefruit, mild fruitiness.  The hops are big and bold, but I would still like them to present a lot more (like the regular IPA).  Touch of malt in the background.

Flavor:

Pine and resin lead the flavor, followed by a hint of mildly smooth char.  Biscuity, mild fruits, light grapefruit.  Mild malt presence in the back, hops lead through to the end.

Mouthfeel:

Medium body gives way to a dry, bitter, but not bracingly, finish.  Great balance.

Overall:

Too drinkable.  Heavy hops on the resin and pine side with a touch of fruitiness.  Balanced bitterness.  Hit almost exactly where I wanted it to.  Light malt, mild dark malt, heavy on the hops in pine and resin, with a touch of fruit.  The hop aroma is a tad light for the amount of hops and level of dry hopping on this beer; its very noticeable, but I would like it to have a little more hop pop.