Bell's Uranus: The Magician

This black double India Pale Ale has 9.5% ABV. It is one of a seven part series of beers inspired by Gustav Holst's musical composition "The Planets." It is from Bell's Brewery of Comstock, Michigan. 

The beer pours a very dark brown and dark ruby, appearing mostly black. There is a tall, thick, foamy, lightly creamy head of light tan. The aroma is tangy citrus and pine over dark roasted malt. The taste follows the path of the aromas, tangy, piney, over dark roasted malts. Both parts blend well with each other, in equipoise, neither predominant. The finish is dry, tangy, and moderately bitter, with a lingering aftertaste that goes back and forth between dark roasted notes and char, and tangy pine. The beer drinks smooth and easy, would never guess it was 9.5% ABV. This is a nice mellow take on a black IPA.