Founders Dark Penance

This is a 8.9% Imperial Black IPA from Founders Brewing of Grand Rapids, Michigan. It has 100 IBU's. It is a specialty offering available October through December. For your sins, you must drink more beer.

The beer pours a very dark brown, nearing black, with dark ruby. There is a short head of light beige foam. The aroma is bright and tangy hops, tropical fruit and pine, over dark roasted malt, light star anise. The two poles of flavors meet on the taste as well, adding in some char to the dark roasted malt. As the two meld, there is a bubble gum note that comes through. It drinks very smooth, but the finish is very bitter. This is nice enough, but there are much better black IPA’s out there.