black magic ipa

As a rule, dark beers — such as stouts, porters or smoked beers — are malty beauties that conjure up complex notes of chocolate, coffee, caramel, toasted nuts and powerfully roasted grains in the glass. India Pale Ales, on the other hand, focus on the hops and present us with the full range of green gold with juicy fruit notes, spicy pine resin, crisp bitterness, grassy hints, herbal notes and floral elements. For some time now there has been a beer style that combines these two poles. The so-called Black IPA is the marriage of full-bodied malt and fruity hops.

A masterful example of this young style is Black Magic from Finne. The brewery from Münster creates a gently melting base with Cara and roasted malts and lets the hop varieties Citra, Azacca and Chinook bloom on it. After a tropical first taste with notes of mango, papaya, passion fruit and pineapple as well as dark berries, the malt enters the stage and enriches the aromas with creamy caramel, bitter roasted components and a hint of chocolate. The opposites intertwine like yin and yang and merge into a harmonious whole that is tasty and surprising.

Finnes Black Magic IPA appears in their Small Batch series and is brewed in small batches. So if you want to taste the work of art, you have to be quick!