Black Hatter Black I.P.A.
Review Date 4/5/2025 By John Staradumsky
New Holland Black Hatter Black I.P.A.! How the hell do I have a bottle of that? New Holland hasn’t made this beer in years, and when I looked at the back label, I saw this was marked Vintage 2013. Uh oh, I thought. This might be a drain pour 12 years later.
One of the reasons I was so surprised that I still had this (and have in fact never tried this beer before) is because I love the style. It’s an India Dark Ale, not a black IPA, because really, IPA stands for India Pale Ale, and how can a beer be black and pale at the same time?
From the bomber bottle label:
I.P.A. brewed with black malts which add dark, roasted flavors. Dry-hopped Centennial finish. Pairings: Aged cheddar, arugula in vinaigrette, portabella stir-fry.
There is a QR code on the label but the page linked is no longer available. I have no idea what I paid for this beer. The beer has an alcohol content of 5.5% by volume.
New Holland Black Hatter Black I.P.A pours to a jet black color with a thick creamy tan head and a dark sensuous roasty nose. Taking a sip, the beer is medium in body, roasty with licorice notes and dark roasted bitter malts. There is a subtle hint of molasses. The hoppy notes are gone but it has a fine roasty bitterness in the finish.
Excellent with age, and that was a huge but pleasant surprise. I enjoyed it down to the last drop. I think it is probably a 4 star beer, but I will tack on a half star for holding up so well over time.
Glad I tried it?
T
Would I rebuy it??
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled, Canned
(D)=Draft
