Oh no, folks. Here we go again. Those of you that read my reviews regularly know of my fondness for India Dark Ale, the proper name for what is sometimes called Black IPA (Black India Pale Ale? How can it be black and pale at the same time?) or, worst of all, Cascadian Dark. Call it what you will, but it tastes good, and I like to drink it. Except that, well, the latest beer that I’m drinking that is supposedly in this style now has yet another name: “Dark IPA”.

The beer in question, of course, is Pyramid Discord Dark IPA, and this one really throws a wrench into the style works. Not just because it adds yet another name for this style, but because, well, I don’t really find it to be in the style it purports to be to begin with. But more on that later.

Pyramid Discord Dark IPA is brewed with Black Carafa and Black Patent dark malts per the company website, plus 2-Row Pale Barley, C-80, and Munich. You would be surprised how little black malt it takes to color a beer darkly until you’ve seen it added in proportion at a brewery. Hops include in the kettle: Nugget, Zythos, Mt. Hood, Cascade; for dry-hopping Falconer's Flight, Zythos, Cascade. Discord has an alcohol content of 6.5% by volume, and I paid $7.99 for a six-pack, a bargain these days. Pyramid’s website says Discord is released in February-March, but it had just arrived at Total Wine in my area in early November. So, it appears this may be year round now. They also say about the beer:

Our Dark India Pale Ale features all the tasty attributes of a standard IPA, yet juxtaposed against a black malt canvas. With a prominent maltiness that meets up with the bitterness and hop presence from 5 different hops, this brew is not short on character.

Pyramid Discord Dark IPA pours to a dark brownish color with a thick creamy tan head and an enticing nose of piney hops and dark nutty malt. A very thick layer of Brussels lace follows the liquid all the way down to the bottom of the glass. Taking a sip, the beer has some luscious sweet soft cookie malt flavors up front followed by lots and lots of piney, resiny hop aroma and flavor. The finish is quite bitter, long and lingering in its dryness. There’s as much floral resiny aroma as bitterness, though.

So here’s the aforementioned rub. I find this to be a lot more of an American Brown Ale than a Black IPA. It reminds me of Brooklyn Brown Ale quite a bit actually, almost to the point of a dead ringer, except it has more bitterness. The malts and aromas are very similar, though. This is not a bad thing, as Brooklyn Brown is one of my very favorite beers.

Delightful however you peg it, Pyramid Discord Dark IPA is even more so at the bargain price. Don’t pass up on it.  

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

 

 



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