Reformation Black IPA

Review Date 9/21/2021 By John Staradumsky

           

It’s been a while since I’ve been to Reformation Brewery here in Canton, what with Covid going on and all. I did hit them to pick up some beers last spring, but the place was crowded, nobody was wearing masks, and I wasn’t eligible for the vaccine yet. That kind of put me off going back out to breweries again (in general, not Reformation specifically). 2021 was not a good year for brewery and beer bar visits; 2020 was right out.

Still, I got my booster shot in late October, and as I was on vacation the week after Thanksgiving, I decided to stop by the brewery. It was early on a Wednesday afternoon, just after they open at 3 PM, and the place was sparsely populated. I was picking up a 4-pack of their Dr. Don Pecan before they ran out (I sure do love doppelbocks after all). They also had Reformation Black IPA on tap, and I ordered a glass of that. I do love India Dark Ales after all, not quite as much as doppelbocks, but close.

I adore the way that resiny piney hops marry with dark roasted malts in this style. I don’t call them Black IPAs, and you shouldn’t either. How can a beer be a Black India Pale Ale? It cannot be black and pale at the same time. Impossible! You could call it an India Black Ale, I will accept that answer, but don’t even get me started with Cascadian Dark Ale. The style was invented on Vermont, not in the Pacific Northwest, and we New Englanders do not take easily to others stealing our beer styles.

Now that I’ve gotten all that out of the way, I will mention that Reformation Black IPA is part of their Pioneer Series of beers. It has an alcohol content of 6.4% by volume, and I paid $7 for a 12-ounce glass. That is for me another quibble; at the brewery I would expect a lesser price for a 12-ounce pour, or a pint for $7.

Anyway, I did really enjoy the beer. Reformation says:

Dark and malty with floral and piney hop flavors and a firm, balanced bitterness.

And I say:

Reformation Black IPA pours to a jet-black color with a medium head of creamy tan foam and a nose of dark roast and herbal hops. Taking a sip, the beer is medium in body with bitter, almost harsh roasted notes, grassy herbal hops and piney resiny ones too, all leading into a satisfying roasty bitter finish.

Judged to style and hedonistically, I will give this one four stars out of five, but I will take back a half star for my missing four ounces. Do I seem grouchy today? Maybe my next brewery stop should be at Grumpy Old Men.

 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





 

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