Gothic Grains Black IPA

Review Date 6/10/2024 By John Staradumsky

  Style: India Dark Ale    Brewery: Schoolhouse   Country: USA   State: Georgia   $ Per OZ: $.23 (B)   ABV: 6%

I went to the Schoolhouse Brewery in Marietta, Georgia, you see, because I wanted a 4-pack of their Brews Brothers IPA. While I was there, though, I enjoyed a pint of their delightful Capone’s Concierge Porter, and decided to take home another 4-pack when I saw they had an India Dark Ale, too: Gothic Grains Black IPA.

OK, they do call it a Black IPA, but if I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times, Black IPA is a contradiction in terms. IPA is India Pale Ale, and a beer cannot be black and pale at the same time. Some people call them Cascadian Dark Ales, but I don’t like that either. I prefer India Dark Ale, and that’s what I call them. Whatever you call them, though, IDAs are amongst my very favorite styles. I don’t see them often enough, so I bought the 4-pack. Of course I did.

The brewery website says about the beer:

Dark and bitter as our souls, this unique brew offers rich roasted malt as well as a strong hoppy bite. I say to thee, Be with me always — take any form — drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you!

Well, that’s charming, isn’t it?

Schoolhouse Gothic Grains Black IPA has an alcohol content of 6% by volume with 60 IBUs. I paid $15 for my 4-pack of pint cans.

Schoolhouse Gothic Grains Black IPA pours to a dark black, but not opaque, color with a thick creamy tan head and a nose of dark roast and hops. Taking a sip, the beer is medium in body, about what I expect in the style. It’s roasty and chocolaty with notes of chocolate pudding like your mom used to make on the stove, complete with the skins. It finishes roasty bitter and hoppy, with earthy grassy bitter hops lingering on the tongue after you sip.

I’m glad I bought the 4-pack and you just now I would buy this one again.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??