Color: 14 SRM
Bitterness: 80 IBU
Availability: Limited Release in Kegs and Bombers
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BLACKBALL BELGIAN IPA
Karl’s Coastal Reserve
When checkered blackball flags dot the California coastline, experienced surfers migrate to advanced breaks where strangers to the sport dare not. Blackball is a Belgian-inspired India Pale Ale with a robust West Coast hop profile. Belgian ale yeast, coriander, and Curacao lend a fruity and spicy character for an ale bolder than your average IPA. A blend of New Zealand and Cascade hops add a vibrant floral aroma and clean citrus hop bitterness that lingers through its crisp, dry finish. Drink up while it’s young, heavily hopped IPA’s are best enjoyed fresh.
2011 LA Int.
Beer Comp.
Gold Medal
2011 Ca. St. Fair Commercial Craft Brew Competition
Silver Medal
2011 “Amazing. This is a great rendition of a Belgian IPA. The perfect blend of spices and tropical fruit flavors. The orange and grapefruit are bold and compliment each other nicely.” - User Comment, BeerAdvocate
“Bright brassy color, great clarity and a massive dollop of head on top ... a sight to see. Peachy fruitiness runs over the top on the nose, warming peppery alcohol, leafy hop, sweet grain and some phenols and yeast within. Big fruity sweetness upfront of malt and smashed over ripened peaches, that slowly breaks away to let in the alcohol, phenols and more important ... the hoppiness that relies more on flavor than its bitterness even though it does have a big enough sting to break through the beer. Pretty drinkable for its size, still sippin it though. Job well done here, very enjoyable.” - Jason Alstrom, BeerAdvocate.com
“This 8.5% ABV Belgian IPA is just about as perfect as you can get when marrying a West Cost IPA with a little Belgian influence. The brewery started off with a double IPA that was fermented with Belgian yeast and then dry-hopped the beer with a blend of Cascade and New Zealand hops. Throw in a little coriander and Curacao and you have yourself one hell of a tasty beer.” - Ray Henry, Barley Blog
“Pours a vibrant copper with a dense fluffy white head that retains for some time. A big bouquet of citrus (grapefruit, tangerine, lemon). Spicy Belgian yeast.A mouthful of spicy, fruity yeast, bitter juicy grapefruit and piny hops. Finishes with spice and big bitterness. I often times don’t care for Golden Ale, Tripels, and Belgian IPAs do to the associated yeast profile. I do, however like a west coast double IPA style Belgian IPA. This was a real tasty beer that I can put into the like column as far as pale Belgian’s go. Drink this fresh to enjoy this with all of its citrusy goodness, that bouquet is what made the beer for me.”
-Dan Becker, TheFullPint.com
“The Blackball Belgian Style IPA might be one of the most unique beers- both by smell and taste- we have encountered thus far. It pours a deep orange, pale color with a solid two-finger head. The aroma however is the most defining characteristic of this beer from Karl Strauss. We spent more time digging our noses into this beer than anything else! What did we find? Well, some tropical fruits like ripened banana and pineapple present themselves upfront. The beer is made with Curacao, which is most similar to an orange.”
-Brewbound.com
“Really, really clear…sunset color, nice two finger off white head…clean citrus aroma coming off, almost a ripe apricot/pineapple aroma coming from the new Zealand hops, definitely some pininess … touch of alcohol…First taste is bitterness followed by a sweet fruit/peach/mango/pineapple almost pear-like quality, …nice carbonation and dry west coast finish.”
-Chris Steltz, Beer Geek Nation
