Absolution Brewing Co La Mort Noire
What the brewers say
“West Coast–style black IPA with midnight wheat and Simcoe, Columbus, Cascade, Mosaic, Amarillo hops.”
What our panel thought
“Humid earth, citrus, pine are heavy in the aroma. Zesty lemon and orange from the hops cut through the dark malts and increase drinkability. Nice tannic, woody bite prepares your palate for the piney bitterness that follows. Lingering bitterness with dark chocolate rounds out the overall impression.”
What our editors thought
“Modern West Coast meets Cascadian dark, with pineapple and guava in the bright, unexpected nose, braced by sweet cacao undertones, a touch of honeycomb, and crunchy chocolate wafer. That modernity extends into the sip, as the deep but lively tropical hop notes would feel equally at home in beer of pure pilsner malt. The body is lean and sparing, letting the hops shine with a beautifully balanced touch of dark chocolate from the malt. Singular and enthralling.”
