Pouring a touch cloudy, this brew lives up to its name: Ipswich Dark Ale’s dark cola color is brightened only by its bubbly, off-white head. Up from this ominous brew, heavy toasted scents that border on roast fill the nose with a subtle fruity hop character that livens the aroma. Similar near-roasted malt flavors take over the tongue, exhibiting bitterness a bit high for the style, while nutty dark chocolate notes peek through the flavor. As this bitter malt character pours back, it blends with sharp hops to create a potent force. While there’s not much hop flavor to speak of -- only hints of grass poke out -- the malt-hop duo’s radiating bitter finish reveals this beer’s aggressive spirit.
