#12 - Yeastie Boys PKB Remix 2010 - 6.8% ABV

'PKB' stands for Pot Kettle Black which is Wellington's Yeastie Boy's all year round Black IPA. This 'remix' has lashings of US Cascade instead of the usual NZ variety.

PKBR'10 pours a jet black with a sunset-like glow of dark ruby around the edge of the glass. The head is light and billowy and contrasts nicely to the darkness of the beer.

There is a mass of citrus and chocolate on the nose, jaffa-like.

On tasting, I would never imagine this was a black beer. It's like drinking a big creamy hop-fueled pale ale in the middle of a moonless night. The US Cascade burst forth with every mouthful delivering sweet citrus aromas without the in-your-face bitterness that other big IPAs deliver. These aromas then give way for the real flavours- a mellow roastiness and a whisper of malt sweetness.

An amazing beer. One that blurs the boundaries between porters/stouts and pale ales.

The second glass, I managed to resist for a few more minutes and let it warm slightly. With the increase in temperature PKBR'10 lost its balance a little and the hops became far more dominant. So one to serve from the fridge.

Magical.