This west coast style IPA from Black Abbey Brewing is a solid offering from one of Nashville’s more prominent breweries. For this review I’m reviewing the six-pack cans available in your favorite grocery aisle for less than $10.
Black Abbey Five Points IPA Alcohol Content & IBU
Beer: Five Points IPA
Brewery: Black Abbey Brewing Company
Type of Beer: IPA
ABV: 5.6%
IBU: 94
The Appearance
The black can doesn’t denote the contents inside, and almost gets lost in the shuffle with the much louder product offerings. However, don’t let this put you off – the The Five Points IPA has a light-caramel complexion with a tinge of golden amber. The beer doesn’t hold down the side of the glass as I would like, however, that’s a preference not a slight on the complexion of the beer.
The Taste
Consisting of Amarillo, Cascade, and Citra hops, Five Points IPA has a complex but not overpowering flavor. The taste is consistent and clean without the citrus being too overly dominant. There’s a very subtle hint of fruitiness which arrives late on your palate. I did notice a flavor overpowering the back of my throat after about half a pint, which took away from the overall flavor profile.
With a high IBU of 94, I didn’t notice the drink to be overly bitter which is a compliment to the mixture of hops used. There’s a nice balance to the drink, and I would recommend Five Points IPA as a good introductory beer to non-IPA drinkers. I didn’t find it too overly hoppy to be off-putting, and it’s a solid introduction to IPAs in general.
What to Drink With
I drank this beer in different settings but I found that the flavor profile of Five Points is best suited for an appetizer or entree that has a bold or spicy flavor (although it’s a solid drink without any pairing at all).
Round-Up
Five Points IPA is not spectacular, but definitely worth a taste if you haven’t already. It has a consistent taste throughout the drink and the complex flavor profiles don’t distract from what is a solid beer. I did find that after drinking two or more the aftertaste became stuck in the back of my throat which was a little unpleasant. Other than that, I’d recommend it to seasoned IPA drinkers or a non-IPA drinker looking to try something a little different.
