Antur Black IPA 440ml

Antur Black IPA is a 5.5% ABV dark beer brewed by Antur Brew Co, a Welsh craft brewery based in Crickhowell, Powys. The Black IPA style bridges the gap between a classic India Pale Ale and a dark ale, pairing a roasted, dark malt base with a heavy dose of modern American hops, and this 440ml can is a good example of that hybrid approach.

Antur Brew Co was founded by Lance and his partner, who built the brewery around their shared love of craft beer and the outdoors. The name Antur is Welsh for adventure, which reflects the brewery's positioning and its focus on brewing with quality ingredients, including Welsh water, at its base in Crickhowell. What began as a small operation has grown a loyal following through its core range and seasonal releases, of which this Black IPA was originally one before demand saw it added permanently to the core lineup.

In character, Antur Black IPA combines a complex dark malt backbone with a heavy addition of juicy American hops, specifically Idaho 7, Mosaic, Citra, El Dorado and Amarillo. This produces a beer with malty, biscuit and coffee notes from the dark malts, layered with citrus, mango and stonefruit character from the hop bill, giving the beer more brightness and fruitiness on the palate than its dark colour might suggest. This is the defining trait of a well-made Black IPA: the roasted depth of a dark ale combined with the aromatic hop character of an IPA, rather than the two competing with one another.

Given its combination of roasted malt and bold hop character, Antur Black IPA pairs well with grilled and barbecued meats, strong cheeses and dishes with a degree of char or smoke, where its coffee and biscuit notes can complement the food. It also stands up well to spicier dishes thanks to its hop-driven citrus and stonefruit character. Served slightly warmer than a typical pale lager, in a tulip or IPA glass, allows the aroma from the hop bill to come through more fully.

Antur Black IPA is a solid choice for drinkers who enjoy hop-forward beers but want more depth and roasted character than a standard pale IPA offers. At 5.5% ABV and brewed by a small independent Welsh brewery in Powys, it represents a distinctive addition to the Black IPA style, worth seeking out by anyone exploring craft beer from Wales.