Seeker's Canvent debut, inside Carwyn Cellars' 2024 Black Box, is called Dark Wizard. And, to borrow from the remarkable Rebecca Taylor, AKA Self Esteem, there really is some fucking wizardry at play here. Head along the well-trodden path marked "Hides Its Alcohol Well" and this black IIIPA will be part of a breakaway group pulling away from the pack; seriously, it's a mini-marvel.
As you'd expected with anything that tops 11 percent ABV and sets roasted malts against potent US hops Simcoe, Citra Cryo and CTZ – topped off with a "good dose of Cryo Pop" – there's plenty going on: bitterness of a roasty kind, bitter chocolate, a plum and treacle cake sweetness, piney, herbaceous hops, a hint of dark citrus, and a flighty mint leaf top note.
But what really impresses isn't just the fact there's precious little heat indicating the sizeable booze content but also that there's no overt palate weight as well as a clarity of the various elements far greater than the beer's somewhat murky appearance. Another beer that marks Seeker as a brewery to watch – and only available outside the box at their taproom or online store.
James Smith
Published July 8, 2024 2024-07-08 00:00:00
