Beer Murray's Shawn's Fault

It seems that Black IPAs or India Black Ales or CDAs or Those Black Ones That Taste Dead Hoppy are ten a penny these days. But when this beer first appeared last year, it was a rarity - if not a first for a commercial Aussie beer. So called because when brewer Shawn Sherlock first announced to Murray what he wanted to do with the beer, he admitted not everyone would like it "but those who do will love it". "If nobody likes it, it's Shawn's fault," came the reply. Given it's back for a second appearance - this time bottled not kegged - it seems he got away with it. The beer shares some qualities with the brewery's Wild Thing and Heart of Darkness in that there's loads of hops (as high a level as the Icon 2IPA) and some roasty character in there too, although with the latter held in check far more than the other two beers. The result is "big hop flavour and aroma" with "strong dark chocolate, almost coffee-like flavours".