Dark beers are sometimes broadly categorized as being thick and chewy. Furthermore’s newest release is a different take on a dark ale, made with Belgian yeast and a special type of wheat that offers mild sweetness while keeping the body light.
What is it? Black Cloud from Furthermore Beer of Black River Falls.
Style: Black Cloud falls into the general category of Belgian dark ales. Color is all over the map — they can be amber, brown, dark black, deep red or bronze. Belgian yeast will be showcased in most. In both aroma and flavor, that means a range of floral, earthy, musty and fruity notes. Hops are used as an accent, mostly for balance, as opposed to bitterness. Belgian dark ales also come in a wide range of strengths, from 4% to 7% ABV.
Background: Black Cloud is a new bottled beer for Furthermore. It made its debut on draught back in January at the Isthmus Beer and Cheese Festival. Since then it’s been out on a limited basis while Furthermore made preparations for a full-scale launch this summer. It’s also the first new beer from Furthermore since joining forces with Sand Creek Brewing of Black River Falls last November in an effort to increase its overall presence in the Wisconsin beer scene.
Black Cloud replaces Knot Stock APA in the company’s year-round lineup. The last time Furthermore introduced a new beer to its core brands was 2014 with its Floating Fire IPA. “It’s tough keeping up with the amount of new beer on the shelves, and we felt we needed to add a new one,” says brewer Aran Madden. “The craft beer drinker is always looking for new stuff.”
Black Cloud fits somewhat loosely into the category of Belgian dark ale, but that was Madden’s intention. He’s a brewer who doesn’t really like his beers to be strictly categorized into a single style. There’s quite a bit of a robust Belgian Dubbel character in this beer, with its floral and sweet hints of dark fruit. However, the Midnight Wheat does stand out. The grain adds dark color without the harsh burnt flavors that often come with highly roasted malts. It doesn’t take much Midnight Wheat — only about 10% of the grist — to give deep black color and softness to the body. The result is a black beer with an airy sweetness that complements the fruity-earthy flavors of the Belgian yeast.
Black Cloud finishes at 7% ABV. It sells in six-packs for $9-$10.
Tasting notes:
Aroma: Floral, fruity and earthy yeastiness. Light hints of roasted toffee maltiness.
Appearance: A dark black body. A thick, bubbly, brown head.
Texture: Medium-bodied, bubbly and soft.
Taste: Smooth, with hints of toffee, chocolate and graham cracker. Midway through the flavor there is light fruity yeastiness, with a little dark cherry and musty earthiness.
Finish/Aftertaste: A light yet firm dryness. There’s also a little spicy earthiness that lingers from the yeast. Some mild warmth, too.
Glassware: The black color, bronze highlights, and the soft, cloud-like head is great to show off in the tulip glass. The glass’s flared lip also helps maintain the frothy head and brings the yeasty aromas under the nose.
Pairs well with: Soft cheeses that have some earthy mustiness of their own are a nice blend with Dark Cloud’s light roasted chocolate and toffee flavors.
The Verdict: This is a flavorful beer that shouldn’t get lost among dark porters and stouts. I like it because it’s different from other dark ales. The Belgian yeast give it a Belgo-Euro personality; the Midnight Wheat adds smooth, soft touches of toffee. There’s also just enough hops to get this one to fall into the low 40 IBU range, a level I like in this beer. It’s not harsh; rather it has more of a dry resiny bitterness from the Chinook-Columbus combo. It is, however, a bit on the strong side at 7% ABV.