American Black Ale

American Black Ale

684 beers | 3.760 Avg Score

The recently developed American Black Ale (ABA) is the product of American craft brewers’ love affair with hops, and their constant desire to innovate and push the envelope. Believed to have originated at the Vermont Pub and Brewery in 1994, the style has surged in popularity since 2007, especially in the Pacific Northwest region, prompting many to refer to it as a Cascadian Dark Ale. The ABA, often called a Black IPA, is similar to its predecessor, the India Pale Ale, but has had its malt bill modified to include a small percentage of highly kilned or roasted malts, giving the beer a dark brown or black appearance. The aromas are typically grassy, spicy, floral, citrussy and/or piny, thanks to aggressive quantities of hops being added at the end of the boil and as dry-hops. Despite its dark color, the malt flavors are typically in the background as they are dominated by ample bitterness and hop flavor. Flavors are resinous and citrussy, and in some versions the dark malts can lend light caramel, chocolate, coffee, or ashy flavors to the beer. The alcohol content for ABAs is typically in the 5.5%-8% by volume range.

Beer | Location Reviews Score
Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale
CA, United States
49
3.931
Southern Tier Iniquity
NY, United States
23
3.716
21st Amendment Back In Black IPA
CA, United States
21
3.496
New Belgium Snow Day
CO, United States
19
3.514
Firestone Walker Wookey Jack Black IPA
CA, United States
19
3.964
Victory Yakima Glory
PA, United States
18
3.643
Uinta Dubhe Imperial Black IPA
UT, United States
18
3.809
Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA
CA, United States
14
3.765
Deschutes Hop In The Dark Cascadian Dark Ale
OR, United States
14
3.659
Widmer Brothers W'10 Pitch Black IPA
OR, United States
13
3.506
Sierra Nevada Juniper Black Ale
CA, United States
13
3.743
Laughing Dog DogZilla Black IPA
ID, United States
12
3.526
Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet 1.5 Double Black India Pale Ale
MA, United States
11
3.643
Beer Here Dark Hops
Denmark
10
3.754
Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet
MA, United States
10
3.785
Terrapin Hop Karma Brown IPA
GA, United States
10
3.454
Flying Monkeys Netherworld Cascadian Dark Ale
Canada
10
3.400
Tommyknocker Hop Strike Black Rye IPA
CO, United States
10
3.338
Rogue Dads Little Helper Black IPA
OR, United States
9
3.600
Samuel Adams Long Shot Blackened Hops
MA, United States
9
3.667