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
Sierra Nevada DevESTATEtion
CA, United States
3
3.350
Refined Fool Murder Of Crows
Canada
3
3.400
Avery Twenty One
CO, United States
3
3.400
McAuslan St. Ambroise Black IPA
Canada
3
3.334
Beau's All Natural Pro-Am Series No.11: Le Coeur Noir Black IPA
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3
3.317
Sawdust City Reunion Tour Black IPA
Canada
3
3.417
Oakshire O'Dark:30
OR, United States
3
3.484
Pelican Bad Santa
OR, United States
2
3.280
Gilgamesh Vader
OR, United States
2
3.060
Ruhstaller Capt.
CA, United States
2
3.200
Thornbridge Raven
United Kingdom
2
3.420
Indeed Midnight Ryder
MN, United States
2
3.400
Mikkeller Sort Gul
Denmark
2
3.520
Great Lakes Brewery 25th Anniversary Imperial Black IPA
Canada
2
3.420
Parallel 49 Black Christmas CDA
Canada
2
3.340
Cascade Dark Day IPA
OR, United States
2
3.380
BrewDog Abstrakt AB:06
United Kingdom
2
3.120
Peak Organic Hop Noir
ME, United States
2
3.420
Stone 15th anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA (Lowland Scotch)
CA, United States
2
3.600
Midtfyns Gleipner
Denmark
2
3.380