American Black Ale

American Black Ale

5551 beers | 3.693 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
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CA, United States
3
3.500
Midtfyns Gleipner
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3
3.467
Toccalmatto B Space Invader
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3
3.417
Crabtree Eclipse Black IPA
CO, United States
3
3.317
Harpoon 100 Barrel Series - Director's Cut
MA, United States
3
3.334
Struise Black Damnation VIII - S.H.I.T.
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3
3.317
McAuslan St. Ambroise Black IPA
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3
3.334
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MI, United States
3
3.334
10 Barrel Hop Project #37 Brown IPA
OR, United States
2
3.260
Sweetwater Dank Tank Some Strange
GA, United States
2
3.400
Pelican Bad Santa
OR, United States
2
3.280
Wicked Weed Ruffian Imperial Black IPA
NC, United States
2
3.540
Flossmoor Station Black Magic IPA
IL, United States
2
3.440
Cascade Dark Day IPA
OR, United States
2
3.380
Great Lakes Brewery 7 Barrel Series: Apocalypse Later Black IPA
Canada
2
3.260
Emelisse Black IPA
Netherlands
2
3.420
Hopworks Organic Secession Cascadian Dark Ale
OR, United States
2
3.380
White Birch Apprentice Series Nyx
NH, United States
2
3.140
Smuttynose Noonan Black IPA
NH, United States
2
3.320
The Bruery Batch #1000 Bryeian
CA, United States
2
3.340