American Black Ale

American Black Ale

5560 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
Sprecher Black IPA
WI, United States
2
3.240
Village Brewery Blacksmith India Black Ale
Canada
2
3.080
Boréale Collection Nokturn Black IPA
Canada
2
3.220
Beau's All Natural Wild Oats Series No. 49: Schwarzwälder
Canada
2
3.260
10 Barrel Hop Project #37 Brown IPA
OR, United States
2
3.260
Sweetwater Dank Tank Some Strange
GA, United States
2
3.400
Harpoon 100 Barrel Series - Black IPA
MA, United States
2
2.980
Les Brasseurs du Temps Asticou
Canada
2
3.260
Lake Of Bays Storm Chaser
Canada
2
3.180
Oproer Black Flag
Netherlands
2
3.240
Wicked Weed Ruffian Imperial Black IPA
NC, United States
2
3.540
Left Coast The Wedge
CA, United States
2
3.440
Kissmeyer Black IPA
Denmark
2
3.320
Flossmoor Station Black Magic IPA
IL, United States
2
3.440
Thornbridge Raven
United Kingdom
2
3.420
Cascade Dark Day IPA
OR, United States
2
3.380
Great Lakes Brewery 7 Barrel Series: Apocalypse Later Black IPA
Canada
2
3.260
Wicked Weed Iron Lady
NC, United States
2
3.460
Le Trou du Diable Épik
Canada
2
3.320
Oskar Blues Bayside Black IPA
CO, United States
2
3.400