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
Innis & Gunn Don's Choice
United Kingdom
2
3.080
Great Lakes Brewery 7 Barrel Series: Apocalypse Later Black IPA
Canada
2
3.260
512 Black IPA
TX, United States
2
3.260
Upland Komodo Dragonfly Black IPA
IN, United States
2
3.200
Cigar City Humidor Series Double American Black Ale
FL, United States
2
3.480
BrewDog Abstrakt AB:06
United Kingdom
2
3.120
Due South Midnight Maurader Black IPA
FL, United States
2
3.300
Peak Organic Hop Noir
ME, United States
2
3.420
Les Brasseurs du Temps Asticou
Canada
2
3.260
Midtfyns Gleipner
Denmark
2
3.380
Scullery Brew Dark IPA
Denmark
2
3.140
Windsor & Eton Conqueror
United Kingdom
2
3.320
Parallel 49 Black Christmas CDA
Canada
2
3.340
Le Trou du Diable Épik
Canada
2
3.320
Barley Days Ursa Major Black IPA
Canada
2
3.140
Olde Hickory Black Raven IPA
NC, United States
2
3.380
Hornbeer Hophorn
Denmark
2
3.360
Hopworks Organic Secession Cascadian Dark Ale
OR, United States
2
3.380
Ruhstaller Capt.
CA, United States
2
3.200
White Birch Apprentice Series Nyx
NH, United States
2
3.140