American Black Ale

American Black Ale

696 beers | 3.761 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
Firestone Walker Wookey Jack Black IPA
CA, United States
19
3.964
Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale
CA, United States
50
3.934
Uinta Dubhe Imperial Black IPA
UT, United States
18
3.809
Buxton Imperial Black India Pale Ale
United Kingdom
7
3.790
Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet
MA, United States
10
3.785
Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA
CA, United States
14
3.765
Lagunitas NightTime IPA
CA, United States
8
3.755
Beer Here Dark Hops
Denmark
10
3.754
Beavertown Black Betty
United Kingdom
5
3.750
Sierra Nevada Juniper Black Ale
CA, United States
13
3.743
Southern Tier Iniquity
NY, United States
23
3.716
Real Ale / 3 Floyds / Surly Blakkr Imperial Black Ale
TX, United States
4
3.714
The Alchemist / Ninkasi / Stone More Brown than Black IPA
CA, United States
8
3.700
Samuel Adams Long Shot Blackened Hops
MA, United States
9
3.667
Deschutes Hop In The Dark Cascadian Dark Ale
OR, United States
14
3.659
Victory Yakima Glory
PA, United States
18
3.643
Clown Shoes Hoppy Feet 1.5 Double Black India Pale Ale
MA, United States
11
3.643
Green Flash Hop Odyssey Black IPA
CA, United States
4
3.643
Boulevard Grainstorm
MO, United States
6
3.622
Founders Dark Penance
MI, United States
9
3.617