Explore The Truth: Ipa And Its Dark Beer Mystery

India Pale Ale (IPA) is a popular beer with a strong hoppy taste. However, the Black IPA is an oxymoron, as it is dark in colour, almost black, but retains the dryness and hoppy balance of a typical IPA. The Black IPA is also known as an India Black Ale, American-Style Black Ale, or Cascadian Dark Ale, and has an alcohol content of between 5.5% and 9% ABV. Although it may look like a stout, it has a distinctive scent and flavour, with notes of caramel, chocolate, coffee, resin, pine, fruits, and citrus.

Black IPAs are dark brown to opaque black in colour

Black IPAs, also known as Cascadian Dark Ales, are dark brown to opaque black in colour. They are a relatively new style of beer, first becoming popular in the early 2010s. Black IPAs are characterised by the use of dark malts, which give them their distinctive colour. However, the dark malts used do not impart the same level of bitterness that is typically associated with stouts or porters. Instead, Black IPAs have a more subtle roast malt character, with hints of chocolate, coffee, and slightly burnt toast.

The use of dark malts in Black IPAs can be a bit of a misnomer, as the beers are not actually that dark in flavour. In fact, one brewer describes Black IPAs as "a hoppy dark beer; that's the simplest way to put it". The dark malts are used in small amounts, with the majority of the grain bill consisting of pale malts that contribute the sugars needed to create alcohol. This results in a beer that pours out dark but has the body and hop-forwardness of a traditional IPA.

The colour of a Black IPA can range from a dark brown to an opaque black, and they typically have a good head of light tan to mocha-coloured foam. They should be clear, except in the case of unfiltered dry-hopped examples, which can be hazy. Black IPAs also tend to have a higher alcohol content than traditional IPAs, with ABVs ranging from 5% to 9%.

The origin of the Black IPA style is somewhat disputed, with brewers in the Pacific Northwest claiming to have invented it due to their universal use of local hops. However, most people look to influential brewer Greg Noonan, who brewed in New Hampshire and Vermont in the 80s and 90s, as the creator of the commercial Black IPA. Noonan brewed Blackwatch IPA in 1990, a beer that was ahead of its time.

Black IPAs experienced a surge in popularity in the early 2010s, particularly on the West Coast of America where hops are grown. Many large breweries began commercially producing Black IPAs, and the style was in high demand for a few years. However, the popularity of Black IPAs eventually waned, and they were overtaken by other styles such as the New England IPA.

They have a strong hoppy taste

India Pale Ales (IPAs) are known for their strong hoppy taste. The beer style has evolved over the years, with contemporary IPAs being much stronger than their predecessors. The distinct bitter taste of IPAs is due to the addition of hops during the brewing process, with brewers adding more hops to IPAs than other types of beers like lagers and ambers.

The hops used in IPAs can create a range of flavors, from citrus to earthy and floral notes. Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops are commonly used to create citrus flavors, while Centennial and Chinook hops are used for earthy tastes. Beers with a resiny flavor often use Columbus hops.

The "hoppiness" of a beer can be determined by using the International Bitterness Unit Scale (IBU). Beers with an IBU of zero are considered less hoppy, while those with an IBU of 25 and above are considered more hoppy. IPAs tend to fall into the more hoppy category, with Double IPAs, stouts, and hazy IPAs being among the hoppiest beers available.

The strong hoppy taste of IPAs has made them a divisive beer style. While some beer enthusiasts appreciate the complex flavors and aromas that hops provide, others find the bitterness overwhelming. However, the IPA style is constantly evolving, and brewers are experimenting with new techniques to reduce the perception of bitterness and bring out other flavors.

One variation of the traditional IPA is the Black IPA, also known as American Black Ale, India Black Ale, or Cascadian Dark Ale. Black IPAs combine the strong hoppy taste of an IPA with the dark malty character of a stout or porter. The result is a unique beer style that offers a balance between delicate roast and expressive American hop character.

Black IPAs have sparked debate among craft beer enthusiasts due to their contradictory nature. While the "black" in the name suggests a dark beer, the addition of American hops gives Black IPAs a lighter, more bitter taste that sets them apart from stouts and porters. Despite the controversy, Black IPAs have gained recognition and respect in the brewing world, with several award-winning examples of the style.

They are also known as Cascadian Dark Ales

The name "Cascadian Dark Ale" (CDA) is derived from the Cascadian region, which includes Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Idaho, as well as the Columbia River watershed. Beers of this style are characterised by the use of hops from the Northwest region and are typically dark in colour with a prominent Northwest hop aroma, featuring notes of citrus, pine, and resin. The style also tends to have a higher alcohol content and bitterness level than a typical IPA.

The name CDA was first coined by a group of NW brewers in 2010, who recommended it to the BJCP and GABF for judging. However, the official style name recognised by the Brewers Association for the 2010 Great American Beer Festival was "American-Style India Black Ale". The debate over the name continues, with some arguing that "Black IPA" is confusing and oxymoronic, while others point out that the term "Cascadian Dark Ale" may be a mouthful for drinkers trying to order in a noisy bar.

Despite the debate over the name, the style itself has gained popularity, with many craft breweries across the country offering their own interpretations. The style is particularly associated with the Pacific Northwest, where many of the early examples were brewed, and where the hops used in this style are predominantly sourced from.

The CDA style is characterised by a prominent Northwest hop aroma, featuring notes of citrus, pine, and resin. The beer is dark in colour, ranging from deep brown to black, and may have ruby highlights. The body typically has sweet malt flavours, with hints of roastiness and toasted malt, creating a balance between the hop character and malt flavours. The finish is semi-dry, lighter than a porter or stout, and the hop aromas and flavours are prominent without overwhelming the malt balance.

In terms of mouthfeel, CDAs tend to be light to medium-bodied, with a dry mouthfeel created by the combination of hop bitterness and tannins from roasted malts. The bitterness is typically in the range of 60 to 90 IBU, and the alcohol content is usually between 6 and 8.5% ABV.

They have an ABV of between 5.5% and 9%

India Pale Ales, or IPAs, are a popular beer style within the broader category of pale ales. IPAs are characterised by their strong, bitter hoppy flavour and aroma. They are also usually slightly darker in colour than American Pale Ales.

IPAs typically have an ABV of between 5.5% and 7.5%. However, some IPAs can have a much higher ABV, with some even reaching 13% ABV. For example, the popular IPA Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale has an ABV of 8.7%.

The ABV of an IPA can vary depending on the specific style and the brewer. Double IPAs, for instance, are a stronger variety of IPA that typically have an ABV of 7% and above. Triple IPAs are even stronger, usually containing more than 10% ABV.

IPAs with a higher ABV are often imperial or double IPAs, which have a stronger flavour and more hop bitterness. These beers are often described as having a "hoppy" character.

IPAs with a lower ABV, on the other hand, are usually standard or single IPAs. These beers still have a strong hoppy flavour and aroma, but with a less intense bitterness. They are often described as having a more delicate or balanced character.

So, while IPAs typically have an ABV of between 5.5% and 7.5%, there are many exceptions to this range. Whether an IPA has a higher or lower ABV can depend on various factors, including the specific style, the brewer, and regional variations.

They are best served at 46-54°F in a tulip or IPA glass

India Pale Ales (IPAs) are best served at a temperature between 46°F and 54°F. This is because IPAs contain a wide range of flavours and aromas, from tropical and citrusy to piney and herbal, and serving them at this temperature allows all these flavours to be appreciated.

IPAs are best served in a tulip or IPA glass. The shape of the glass is important as it impacts the foam or "head" that forms at the top of the glass. The thickness and retention of the head affect the aroma of the beer as it captures compounds such as fermentation byproducts and hop oils. A tulip glass is a bulbous shape that tapers inwards at the top, which helps to capture and channel the aroma into your mouth. An IPA glass is similar to a tulip glass but has a wide, hollow stem with an elongated bowl that tapers slightly at the top. This shape helps to aerate the beer and pushes the aromatics in a focused stream towards your nose.

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