24 replies to this topic

[Tim the Enchanter]

I just posted a review of Otter Creek's Alpine Black IPA in that other part of the forum. Until I brought it home (in a sampler pack), I had never heard of such a thing. I wasn't sure what to make of it. Besides the obvious problem with the name (pale black what?), I was pretty impressed by the beer. Then I read this article and discovered it is a thing. Did you guys know about this? It sounds like it kind of originated in the east. Maybe that is why I didn't know. What do y'all think? Apparently there is even an AHA category.

[Mya]

I just posted a review of Otter Creek's Alpine Black IPA in that other part of the forum. Until I brought it home (in a sampler pack), I had never heard of such a thing. I wasn't sure what to make of it. Besides the obvious problem with the name (pale black what?), I was pretty impressed by the beer. Then I read this article and discovered it is a thing. Did you guys know about this? It sounds like it kind of originated in the east. Maybe that is why I didn't know. What do y'all think? Apparently there is even an AHA category.

It's pretty tasty as a style, also being called Cascadia Dark Ale IIRC

[orudis]

I just posted a review of Otter Creek's Alpine Black IPA in that other part of the forum. Until I brought it home (in a sampler pack), I had never heard of such a thing. I wasn't sure what to make of it. Besides the obvious problem with the name (pale black what?), I was pretty impressed by the beer. Then I read this article and discovered it is a thing. Did you guys know about this? It sounds like it kind of originated in the east. Maybe that is why I didn't know. What do y'all think? Apparently there is even an AHA category.

Both zymurgy and byo had cover stories and recipes about these atthe same time a while back, so I felt like I should make one. I enjoyed it, haven't had many commercial examples yet.

[Tim the Enchanter]

It's pretty tasty as a style, also being called Cascadia Dark Ale IIRC

I like that name better. IMO, IPA is a style. Black IPA makes no sense. I associate Cascadia with Washington State, and I'm not sure how it connects, but I like the way it sounds.

[orudis]

I like that name better. IMO, IPA is a style. Black IPA makes no sense. I associate Cascadia with Washington State, and I'm not sure how it connects, but I like the way it sounds.

they claim it originated out west, not in the east. I agree black IPA makes no sense. Sort of like an imperial mild.

[Tim the Enchanter]

The article I linked to said Vermont. People will fight about just about anything. I guess I should know that. Without it, the PH would be a pretty boring place.

[toonces]

the local brew club had these on wednesday.i thought the double black ipa on the right was tasty.eta: crap, the pict isn't a big as i wanted. anyway, it was a mountain standard double black ipa.

[BlKtRe]

Yup. We have been making Black IpA's (Cascadian) for awhile now. Originated in the Cascade Mountains. The style was invented by Greg Noonan in Vermont in the early 1990s.

Edited by BlKtRe, 19 February 2011 - 02:21 PM.

[Mya]

Yup. We have been making Black IpA's (Cascadian) for awhile now. Originated in the Cascade Mountains. The style was invented by Greg Noonan in Vermont in the early 1990s.

There is a Cascade mountain range in Vermont, huh, being from the NW I assumed The Cascades, near wher almost all US Hops are grown

[Kremer]

I made a clone of the Stone BIPA in the fall, it was darn tasty and is in the recipe rotation to do again.

[MakeMeHoppy]

BYO and Zymurgy both did articals the same month on the style.

[Malzig]

This article in Ale Street News is much more informed on the origins of the style than the one in BYO. There are no Cascade Mountains in Vermont, which is why I thought Vermont Black Ale or Noonan Black Ale would be a more appropriate style name. It seems that the BA style guidelines have settled on American Dark Ale, which is better than Cascadian but doesn't tell you anything about the beer other than the fact that it isn't Pale. Isn't an American Amber, Brown or Stout an American Dark Ale? Frankly, Black IPA, despite the obvious incongruity, tells you the most about what to expect from the style as well as telling you what it evolved from.I like the Otter Creek Black IPA.

[lowendfrequency]

It's called Cascadian Dark Ale because it's a style popularized in the NW region known as Cascadia. I'll make no claims as to who might have invented it first but out here is where it became a phenomenon and is now an everyday name. A bartender won't bat an eye if you order a CDA; they know what you're talking about. Now I realize that you can't be a style guideline purist and a CDA advocate at the same time. That being said, I'm a bit miffed at the direction the rest of the country has taken the style while still calling the product CDA. Originally, the purpose was to be able to taste the beer blindfolded and believe that it's damn good IPA, then open your eyes and see a pitch black beer in your glass. Now brewers are using all sorts of roasty malts and making hoppy stouts. These aren't CDA, they are barely even IBA. I've even seen them with coffee and chocolate in the recipes. I'm ALL for experimentation and new beers but come on... calling some of these beers CDA is a sad attempt at capitalizing on an up and coming trend. [/end rant]Cascadian Region (for clarification)

[brewguy]

CDAs were a big deal around here a few years ago, but now it seems like they are starting to taper off. No scientific evidence, just anecdotal from going to the local beerfests.

[positiveContact]

It's called Cascadian Dark Ale because it's a style popularized in the NW region known as Cascadia. I'll make no claims as to who might have invented it first but out here is where it became a phenomenon and is now an everyday name. A bartender won't bat an eye if you order a CDA; they know what you're talking about. Now I realize that you can't be a style guideline purist and a CDA advocate at the same time. That being said, I'm a bit miffed at the direction the rest of the country has taken the style while still calling the product CDA. Originally, the purpose was to be able to taste the beer blindfolded and believe that it's damn good IPA, then open your eyes and see a pitch black beer in your glass. Now brewers are using all sorts of roasty malts and making hoppy stouts. These aren't CDA, they are barely even IBA. I've even seen them with coffee and chocolate in the recipes. I'm ALL for experimentation and new beers but come on... calling some of these beers CDA is a sad attempt at capitalizing on an up and coming trend. [/end rant]Cascadian Region (for clarification)

so make an ipa and add sinamar? not much of a style

[denny]

Apparently there is even an AHA category.

If there was, it would be a BJCP category, not AHA, but there isn't. I have yet to find one of those I like and feel is more than a gimmick.

[denny]

CDAs were a big deal around here a few years ago, but now it seems like they are starting to taper off. No scientific evidence, just anecdotal from going to the local beerfests.

That's because they were a fad, not good beers.

[BlKtRe]

That's because they were a fad, not good beers.

Fad or not I dont think these are bad beers. I find the black color without any flavor components from the Carafa and all those hops a IpA has intriguing.

[No Party JKor]

Ouch! Denny harshin' on the CDA!I've only had one, 21st Amendment's, it was a good beer. Overall that style doesn't appeal to me all that much, but that doesn't mean it can't taste good. It seems like a lot of breweries are putting it in their year round beer list, so I wouldn't be that surprised to see it become a BJCP style down the road.

[positiveContact]

Ouch! Denny harshin' on the CDA!I've only had one, 21st Amendment's, it was a good beer. Overall that style doesn't appeal to me all that much, but that doesn't mean it can't taste good. It seems like a lot of breweries are putting it in their year round beer list, so I wouldn't be that surprised to see it become a BJCP style down the road.

if this is the case would it truly just be an IPA that is dark with no discernible flavor difference? I haven't had many of these. I think the one I did have was at CBC and it had some roast flavor.