Cascadian Dark Ale

Cascadian Dark Ale is a 21st century beer style popularized in the Northwest United States and Southwest Canada. In some ways, the beer is a very dark version of an India pale ale, and is sometimes called a Black IPA.

The beer has a prominent aroma of Northwest U.S. hops. There is a flavor balance of Northwestern hop bitterness and caramel, roast, chocolate and Carafa malts; but the main emphasis should be on hop flavor. The beer's color ranges from a deep brown to black with ruby highlights, with a white to tan head.

• SRM: 30+ SRM
• OG: 1.060–1.080
• FG: 1.010–1.016
• IBU: 50–90
• ABV: 6.0–8.5%

Competition Styles

Neither the BJCP nor the GABF style guidelines currently recognize Cascadian dark ale as a competition style.

Commercial Examples

Skull Splitter from Rogue Brewing of Newport, Ore., Black Toque from Phillips Brewing of Victoria, British Columbia, Dark Pitch IPA from Widmer Brewing of Portland, Ore.

External Links

• Birth of a New Style: Cascadian Dark Ale - Brew Your Own Magazine, July/August 2010
• An emerging beer style, CDA marries hops and dark malts - Washington Post, Aug. 3, 2010