BlackFace IPA

[AnOldUR]

You don't need the visual, but too bad . . . I’m sitting on the throne, staring at the recipe for Pliny the Elder in Zymurgy, but thinking about the Black Ale planned for brewing sometime this weekend. I’m thinking, what Vinnie needs to do is make Pliny the Black Man. No that will never fly. How about Pliny in Blackface? . . . . Nice!

Yup, that’ll be my next beer. I’ll go with "BlackFace IPA." Never have liked the term Black IPA. Just seems wrong, but BlackFace IPA fits the description of this new style perfectly. This will be my 100th batch. Big and black!


So, I Googled and came up empty. Is the name being used?

 

[Cheaton]

Considering its a fairly offensive thing to some, I doubt the name is being used commercially.

 

[AnOldUR]

The lack of replies had me thinking that this was just a bad idea or offensive. I’ve always thought of the term blackface in a minstrel or comedic way. Not in terms of intentionally insulting someone. Just me being naïve again. I apologies.


But in fairness, the Wayans Brothers made a lot of money doing whiteface. Now if I can just figure out a way to make my Porter look like a Pale, I'll have the perfect name for it. :cross:

 

[Palefire]

Yeah, I'd have to second the "not such a good name" idea. Good catch.

Though you're right - maybe it's time for someone to make the "Alan Thicke Pale"?

 

[bhatchable]

i don't see how black ipa could be offensive. it is named that to describe the color of it. this country is too race centric and quick to pull the "i'm offended" card

 

[mr_clean]

For real,if it bothers you go cry to your mama.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

I don't think its at all offensive. Go for it.

 

[Aneurysm9]

There's a a big difference between "Black IPA" and "BlackFace IPA". The former is descriptive of the color; the latter is nonsensical as beer doesn't have a face and carries signficant negative connotations.

 

[Picobrew]

There's a a big difference between "Black IPA" and "BlackFace IPA". The former is descriptive of the color; the latter is nonsensical as beer doesn't have a face and carries signficant negative connotations.

Yeah exactly. Blackface means a lot more than putting on some black makeup. If you only think of it as "funny" you should do some reading.

In Portland, a few breweries call Black IPAs "Cascadian Dark Ale".

 

[Palefire]

There's a a big difference between "Black IPA" and "BlackFace IPA". The former is descriptive of the color; the latter is nonsensical as beer doesn't have a face and carries signficant negative connotations.

I was in the midst of writing a comment saying basically this, but got called away before I could finish. So +1 here.

 

[bhatchable]

Yeah, i agree. black ipa should be fine and inoffensive. I've never seen the wayans skit so I'm not sure what connotation the second carries. naming a beer for physical characteristics (ie color) shouldn't invoke any racial sentiments

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Black IPA is also nonsensical. Black India Pale Ale cannot be both black and pale, nor does it have anything to do with India (or the English colonization thereof).

 

[Palefire]

Black IPA is also nonsensical. Black India Pale Ale cannot be both black and pale, nor does it have anything to do with India (or the English colonization thereof).

The point? That the reason "BlackFace IPA" isn't the best name isn't because it's nonsensical? Ok, maybe. But I'm sure we could come up with a bunch of other, less euphemistic reasons why it's offensive.

 

[AnOldUR]

. . . If you only think of it as "funny" you should do some reading.

Really didn't want to start any controversy. A Black IPA always bothered me as being an oxymoron. At first thought, Blackface fit the bill as being descriptive of something that was originally white (pale), now wearing a black face. In hindsight, and after doing a bit of research, I see the humor was lacking in both judgement and regard for others.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Most of us seem to agree that Blackface IPA is not the greatest name because it could be offensive to some. I simply offered that Black IPA isn't the best name, either, because it makes no sense.

 

[Aneurysm9]

What else do you call a beer that otherwise would be an IPA but has been made black by the addition of black malt? I suppose Imperial Black Ale as Southern Tier does with their Iniquity, but they also describe it as a "black" IPA.

 

[AnOldUR]

What else do you call a beer that otherwise would be an IPA but has been made black . . .

Yeah, I'll be going back to my old label.

 

[bhatchable]

I just youtubed that wayans' skit... I get it now... The fact that there is an inability to laugh at the beer name- after that skit- doesn't speak well to racial tensions in our country. racial awkwardness is old already

 

[mr_clean]

If someone came up with a "Whiteboy ale" everybody would be fine with it,contradiction.

 

[Palefire]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Most of us seem to agree that Blackface IPA is not the greatest name because it could be offensive to some. I simply offered that Black IPA isn't the best name, either, because it makes no sense.

Sorry - didn't mean to come across as aggressively as I did. I read the comment as meaning something different. My apologies.

If someone came up with a "Whiteboy ale" everybody would be fine with it,contradiction.

On the other hand, this is, well, simply not true. On both counts (both that everyone would be fine with it, and that there's a contradiction involved). But that's a discussion for another thread, maybe even another forum, me thinks.

Ok, going back to discussing beer.

 

[CaptYesterday]

http://ratebeer.com/beer/black-box-javelin/107634/

Apparently Javelin was originally named Spearchucker, but the state of Ohio wouldn't approve its use for labels.

Brewer told me he was inspired by an article in BYO that featured a black woman and her "************ Stout."

I made a half hearted attempt to google it, but came up empty.

 

[hbomb]

Hope you don't go with it. You can do better.

 

[Picobrew]

Congrats on your 100th batch, by the way.

 

[AnOldUR]

Congrats on your 100th batch, by the way.

Thanks, but it didn't happen yet.

Got nervous about the deadline on a job, so I worked the weekend.
But the good news is that it went better than expected, so I should be able to pull off a mid-week brewday.

 

[Kauai_Kahuna]

Yeah exactly. Blackface means a lot more than putting on some black makeup. If you only think of it as "funny" you should do some reading.

In Portland, a few breweries call Black IPAs "Cascadian Dark Ale".

Maybe I just grew up being the "F..... haole", and having enough counter prejudice from all to all to actually be kind of color bind. I see good people to know, asshats to avoid, and idiots everywhere.

The past is the past and we can not change it.

Personally without reading about blackface/whiteface I would have been totally clueless. It just everywhere but was not part of my life.

At the same time people do need to get a thicker skin and move on, you do not forget the past, you learn from it, but don't be bound by it.

With that being said, poor choice of a name.
And damm both history and political correctness for making this so hard to respond to.

But at the same time, I don't think twice about naming a beer "dumb beach blonde" What's up with that?