Why the black IPA?

[dougdecinces]

Black IPA fans, I am curious to know what you see in this beer. I have just tried my third-ever black IPA, and I'm just not a fan. For me, when I want an IPA, I want it for its crispness and drinkability. When I want a dark, high alcohol beer, I want it to have depth. I get neither of those with a black IPA. So, in the most non-judgemental way possible, I want to know from devotees of the style, why do you like it?

 

[beergolf]

Some examples are good, some terrible. If you can get Southern Tier Iniquity Black Ale, give it a try.probably the best one I have tasted.

That beer made me a fan and I have made several Black IPA's.The key is the balance, not too much roast but enough to make it different from an IPA.

 

[sudsmcgee]

Stop being racist. (just kidding)

 

[Daver77]

Some examples are good, some terrible. If you can get Southern Tier Iniquity Black Ale, give it a try.probably the best one I have tasted.

That beer made me a fan and I have made several Black IPA's.The key is the balance, not too much roast but enough to make it different from an IPA.

Roast in an IPA is not a good idea. Not sure that's they use to make it dark.

I just made on recently that tasted great to get it black I used carafa

 

[Airborneguy]

I had the original today (see my thread about it). I love this style, and considering I don't generally like regular IPA's, that's saying a lot. I like how the subtle roast plays off of the hoppiness and prefer that to the regular IPA's which tend to be too dry for me and just loaded with hops.

 

[HollisBT]

Roast in an IPA is not a good idea.

you must have not had a good example of this yet then.

 

[Daver77]

you must have not had a good example of this yet then.

It's beer, get creative and put what every you want in it. What I meant was I don't think I want any roastiness with my IPA otherwise it will taste like a hoppy stout.

Carafa II turns it black with minimal flavor changes so you get a black IPA.

Maybe adding a couple oz of roasted barley will add a subtle roastines?

I have had the Southern Tier and the Stone Black IPA.

To each is own that's the great thing about beer

 

[Seven]

Black IPA fans, I am curious to know what you see in this beer. I have just tried my third-ever black IPA, and I'm just not a fan. For me, when I want an IPA, I want it for its crispness and drinkability. When I want a dark, high alcohol beer, I want it to have depth. I get neither of those with a black IPA. So, in the most non-judgemental way possible, I want to know from devotees of the style, why do you like it?

Which black IPAs have you tried?

Black IPAs are definitely one of my favorite styles and I brew them fairly often. I like them because I like beers that have a substantial amount of hop flavor and aroma along with a roasty, chocolate, and/or coffee malt character.

I have found that I don't really care for very light beers or very heavy beers (like milds or imperial chocolate stouts). I instead prefer beers that are in the mid to slightly higher abv/gravity range and many black IPAs fit well within this category.

 

[iaefebs]

Why do some people put mushrooms in spaghetti sauce? I don't like mushrooms. Why do car builders paint cars silver? I don't like silver paint.

 

[dougdecinces]

Why do some people put mushrooms in spaghetti sauce? I don't like mushrooms. Why do car builders paint cars silver? I don't like silver paint.

I know you're having fun at my expense, but this is kind of my point. I'm not trying to be judgemental, I just don't understand the appeal, and I wanted to know why fans of the style were fans. Instead of being completely dismissive of something, I'm I'm trying to understand more about it. I'm getting some interesting answers. Keep 'em coming.

 

[sudsmcgee]

I've had delicious black IPAs, so I "get" it. Never made one though.

 

[ArcaneXor]

It's a relatively new "style", if you want to call it that, that ranges all the way from a plain IPA that happens to be brownish/black, to what are essentially hoppy stouts. Black IPAs aren't usually my go-to beers, but I do enjoy the interplay between fruity/citrusy American hops and the dehusked chocolate malts and occasional small dose of roasted barley, especially in lower-alcohol examples.

 

[dougdecinces]

Which black IPAs have you tried?

I have had three:

1) Mission Street 2011 Anniversary Ale
2) Upland Komodo Dragon IPA
3) Something from Trader Joe's, which I guess is actually this.

So while I haven't had the absolute best of the style, I've had a decent sampling of some pretty good beers.

 

[fletchsj]

Find yourself an Oakshire O'dark:30 them be delish! as far as why??? I'd have to say different palates like different things. I think that they are popular with people who regularly drink IPA's (the "in" beer) because it is something a little different yet their palate can still sort of recognize it.

 

[wolverinebrewer]

I've had two, Otter Creek Brewing's Black IPA and Short's Bludgeon Yer Eye and if you drank these with your eyes closed, you wouldn't ever have known they were black. The Short's brew was especially good! Incredible hop bite.

 

[beergolf]

Quote:
Originally Posted by beergolf
Some examples are good, some terrible. If you can get Southern Tier Iniquity Black Ale, give it a try.probably the best one I have tasted.

That beer made me a fan and I have made several Black IPA's.The key is the balance, not too much roast but enough to make it different from an IPA.
Roast in an IPA is not a good idea. Not sure that's they use to make it dark.

I just made on recently that tasted great to get it black I used carafa

Just a slight roast flavor. I use Debittered Black. Hardly any roast but just enough.

 

[Bierliebhaber]

Not a black IPA fan, BUT I am a CDA fan. You can use food coloring to make a black IPA.

Definitely a hit or big miss beer. I look forward to its inclusion in BJCP guidelines...hopefully, with an eye to a malt-hop balance and subtle roast. I prefer something that has small amounts of caramel, chocolate, and toasted complexity with prominent citrus hops.

 

[amingo]

I wasn't so sure about the style either until I had on that a homebrew friend of mine made. It was a heavily Cascade-hopped BIPA and I really liked the sharpness of the dark malt with the bitter hops. Not sure what his grain bill was.

Since then, I've really become a big fan of Uinta Dubhe Imperial Black IPA. Supposedly, it's brewed with hemp seed. Not sure I can discern that in the aroma or flavor but it's a delicious beer nonetheless.

Still love my light, crisp IPAs but I now appreciate the darker side of the IPA spectrum - especially during the Chicago winter.

Cheers.

 

[Diaperload]

I'm a big fan of CDAs. So far my favorite is HUBs Secession. Back in Black is pretty good in a can. Hop in the Dark is up there also.

I recently made a batch and am pretty pleased with it although I'm already planning my next batch of CDA with some tweaks.

 

[Airborneguy]

Not a black IPA fan, BUT I am a CDA fan. You can use food coloring to make a black IPA.

Definitely a hit or big miss beer. I look forward to its inclusion in BJCP guidelines...hopefully, with an eye to a malt-hop balance and subtle roast. I prefer something that has small amounts of caramel, chocolate, and toasted complexity with prominent citrus hops.

Had the ORIGINAL last night and it was plenty roasty, actually more than I expected.

 

[ajbram]

I had Stone's Sublimely Self Righteous on tap last summer in Miami. Had a nice piney/citrusy hop character over caramel/chocolate roastiness. It was wonderful. I like a crisp clean IPA as much as anyone, but this was a nice balance between hop character and roast. It wouldn't be something I would drink every day, but once in a while this is an awesome beer.

 

[RickFinsta]

Lakefront's got a "IBA" now that is fantastic; I can smell the Cascade hops from the other room when someone opens one. It's just a nice summer drinking beer; malt and hop balance, but with a bit of roast, and a great citrus finish. My wife is not a fan (she doesn't like "pine trees and coffee," as she calls it).

 

[erikhild59]

Otter creeks alpine black ipa is good, as is heavy seas loose cannon?( not sure if that's the name) but its good. I also like the bipa kit from northrern brewer. Can't explain why I like them, I just do.

 

[atom]

Otter creeks alpine black ipa is good, as is heavy seas loose cannon?( not sure if that's the name) but its good. I also like the bipa kit from northrern brewer. Can't explain why I like them, I just do.

you mean black cannon.. loose cannon is their standard ipa.

 

[erikhild59]

you mean black cannon.. loose cannon is their standard ipa.

Yes that's the one , thanks for reminding me

 

[Beezer94]

Just like any IPA, it can finish dry and crisp, or more malty with a moderate mouth-feel, or cloyingly sweet.

I think too often people forget that a regular IPA can finish between 1.010 and 1.018sg and be within guidelines. It's when people try an "IPA" that has 25% crystal malts and it finishes at 1.020-1.025 and associate a higher FG as cloyingly sweet garbage, not a refreshing IPA. An IPA with no cara/crystal malts that finishes in the 1.014-1.016 on the other hand leaves some nice malt flavor with no real sweetness, which help make a balanced IPA. It's wether you want 'dry-hop juice', 'semi-balanced', or 'sweet-hop juice'.

Some examples of these dark hoppy ales are just ipa's with some carafa special in for mostly coloring, others actually have some roast flavor. It's like a schwarzbier IPA. Some good, some boring, and some not so good.

American Stout on the other hand (a mostly ignored style), can be what delicious, dark malts and hops combine into. Can be lightly hopped or heavily hopped.

 

[spenghali]

Uinta Dubhe ftw!

 

[Hockeyhunter99]

i have a CDA and a BIPA in the cellar. i am brewing one this weekend and i will be cracking them open. one is Deschuttes Hop-in-the-Dark and the other is Rogue's Daddy's Little Helper. These would help be develop a taste for them.

does anyone know the difference between a CDA and a BIPA?? i know it can be a region thing.