Category Archives: Cascadian Dark Ale (CDA)

Also known as a Black IPA

In the Bleak Midwinter: Black IPA – Dandy Brewing Company

by Mike

From the Dandy Brewing Company in Calgary Alberta comes their “In the Bleak Midwinter: Black IPA”.  The beer pours a deep brown with a light brown head.  The aroma consist of roasted malts, smoke, mild fruit and herbal hops.  The flavour is of caramel, roasted malts, citrus, tropical, earth, burnt coffee and medium bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.5%.  The Dandy Brewing Company makes really tasty beer and this black IPA is no different.  It is both IPA and a bit stout and 100% tasty.

Commercial Description:  A fruity Black IPA. With only a kiss of roast, this black IPA is fresh and juicy but dark as the coldest days of winter. Citra and Mosaic are late hop additions to avoid the biterness and focus on aroma.

Tombstone Piledriver Black IPA – Kettle River Brewing Co

by Mike

From Kettle River Brewing in Kelowna comes their “Tombstone Piledriver Black IPA” a Cascadian Dark Ale.  The beer pours a more or less opaque black colour with a brown head.  The aroma consists of some roasted malts, tropical fruit, citrus and a floral hops finish.  The flavour is of roasted malts, earth, resin, pine, tropical fruits, citrus and a big bitterness finish.  The beer is really balanced between the fruits and roasted malts.  The alcohol content comes in at a nice strong 8.7%.  This lands right in my wheel house for Cascadian Dark Ales as it still feels like and IPA and not a very roasty stout.

Midnight Black IPA – Stanley Park Brewing

by Mike

From Stanley Park Brewing (Turning Point Brewing) in Delta comes their “Midnight Black IPA” a part of their new Sampling Series in Bombers.  The beer poured a very deep black with a brown head.  The aroma consists of roasted malts, pine, earth, mild fruit notes and floral hops.  The flavour is of roasted malts, chocolate, toffee, earth, pine,  mild fruits and bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 7% with an IBU of 65.  This is a nice mix of flavours for a black IPA and I am happy to see Stanley Park Brewing tackle this style.  Stanley Park Brewing is now owned by Labbat.

Commercial Description:  Embrace the darker days as the seasons change with our exceptionally smooth and hoppy Midnight Black IPA. Bursting with aromas of freshly fallen pine needles and ripe berries from Simcoe hops, it’s like we took the forest of Stanley Park and bottled it…

Cherry IPA – Strathcona Beer Company

by Mike

From Strathcona Beer Company in Vancouver comes their “Cherry IPA” a Cascadian Dark Ale.  The beer pours a deep black with a brown head.  The aroma consists of mild roasted malts, cherry and floral hops.  The flavour is of roasted malts, ash, earth, cherries, sweetness and medium bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 7.3%.  I was surprised this was a Black IPA as it didn’t say it on the can but I enjoyed this one for sure.

The Obsidian Dagger IPA Noire – Dead Frog Brewery

by Mike

From Dead Frog Brewery in Aldergrove comes their “The Obsidian Dagger IPA Noire”.  The beer pours a deep brown colour with a brown head.  The aroma consists of roasted malts, coffee, pine, citrus and some floral hops.  The flavour is of roasted malts, coffee, earth, pine a hint of citrus and bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 6.5% with an IBU of 50.  I was hoping for a little more fruit characteristic but I did quite enjoy this brew.

Commercial Description:  SPARKS FLY WHEN BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL HOPS MEET A DARING AND ROASTED MALT BASE.  THE HOP FLAVOURS AND AROMAS OF A POWERHOUSE IPA ARE BALANCED PERFECTLY WITH THE DEPTH AND INTRICACY OF A COMPLEX DARK ALE.

Food pairing as per the brewery:  GRILLED PORK, SPICY CHICKEN TACOS, SWISS CHEESE