Black IPAs are dead? Why?

Not sure it was every really alive....

 

Definitely not dead, I do partake every now and then. But it never was as popular or hyped as NEIPAs.

 

It's not hard to find a Black IPA in the PNW year round. We wanted to call 'em Cascadian Dark Ales.

 

I think most casual craft drinkers just couldn't get over the look of it. To many, many people, dark beers are supposed to taste like that "super-heavy Guinness stuff".

It's a shame, because there were some really interesting beers that came out of the Black IPA trend. Stone's 15th Anniversary black DIPA was fascinating because it was so confusing to my palate; I remember that it literally tasted like I was drinking 2 different beers at the same time.

 

Lagunitas Nighttime is the current seasonal bomber...

 

I think folks lost interest after the name Cascadian Dark Ale didn't really catch on.

Or, another possibility is that it is presently being made in the quantity that customers desire to purchase.

 

West Coast-style Russian/American Imperial Stout

There's lots of those hanging around, and the difference is nil, especially if you drink them fresh.

 

When FW discontinued Wookey Jack is when they died to me. Mainly because it was the only one I drank on the reg.

 

They are dead cause they are nasty

 

This one seemed apparent to me.

5-6 years ago breweries were "hopping" up almost every style and creating new ones that were hopped up. Sure it appealed to some but was just not a big seller. The "Belgian/White IPA" has held a little traction but certainly not around as much as a few years past.

Few places will continue to make beers that aren't big sellers.

 

I remember reading that Wookey Jack could reappear as a special release. Still waiting on that. The next best one to me is Odell's Mountain Standard, just not easy for me to get. Locally, Carton does a nice job with this style.

 

Instagram filters.

 

There are a few people doing them. Just not regularly because they never caught on.
Besides, unfiltered black beer looks green and sickly if you hold it up to a light.

 

I never really understood the point of them. In most of them I've tried (which admittedly isn't a ton) the black malts don't really make much of a flavor contribution. If the goal was to just make an IPA that's a different color just put food dye in it for all I care.

 

These are available almost all year from Mother Road in AZ, very tasty stuff.

 

I buy them and like them but if they disappeared tomorrow I really wouldn't notice.

 

Love the style — when Stone’s SSR was shelved — it bummed me out. Like NEIPAs - I enjoyed the stories about how the style developed and who could claim inventor credit. A trip that Portland in 2013 expanded my appreciation for the brew. Having said all that - I think the demand/sales and profits being made from NEIPA’s is orders of magnitude higher than the CDA style at its peak. RIP Sublimely Self Riteous.