Black Ale

[revans618]

My buddy and I just found a black ale from England called oddly enough Black Cat. I had never heard of a black ale, and it was definitly an ale.

The taste was awesome and the color was nice and black. However I was a little disappointed in the alcohol content, only about 3.4 ABV.

My question is, are there any more black ales out there? And yes I have had all the German dark beers I could get my hands on but these are lagers. This black ale is haunting me!

[Dextolen]

Isn't Black Cat a mild?

I'm not sure there is a black ale category.

[mookow]

Originally posted by Dextolen
Isn't Black Cat a mild?

I'm not sure there is a black ale category.

Yup, it is a mild. Thus the low ABV is part of the style.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by revans618

The taste was awesome and the color was nice and black. However I was a little disappointed in the alcohol content, only about 3.4 ABV.

The american craft brew culture has made us equate abv with taste, but the english have been making low abv brews with tons of flavor for a long time.

[MeridianFC]

'Zactly I've had many 3-4%abv cask ales that are as full of flavor as anything out there.

Black Cat is a mild as I recall, though it's not near as good in the bottle as out of the cask, though that's not surprising.

[Bugz-TT]

Sam Adams in their winter variety box had a Black Lager, that was pretty good. The only problem I have is finding it on it's own.

From the Boston Beer company page (http://www.bostonbeer.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=69432&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=803986&highlight=) , samueladams.com seems to be having an issue.

"Samuel Adams Black Lager, a Schwarz bier, is smooth and medium in body, with an incredible depth of malt flavor. Schwarz, the German word for black, does not adequately describe the appearance of this beer. It is clear and dark with a beautiful reddish hue. "

[tim_jdavis]

What about the American Stong Ale's? ie...Arrogant Bastard, Rogue, Dick's Danger. I've always enjoyed all of these for their flavor, ABV, and coloring.

[revans618]

Originally posted by Dextolen
Isn't Black Cat a mild?

I'm not sure there is a black ale category.

I didn't think so either on the category. But the label did say black ale. What I was wondering is are there any others in this style?

Thanks to everyone for the feedback.:)

[fretlessman71]

New Belgium's 1554 is described as a Brussels Style Black Ale.

[S.F.B.]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
New Belgium's 1554 is described as a Brussels Style Black Ale.

That is the one black ale I can think of.

[steveh]

Originally posted by revans618
My question is, are there any more black ales out there?

Well technically, any Porter or Stout is a "black" ale. What more of the flavor characteristics can you relay?

And as Hogie and Meridian say, ABV does not equate to flavor. The Delafield Brewhouse in Wisconsin has an Irish Stout on tap right now that is chock full of coffee, chocolate, and vanilla flavor - at 3.4%.

S.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
'Zactly I've had many 3-4%abv cask ales that are as full of flavor as anything out there.

.

This is part of their appeal for me.

[fretlessman71]

Low ABV is ALWAYS part of the appeal of a beer for me - unless style dictates otherwise, like an Imp Stout or IIPA.

[MeridianFC]

From the Legends (US Importers) site:

"Black Cat is a dark refreshing beer, what is known as a 'dark mild' with a distinct chocolate malt flavor and is 3.4% ABV."

If it's Black Cat you like seek other dark milds. Truth be told many are not that far off from stout, though not quite as bitter or roasted.

[fretlessman71]

Any good ones that you know can be found here in the states?

[revans618]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
From the Legends (US Importers) site:

"Black Cat is a dark refreshing beer, what is known as a 'dark mild' with a distinct chocolate malt flavor and is 3.4% ABV."

If it's Black Cat you like seek other dark milds. Truth be told many are not that far off from stout, though not quite as bitter or roasted.

A dark mild is what I'll be checking for. Again to everyone thanks for the info.

Man, I love this site.:D

[Arassuil]

My regular drop is Toohey's Old (http://www.tastebeer.com.au/beer/175) Black Ale. Love the stuff! :)

[chazwicke]

Do they still make Tooth's Sheath Stout?

[Arassuil]

Tooth's was another buyout of the Fosters Group (Carlton-United Breweries) and Tooth's Sheaf Stout was re-branded Carlton Sheaf Stout before it was discontinued (although they still list the brand (http://www.fosters.com.au/enjoy/AA7619A52ABD4FDE95FFD11A620ED178.htm)). All I can find from them now is Carlton Black Dark Ale.

[ClockworkOrange]

Stone 11th anniversary is considered a black IPA.

[mailman]

i have tried the sam adams black ale and thought it very good.

[steveh]

Sam Adams Black Lager? That's a German Scwarzbier in style, a good beer, but not a Dark Mild.

S.

[Arassuil]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Do they still make Tooth's Sheath Stout? To follow this up, Carlton-United Breweries (Fosters Group) does still sell 'Sheaf Stout' even though the website doesn't have it available. There seems to be a lot of recent U.S. & Australian ratings of it on beeradvocate.