American Strong Ale
An unofficial style that encompasses many of the unbounded creations coming out of American craft breweries, American Strong Ale’s color range runs the gamut from light to dark; however, most fall somewhere between light amber and dark brown. Some beers are labeled under this style name if their flavor characteristics don’t fit within another existing beer style. Strong consumer appeal can create demand and inspire other brewers to create their own interpretations, and in time, a new officially identified beer style is born. American Black Ale is one such example, with the name recently bestowed on it by the Brewers Association and adopted by BeerAdvocate.com, for a hoppy, dark-colored beer with caramel and roasted malt character. American Imperial Red Ale, on the other hand, represents brewers taking an existing style—in this case, the American Amber/Red Ale—and amping it up with assertive hops and higher alcohol. Other beers simply stand on their own, with or without peers, and are uniquely American and aptly described as “strong.” Samuel Adams Utopias, at 27+ percent ABV, is one example of such a beer that defies any other style description and befits the American Strong Ale-style moniker. Unconstrained by a narrowly defined line of appearance, aroma, flavor and strength, American Strong Ale is exciting to explore. Keep an eye out, though, as many of these beers are only available on a special-release basis.
Color Range:
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Taste/Smell | Complex, Malty and/or Hoppy, Alcohol, Medium- to Full-Bodied |
| Alcohol-by-Volume (ABV) Range | 7 – 14+% |
| Bitterness (IBU) | 25-100 |
| Popular Examples | Arrogant Bastard Ale (including the OAKED and the Double Bastard Ale versions) from Stone Brewing Co., Dogfish Head Immort Ale, Mendocino Eye of the Hawk, Clown Shoes Eagle Claw Fist, Rogue Double Dead Guy, Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Head Life & Limb, The Lost Abbey Angel’s Share, He’Brew Origin Pomegranate Ale, RJ Rockers Bell Ringer, Holy Mackerel Mack In Black, Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown, Samuel Adams Utopias |
| Serving Temperature | Cool, 46-54° to Warm, 58-61° |
| Glassware | Beer snifter, stemmed tulip, large wine glass |
| Cheese Pairing Ideas | Asiago, Brick, Colby, Cheddar, Edam |
| Food Pairing Ideas | Specific dishes depend on specific beer, but robust dishes are typically a good match |
