The past few years have seen the tremendous growth of the CDA (Cascadian Dark Ale) from its humble beginnings when it was called a Black IPA. Now hold on to your undies beer geeks. Don’t raise your brewing paddles and come running to beat me – it’s just a reference to what we used to say. They are dark IPA’s. I know, Dark India Pale Ale does not work, but it is what it is folks. Now grab a beer, pull up the chair, and relax. We will call it the new and great name: the CDA (Cascadian Dark Ale)
Fish Brewing just came out with a beautiful rendition of this style: the Swordfish Double Cascadian Dark Ale. Dark roasty malts, wonderful hop additions, and terrific light chocolate and coffee undertones in the flavor and finish. I like how this beer can give off a great hoppy bitterness and still have that blend of malts that add to the flavor. It’s not an IPA nor a Porter but something new and tasty. Great job Fish Brewing – on a great dark beer which is perfect to add to my imbibing resume.
Beer Stats:
Alcohol content – 7.5% ABV
Color – Deep Walnut
Bitterness – 65 IBU’s
Bittering Hops – Amarillo
Flavoring Hops – Falconer’s Flight
Yeast – American Ale
Malt – Oat Malt, Flaked Barley, Pale Malt, Chocolate Wheat, Black Wheat, Honey Malt, Caramel Malt.
Swordfish Double Cascadian Dark Ale (CDA) is dark in color, with a prominent “Northwest” hoppy aroma – citrusy, piney and resinous – with sweet malt, hints of roastiness and toasted malt. The flavors strike a beautiful balance between citrusy Northwest hops and, to a lesser degree, roasted, chocolate malt or caramel notes. Despite it’s rich color, the body is more reminiscent of an India Pale Ale, not heavy like a porter or stout. It takes the very deft hands of our Fish brewers to make these flavors play well together so that they don’t fight one another. But as you’ll see with Swordfish Double CDA, when that perfect balance is struck, something sublime happens; the result becomes more than the sum of its parts and
you’ll finally taste what makes a Cascadian Dark Ale so special.
