21st Amendment Back in Black IPA

Tasting Notes

The aroma leads with roasted malt and dark chocolate undercut by piney, resinous hop character — an unusual but coherent combination. On the palate, flavors of coffee, dark bread, and a mild bitterness from both the roast and the hops play off each other without either dominating. The body is medium, with enough heft from the dark malts to feel substantial but not heavy. The finish is moderately bitter, dry, and slightly chocolatey, lingering just long enough.

About the Brewery

21st Amendment is a San Francisco-based craft brewery founded in 2000, named for the constitutional amendment that ended Prohibition. They built early recognition on canned craft beer before it was widely accepted, helping normalize the format in the industry. Their lineup leans toward hop-forward and adventurous styles, and they maintain a brewpub presence in San Francisco alongside wider national distribution.

Food Pairings

Grilled or smoked meats pair well because the roasty malt mirrors the char on the meat without clashing with the hops. A burger with sharp cheddar works because the hop bitterness cuts through the fat while the dark malt complements the beef. Barbecue brisket is a natural match for the same smoky-roast resonance. Dark chocolate desserts echo the beer's cocoa notes without fighting them. Spiced black bean dishes hold up to the bitterness and complement the coffee-like malt character.

Style Guide

American Black Ale, sometimes called a Black IPA or Cascadian Dark Ale, pairs the roasted malt character of a dark beer with the aggressive hop profile of an American IPA. The result sits in a middle ground: darker and more malt-forward than a standard IPA, but far more hop-bitter and aromatic than a stout or porter. ABV typically falls in the 6–8% range. The style emerged from American craft brewing in the 2000s and remains somewhat polarizing — its blending of two distinct flavor traditions is either intriguing or awkward depending on execution.