Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, known as the day people start their Christmas shopping. This year mix up your Black Friday tradition by trying these Michigan-brewed black ales.
Black ales or black IPAs (Indian Pale Ale) range from dark brown to pitch black in color. The taste varies from roasted malts notes to a hoppy flavor, there is sure to be a black ale perfect for your Black Friday mood!
Arcadia Ales in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek serves up War Craft - Barrel Aged Double Black IPA (9% ABV). A seasonal winter IPA, jet black with a light tan head, the taste is medium bitterness with oak compliments.
Atwater Brewery located in Grand Rapids, Grosse Pointe Park, and Detroit Tap house delivers VJ Black Imperial Stout (11% ABV | 41 IBU’s) an overt maltiness that mixes with vanilla exhibits a cakelike smell and taste.
Black Lotus Brewing Co.in Clawson produces Black Bottom Oatmeal Stout (7.5 % ABV).This Dark rich malt blend with smooth oats to produce a jazzy brew with notes of coffee and chocolate.
Dark Horse Brewing Company in Marshall year-round produces Reserve Special Black Ale (7.5 ABV | 67 IBU’s). One of the oldest beers in the Dark Horse portfolio, it has a dark presence with rich flavors, heavy malt-roast, and chocolate.
Elk Brewing located in Grand Rapids produces Sessions Vanilla Black Ale (5% ABV).
Frankenmuth Brewery in Frankenmuth is serving up Tornado Black IPA (6.8% ABV | 78 IBU’s). Tornado Black IPA is hopped like an American IPA, making it malty, smooth, and dry. The Black IPA’s dark malts give it a rich and sweet aroma
Grand River Brewery located in Jacksonville produces Black Ace - Imperial Stout (12% ABV).
Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery & Supply in Ada serves up Bucket Foot - Black IPA (7.5% ABV | 80 IBU’s). This is a bold, black IPA with a complex hop profile and bitterness alongside a dark malt presence with hints of chocolate and coffee.
Latitude 42 Brewing Co. located in Portage brews Private Dancer - Imperial Black IPA (9.5% ABV).
Mountain Town Brewing Co. in Mount Pleasant produces Crazy Train - Black IPA (6.3% ABV | 78 IBU’s). A Black IPA Brewed with dark and roasted malts. Creating a hop flavor & aroma with a balance of maltiness
Paw Paw Brewing Co. located in Paw Paw delivers Black Talon Black IPA that has notes of roasted chocolate.
Petoskey Brewing Co. in Petoskey serves up Dark Knight - Black IPA (7% ABV). A traditional highly-hopped India Pale Ale with a generous dose of de-husked black malt, resulting in a black IPA with none of the roasted character normally associated with dark grains.
Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City produces Broken Nose Double Black IPA (7.8% ABV | 60 IBU's). Broken Nose is a double-black IPA brewed with midnight wheat malt. It’s dark like a stout, rounded out with a bold hop flavor, followed by a heavy hop aroma.
Trail Point Brewing in Allendale produces Wyley Black Ale (5% ABV | 23 IBU’s). Dark in color but light on your tongue, this medium bodied black ale is smooth, and roasty. Another favorite is the Black Rattler Black IPA (6.9% ABV | 63 IBU’s), named after Michigan’s only venomous snake, this black IPA starts smooth with roasted malts and dark fruit flavors, but ends with a bite of hops.
Do you have any favorite Black Ales brewed in Michigan for Black Friday? Comment below and let us know!
Caroline Cousineau is a recent Ferris State University graduate with a degree in Public Relations. She is serving a year with the Americorps and Advise MI as a College Adviser for high school students.