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pFriem CDA

pFriem Family Brewers
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🌍 United States · Black IPA · One of 12 Black IPAs in hopIQ

pFriem CDA is a Cascadian Dark Ale, the dark and hoppy style that the Pacific Northwest names after its own region and that elsewhere goes by Black IPA. Pale chocolate and black malt with flaked oats give colour, Chinook, Mosaic, Sabro, Citra and El Dorado the hop character; it is less roasty and lighter than a stout. The beer is inky with amber glints under a tan foam. Fresh-cut fir and bright citrus lead the nose, rich roast wraps around cassis and toffee, and roast and hops merge in a deep finish.

ABV
7.3%
Bitterness
Very bitter70 IBU
SRM
dark30
See all Black IPA alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Substantial body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Bone-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Sharp bitter finish.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Assertively bitter and very dry.

A trim base, a hop-led finish — the classic setup for a hop-forward beer.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Black IPA.
No character signal.

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for pFriem CDA

◎ Appearance

Inky black body with amber glints when held to light, revealing the beer's depth without opacity. A tan foam head forms cleanly and clings to the glass with good retention, leaving defined lacing on the walls. The carbonation is moderate and steady, appropriate to the style.

deep black with amber glintstan foam, good lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

Fresh-cut fir and bright citrus dominate the opening, conveying the Cascadian hop character with clarity. Beneath them, rich roast notes unfold, wrapping around hints of cassis and toffee from the pale chocolate and black malts. The malt and hop aromatics remain distinct rather than merging, each contributing its own thread to the nose.

fresh-cut fir, bright citrusroast with cassis and toffeeclean hop-malt separation

◐ Taste

The palate enters lean and moderately bitter, with herbal and citrus hop flavors taking the lead. Mid-palate shows chocolate and slight sweetness from the oats and malts, softening the bitterness without obscuring it. The 70 IBUs are felt as a clean, defined bitterness rather than harshness, balancing the dark grain notes.

herbal citrus hops, lean entrychocolate and oat sweetnessclean, defined bitterness

◑ Finish

Roast and hops merge in a deep, drying finish that lingers without becoming astringent. The aftertaste holds fir, toffee, and a gentle roast character, fading gradually over several minutes.

roast and hop mergedrying, lingering finish
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
81
Appearance
82
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of pFriem CDA

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Tulip glass
Recommended for this style

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with pFriem CDA

About Black IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Black IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar Black IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same flavor character as pFriem CDA will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Black IPAs in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Black IPA beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →