{"title":"Arcadia Ales","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"arcadia-b-craft-black-double-ipa-4pk","title":"Arcadia B-Craft Black Double IPA 4Pk","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArcadia B-Craft Black Double IPA 4Pk\u003c\/strong\u003e is a bold 8.5% ABV black double IPA from Arcadia Brewing Company in Battle Creek, Michigan, sold in a four-pack format. Brewed using an unusual open-fermentation method with traditional English ale yeast, this hybrid style merges the roasted malt intensity of a stout with the aggressive hop character of a double IPA — a combination that earned it a loyal following and a 3.7 out of 5 rating on Untappd across more than 9,100 reviews.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Facts:\u003c\/strong\u003e ABV: 8.5%  |  IBU: 85  |  Origin: Battle Creek, Michigan, USA  |  Style: Black Double IPA  |  Brewery: Arcadia Brewing Company (1996–2019)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduction \u0026amp; Heritage\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eArcadia Brewing Company was founded in 1996 in Battle Creek, Michigan, and operated until September 2019. The brewery distinguished itself through its 25-barrel Peter Austin brewhouse and a commitment to open fermentation in the cellar using traditional English ale yeast — a method far more common among English cask breweries than American craft operations. B-Craft Black Double IPA applied that English fermentation philosophy to a decidedly American style, resulting in a beer that carried rounder, more complex ester profiles than typical hop-forward American DIPAs. At 85 IBUs, the bitterness was substantial but tempered by heavy roasted grain additions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Citrus hops lead immediately, layered over darker undertones of roasted coffee and bittersweet chocolate. A faint pine resin quality emerges as the beer warms.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e The entry is rich with roasted malt — dark chocolate and espresso flavors push forward before a wave of hop bitterness takes hold at mid-palate. Grapefruit and pine resin build through the middle, while licorice and toasted malt add depth. The body is notably thick and full, carrying more weight and sweetness than many black IPAs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e A persistent dry bitterness lingers alongside fading roasted grain and dark fruit. The finish is long for the style, with residual hop resin and a subtle charred quality that invites another sip.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eHow to Drink B-Craft Black Double IPA\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eServe at around 50–55°F in a tulip or snifter glass to concentrate the aroma and allow the roasted malt complexity to fully express itself. At 8.5% ABV, this is a sipper rather than a session beer. For cocktail-curious drinkers: a \u003cstrong\u003eBlack Velvet\u003c\/strong\u003e variation using this in place of stout alongside sparkling wine creates a fascinating bitter-effervescent contrast; a \u003cstrong\u003eMichelada\u003c\/strong\u003e built with B-Craft adds roasted depth and hop punch to the tomato-lime base; and a simple \u003cstrong\u003eBeer Float\u003c\/strong\u003e with vanilla ice cream plays the roasted chocolate and coffee notes against cold sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eBest For\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCraft beer enthusiasts seeking discontinued or hard-to-find Michigan ales\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePairing with a smoked meat or barbecue dinner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSide-by-side tastings comparing black IPA interpretations across breweries\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollectors of legacy craft beer from notable closed breweries\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does B-Craft Black Double IPA taste like?\u003c\/strong\u003e It delivers rich roasted malt flavors of dark chocolate and espresso, balanced by aggressive hop bitterness with citrus, pine, and licorice notes. The body is thick and full, with more sweetness than many beers in the black IPA category.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does B-Craft Black Double IPA compare to Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA?\u003c\/strong\u003e Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous leans more aggressively toward hop bitterness and a drier finish, while B-Craft carries a fuller, sweeter body with more pronounced roasted malt richness. Arcadia's use of open-fermented English ale yeast also gives B-Craft a rounder ester profile compared to Stone's cleaner American yeast character.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs B-Craft Black Double IPA good for sipping neat?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — at 8.5% ABV and 85 IBUs with substantial body, this is designed to be savored slowly from a tulip or snifter glass at cellar temperature rather than consumed quickly.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere is B-Craft Black Double IPA made?\u003c\/strong\u003e B-Craft Black Double IPA was brewed by Arcadia Brewing Company in Battle Creek, Michigan, using a 25-barrel Peter Austin brewhouse. Arcadia operated from 1996 until its closure in September 2019, so this beer is no longer in active production.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat foods pair well with B-Craft Black Double IPA?\u003c\/strong\u003e Smoked brisket or pulled pork, where the roasted malt mirrors the char; dark chocolate brownies, which echo the beer's cocoa and espresso notes; sharp aged cheddar, whose tang cuts through the malt sweetness; spicy black bean chili, where the hop bitterness refreshes against heat; and grilled portobello mushrooms, whose earthiness complements the dark grain character.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat sizes does B-Craft Black Double IPA come in?\u003c\/strong\u003e This product is sold as a four-pack. As Arcadia Brewing ceased operations in 2019, availability is limited to remaining inventory.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs B-Craft Black Double IPA worth the price?\u003c\/strong\u003e B-Craft positions as a craft double IPA at a moderate price tier, but its value now extends beyond the liquid itself — as a discontinued product from a respected closed Michigan brewery, remaining stock carries additional collectibility and scarcity appeal for craft beer enthusiasts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWhy B-Craft Black Double IPA?\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat set B-Craft apart was the deliberate collision of English brewing tradition with an aggressive American hop-forward style. Open fermentation with English ale yeast was virtually unheard of for black double IPAs, and that choice gave B-Craft a rounder, more layered character than competitors relying on cleaner American yeast strains. With Arcadia Brewing's closure in 2019, this beer now exists only as remaining inventory — a snapshot of a Michigan brewery that spent over two decades proving that old-world fermentation methods could produce compelling new-world styles. For fans of the black IPA category, it remains a distinctive and increasingly rare example of the form.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arcadia Ales","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44838069436585,"sku":"22891","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"arcadia-imperial-stout-4pk","title":"Arcadia Imperial Stout 4Pk","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArcadia Imperial Stout 4Pk\u003c\/strong\u003e is a 9.0% ABV open-fermented imperial stout from Michigan's Arcadia Brewing Company, sold in a four-pack format. This robust ale earned a Gold Medal for Bottle Conditioned Ale at the 2002 Real Ale Festival and a Silver Medal (88 points) at the 2003 World Beer Championships — credentials that cemented its reputation among American imperial stouts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Facts:\u003c\/strong\u003e ABV: 9.0%  |  Origin: Michigan, USA  |  Style: Imperial Stout  |  IBU: 59  |  OG: 1090  |  Brewery: Arcadia Brewing Company\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduction \u0026amp; Heritage\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eArcadia Brewing Company — also known as Arcadia Ales — built its reputation on English-inspired brewing traditions executed on a 25-barrel Peter Austin brewhouse, a system prized for its ability to produce characterful, malt-forward ales. The Imperial Stout undergoes open fermentation in the brewery's cellar using a traditional English ale yeast, a method that allows complex ester development and a rounder mouthfeel than closed-vessel fermentation typically achieves. A generous hop addition at 59 IBU provides structural balance to the beer's substantial 1.090 original gravity, and the brewery noted that with proper cellaring, this stout matures gracefully for up to four years. Following Arcadia's closure in September 2019, the brand and intellectual property were acquired in June 2020 by Superfluid Supply Co., a division of Elk Rapids–based Short's Brewing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dark roasted malts lead immediately, followed by waves of blackstrap molasses and bittersweet cocoa. A faint smoky undercurrent and charred oak nuance linger beneath the heavier aromatics.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e The entry is thick and palate-warming, hitting first with roasted coffee and dark chocolate before expanding into black licorice, prune, and black currant flavors at mid-palate. A creamy, full-bodied texture carries these flavors forward, with the malt sweetness balanced by a firm bitterness that keeps the beer from becoming cloying.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pleasantly astringent with a long, drying tail of charred wood and baker's chocolate. Residual molasses sweetness echoes quietly before fading into lingering roast.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eHow to Drink Arcadia Imperial Stout\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eServe at cellar temperature — around 50–55°F — in a snifter or tulip glass to concentrate the aromatics and allow the beer's full body to open up. Pouring too cold will suppress the molasses and chocolate complexity that defines this stout.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBeer Float:\u003c\/strong\u003e A scoop of vanilla bean ice cream amplifies the coffee-and-chocolate backbone into a decadent dessert pairing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlack Velvet variation:\u003c\/strong\u003e A half-and-half pour with dry sparkling cider creates an interesting contrast of effervescence against the stout's density.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStout Flip:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shaken with a whole egg, simple syrup, and a dash of nutmeg, the Imperial Stout's roasted depth translates into a rich, cocktail-style serve.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eBest For\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCold-weather evening sipping alongside a fireplace\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates English-influenced American ales\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVertical aging experiments — cellaring successive vintages side by side\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePairing with a multi-course dessert tasting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Arcadia Imperial Stout taste like?\u003c\/strong\u003e It delivers a bold, layered profile dominated by roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and blackstrap molasses, with secondary notes of black licorice, prune, and black currant. The mouthfeel is full-bodied and creamy, finishing with a pleasantly dry, astringent roast character.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does Arcadia Imperial Stout compare to Old Rasputin?\u003c\/strong\u003e Both are American-made imperial stouts with significant roast character, but Arcadia's open fermentation with English ale yeast produces a rounder, more ester-driven body, while North Coast's Old Rasputin tends toward a sharper, more hop-forward bitterness at a similar ABV range. Arcadia also carries a more prominent molasses and charred-oak dimension.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Arcadia Imperial Stout good for sipping neat?\u003c\/strong\u003e Absolutely — at 9.0% ABV with a dense, creamy body and layered flavor complexity, it is built for slow, contemplative drinking at cellar temperature without any additions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere is Arcadia Imperial Stout made?\u003c\/strong\u003e It was originally brewed by Arcadia Brewing Company in Michigan using a 25-barrel Peter Austin brewhouse. The brand was acquired in 2020 by Superfluid Supply Co., a division of Short's Brewing based in Elk Rapids, Michigan.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat foods pair well with Arcadia Imperial Stout?\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow-smoked brisket benefits from the stout's roast-on-roast harmony. Dark chocolate truffles mirror the cocoa notes without clashing. Blue cheese — especially Stilton — plays off the malty sweetness with pungent contrast. Espresso-rubbed short ribs echo the coffee backbone, and bread pudding with caramel sauce complements the molasses undertones.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat sizes does Arcadia Imperial Stout come in?\u003c\/strong\u003e The standard retail format is a four-pack of individual bottles.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Arcadia Imperial Stout worth the price?\u003c\/strong\u003e It positions within the mid-premium tier for American imperial stouts, and its dual award pedigree — Gold at the 2002 Real Ale Festival and Silver at the 2003 World Beer Championships — along with its distinctive open-fermentation production method, give it strong value credentials in a crowded imperial stout category.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWhy Arcadia Imperial Stout?\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOpen fermentation with traditional English ale yeast is increasingly rare among American imperial stouts, and that production choice is the single biggest reason this beer tastes different from its peers. The Peter Austin brewhouse — a system specifically engineered for English-style ale production — gave Arcadia a mechanical advantage in achieving the dense, creamy body and layered malt complexity that define this stout. Two competition medals validated what the process delivers: a stout that balances 9.0% ABV warmth with genuine drinkability. For anyone seeking an imperial stout with genuine English brewing heritage executed in Michigan, this remains a distinctive and well-documented expression of the style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arcadia Ales","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44838069502121,"sku":"24094","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/1024\/6313\/files\/arcadia-ales-arcadia-imperial-stout-4pk-bottle.webp?v=1776089901"}],"url":"https:\/\/theliquorbarn.com\/collections\/arcadia-ales.oembed","provider":"The Liquor Barn","version":"1.0","type":"link"}