American Pale Ale
While “Burtonizing” water in an effort to replicate the original English Pale Ale may have missed the mark in some people’s view, “Americanizing” the Pale Ale style has certainly been a hit. Pioneer American craft brewers, such as Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Anchor Brewing Co., were among the first to brew versions of the Pale Ale style with an American twist: more pronounced hop profile using American hop varietals. The resulting beer has the same golden-to-copper appearance as English Pale Ale and delivers a medium malt profile, but it then diverges toward a hop-forward personality and often imparts a crisp mouth-feel. Pronounced fruit, citrus, pine and/or floral aromas and flavors from Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial, Columbus and other American hop varietals are often the mark of American Pale Ale. Brewers use techniques such as adding hops late in the boil phase as well as dry hopping to ensure the hop aromas and flavors are harnessed along with bitterness. The American Pale Ale style can perhaps be credited with starting America’s love affair with hoppy beers.
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Taste/Smell | Hoppy, Citrusy, Malty, Medium-bodied |
| Alcohol-by-Volume (ABV) Range | 4.4 – 6.5% |
| Bitterness (IBU) | 30-45 |
| Popular Examples | Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Anchor Liberty Ale, Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Diamond Knot Whip Ale, Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale, Flying Dog Doggie Style Pale Ale, Sweetwater 420 Pale Ale, Anderson Valley Poleeko Gold Pale Ale, Fish Tale Organic Wild Salmon Pale Ale, Boulder Hazed & Infused, Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale, Widmer Drifter Pale Ale. |
| Serving Temperature | Cool, 46-54° |
| Glassware | Pint or nonic, tumbler, beer mug |
| Cheese Pairing Ideas | Brick, Cheddar (mild or sharp), Colby, Edam |
| Food Pairing Ideas | Shellfish, light fish dishes, fried foods and pizza |
