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markmilianJun 30, 2010
Flying Dog, overrated
tyg10Jun 30, 2010
Beer? Did someone mention beer? :)
novenatorJun 30, 2010
I cannot believe that home brews were finally made legal under Jimmy Carter. Elements of prohibition are long lasting, and there might be lessons in that in ending the modern prohibition against cannabis.
That said, I *love* the microbrew movement in the states over the last couple decades. Some of the local samplers are not the best, but there is a touch of goodness in all of them.
Red Ass Ale FTW!
therealricoJun 30, 2010
Going to totally pimp my aunts home brew store here
http://vermonthomebrew.com/default.aspx
It is the worst website in the world, but she knows her s**t!
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
Tasting Report: The Hops That Refresh
Flying Dog Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale
$2.50
★★★ ½
Frederick, Md. 5.5 percent 12 ounces
Fresh, balanced and lively with citrus bitterness; almost Pilsner-like.
Long Trail Pale Ale
$2.25
★★★
Bridgewater Corners, Vt. 5 percent 12 ounces
Complex, spicy and aromatic, with refreshingly bitter hop flavors.
Stoudt’s American Pale Ale
$2.70
★★★
Adamstown, Pa. 5 percent 12 ounces
Subtle, with delicate balance of malt, spice and bitter hop flavors.
Sly Fox Phoenix Pale Ale
$2.50
★★★
Phoenixville, Pa. 5.25 percent 12 ounces
Restrained and lively with malt flavors and delicate hop accents.
Otter Creek Wolaver’s Organic Pale Ale
$2.50
★★ ½
Middlebury, Vt. 5.8 percent 12 ounces
Pronounced malt flavors with well-proportioned hop bitterness.
Two Brothers The Bitter End
$2.75
★★ ½
Pale Ale Warrenville, Ill. 5.1 percent 12 ounces
Pleasing and balanced with complex malt and spice flavors.
Samuel Adams Pale Ale
$2.40
★★ ½
Boston 5.25 percent 12 ounces
Pilsner meets wheat beer: delicious but pushes boundaries.
Your Mom My House
$Free
★
Catholic Irish 5'2" 140 lbs
I've had better but her repressed desire coupled by guilt was pretty intense.
Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale
$2.25
★★ ½
Milton, Del. 5 percent 12 ounces
Light, subtle, surprisingly gentle and harmonious.
Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale
$2.10
★★ ½
Longmont, Colo. 6.5 percent 12 ounces
Fresh and lively with lingering, refreshing flavors of bitter hops.
Lagunitas New Dogtown Pale Ale
$2.50
★★ ½
Petaluma, Calif. 6.4 percent 12 ounces
Breezy and lively, with bright citrus and hop flavors.
mc_hamboneJun 30, 2010
Wait, did they really put Your Mom My House on here? I think Your Dad My Garage should have been there instead...
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
I actually just tried Flying Dog a few weeks ago. Really, really good, hoppy with a little sweetness in it, but still not worth the $9.99 a six pack they charge around here.
iloveboobiesJun 30, 2010
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA is my favorite beer.
I'm in Frederick, MD. Time to make a run :)
xanderfrostJun 30, 2010
I smell ROAD TRIP!
iloveboobiesJul 1, 2010
First stop is Phantom Fireworks then brewery! :)
random314Jun 30, 2010
That is one hoppy beer! Personally, I think 60 is perfect... the 90 and 120 are just brutal... brutal... I like hops... but not too much of that stuff...
macromorganJun 30, 2010
I'm fond of the 90 myself. As for the 120... if you put an iron wire and a copper wire in the beer you can start a car with it.
iloveboobiesJul 1, 2010
Agree!
spazzmckiwiJun 30, 2010
The 60 min is great, but I personally prefer the 90 myself, it probably ranks at my #2 right under Stone IPA.
But speaking of Dogfish Head, have you tried the Midas Touch yet? Incredibly complex flavor, certainly not for every day but it's still something everyone should try at least once.
theungodJun 30, 2010
Midas touch is almost TOO strongly flavored. It's much better for sipping. Still delicious though. I'll still take their Punkin Ale any day though. Or possibly their Pangea craft brew.
iloveboobiesJul 1, 2010
Adding to the list. I have heard of Midas but never tried it. Thanks for the tip
comat0seJun 30, 2010
Pliny the Elder.
manicleekJun 30, 2010
Would an America do me the favour of telling me how Sierra Nevada ranks in terms of quality.
It's the only American ale I have been fortunate enough to taste and I was impressed, but I'd like to know if there is better.
mzunguJun 30, 2010
Rogue Dead Guy
mburke1124Jun 30, 2010
you might find some better micro brew pale ales but in terms of mass produced beer Sierra Nevada is pretty hard to top
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
It has a bit too much hype from the hipster crowd but like mburke said it is very good as far as macro brews go. I live in michigan and when i get a hankering for hops i go with Bells Two Hearted which is an amazing beer.
serif69Jun 30, 2010
Sierra Nevada is not a macro in the slightest. They produce 680,000 barrels a year, which is a lot by craft beer standards, but nowhere near approaching the legal definition of 2,000,000 a year for a macro. For comparison, Sam Adams produces 1.4 million a year, and Yeungling produces 1.2 million a year.
therealricoJun 30, 2010
serif69,
I didn't know that there was an actual definition for a macro brew beer by volume. I guess it makes sense when you think about it.
here is wikipedia's definition of a craft beer;
Craft Beer is an American term which is also common in Canada and New Zealand and generally refers to beer that is brewed using traditional methods, without adjuncts such as rice or corn, and with an eye (or a tongue) to what's distinctive and flavorful rather than mass appeal.Whereas the term microbrewery is a term for a small scale brewery that produces a small volume of beer, craft brewery describes an approach to brewing, which in principle may be carried out on any scale. Most microbreweries are also craft breweries; however, "craft" beer can certainly also be a product of a large brewery, and there are many such products coming to market as a result of increased consumer interest in traditional beer.
And I personally don't associate hipster and microbrews. If anything people that enjoy microbrews could be hippies, outdoorsy people, and young proffesionals. I think PBR is more of a hipster beer.
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
I had no idea there was a specific volume for being considered a macro brew, i was just assuming seeing as how i see it at every store i walk in to. Maybe its just like that where i live though.
jonmlmJun 30, 2010
its good. but everything on this list is better.
manicleekJun 30, 2010
Never seen any but Sam Adams and Sierra over here in the UK
serif69Jun 30, 2010
Sorry to hear you can only get Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada. Be on the lookout over the next year or so for Stone Brewing Co. They're going to be building a brewery in Europe for production and distribution throughout the continent and British Isles, though they haven't decided where just yet.
I'll warn you, though, American pale ales are quite different from British pale ales. The Sierra Nevada was the first to make Cascade hops popular, but it's really quite tame by today's standards. Stone, for instance, is known for Arrogant Bastard, which is between 70 and 100 IBUs depending on who you ask (they don't list it officially), while Sierra Pale Ale is 37. Fullers London Pride, on the other hand, is about 30 IBUs.
therealricoJun 30, 2010
It is incredibly hard to find in fact I have never seen it outside of Vermont, but Trout River Pale Ale is a fantastic beer.
I also know that if you are in Vermont you should try a Switchback Ale. They are only available in this state, and you can only get them by the keg, so that usually means a pint at a restaurant, but almost every bar and restaurant carry's them.
I would also recommend Magic Hat summer brew called Wacko, which I am not sure falls under a pale ale but whatever.
And last Vermont beer I will pimp is White Tail Pale Ale by Rock Art. You might remember Rock Art who made the Vermonster Beer, and was issued a ceast and desist order by Monster Energy Drinks.
serif69Jun 30, 2010
I have to strongly disagree with you on Wacko. First, it's a lager brewed with beet sugar, which is pretty much the exact opposite of a pale ale. Second, it's disgusting. It looks like pink lemonade and tastes like beer mixed with sugar and soil.
therealricoJun 30, 2010
Yeah I wasn't sure if Wacko was a Pale Ale, but now that I think about it, it is probably a Hefferwizen (However you spell it!).
But in any case if you get to Vermont I can't recommend enough Switchback Ale, I drink it nearly every time I go out. I will be in a place like Boston ordering a beer, and about to order a Switchback, and realize I am not in Vermont, and can't get it, and then I am sad.
serif69Jun 30, 2010
I'll definitely have to look out for that. I love hearing about beers I otherwise wouldn't be able to get, especially when someone is that adamant I try it!
therealricoJun 30, 2010
serif69,
Funny story, so used to live in Boston, just moved back to Burlington VT, and joined a men's league soccer team called Switchback.(Didn't join because of my love affair with the team) Well they got their name because they used to have a player who worked for Switchback. And they would get hooked up with free growlers I think after every game. Well apparently the guy was so bad they kicked him off the team, so no more free Switchback. Supposedly we are supposed to get a tour of the brewery and get some free beer, but I don't know when that will be. Damn shame I missed out on the free Switchback!
captmonkeyJun 30, 2010
@therealrico
Wacko is definitely not a hefeweizen. It's not a standard style by any means, but I'm not even sure if it's brewed with any wheat at all, let alone the fact that it has no taste of wheat, both things that would typically define a hefeweizen. Magic Hat's Circus Boy is their hefeweizen.
Wacko could probably be considered a sort of lightly hopped pale ale, though like I said, it's non-standard. Part of the malt is from beet sugar rather than grains like a normal beer. As for how it tastes, it's not too bad. It's different, and I don't want ever beer I have to taste like it, but it's not bad every once in a while for a change of pace. Like others have said it's sweet, and like Magic Hat's No. 9, it's something your non-beer-drinking girlfriend/wife might like.
serif69Jun 30, 2010
Never, EVER cut the guy who has access to free beer! Ever! I don't care how bad he is! That right there is your star player!
javandiverJun 30, 2010
Widmer's Drifter Pale Ale is rather good as well.
yournamehere1Jun 30, 2010
Sierra is good for a mass produced microbrew... but I would suggest you try:
"Red Nectar Ale" (not really a pale ale but damn good) from Humboldt Brew Company: http://www.nectarales.com/
"Steelhead Extra Pale Ale" from Mad River Brewing Company: http://www.madriverbrewing.com/
"Jamaican Red Ale" also from Mad River (also not a pale ale but damn good if you like red ales)
any ale from "Rouge" is good: http://www.rogue.com/
"Anderson Valley" makes really good brews (their oatmeal stout is my favorite): http://www.avbc.com/
haydentechJun 30, 2010
I may have gotten a bad batch, but I tried it once and couldn't even finish one. I took the rest of the 6-pack back for a refund.
jfallon126Jun 30, 2010
It's good but not great IMO.
quietsykoJun 30, 2010
"Hey Stifler, how's the pale ale!"
rambleJun 30, 2010
Why don't you guys ever have any cider?
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
because this article is about pale ale?
rambleJun 30, 2010
True, just a general statement from observing past posts like these.
mattbdJun 30, 2010
Apparently in America and Canada, they use the name cider to refer to a non-alcoholic apple drink (I had an American friend as a child whose father was stationed at RAF Greenham Common, and distinctly remember having a non-alcoholic apple drink they referred to as apple cider at Halloween). Cider as we know it must be almost unheard of there, although that may have changed in recent years with the trend for ciders like Magners and Bulmers.
devtrashJul 1, 2010
Woodchuck for the win!
askantikJun 30, 2010
Malt > hops.
Stout > pale ale.
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
Stout + Pale Ale = Black and Tan (yum!)
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
@askantik
Most stouts have an equal or higher IBU rating compared to pale ales (30-50 IBUs for pale ales, 30-70 IBUs for stouts) You don't notice it because of the additional malt in the stout offsetting it.
Can't have a stout without hops.
askantikJun 30, 2010
I didn't say anything about total absence of hops, just that malt is better than hops :)
javandiverJun 30, 2010
Hops FTW! In almost every beer that I brew most of the hops are over 14 alpha.
macromorganJun 30, 2010
Damn... what hops have an alpha that high?
4ndr01dJun 30, 2010
pale ale tastes disgusting
normal ale or stout is the way to go
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
The intense bitterness of hops is an aquired taste, i find nothing is more refreshing on a summer day than a bitter beer.
thelastheraclidJun 30, 2010
dugg for long trail
likeyehokwhatevJun 30, 2010
Need to road trip it to Bridgewater Corners, sit on their porch and drink some Long Trail!
mc_hamboneJun 30, 2010
How the f*** is Sierra Nevada not in the top 10?
riggsJun 30, 2010
Read page 2 for their justification.
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
because it's not that good?
mc_hamboneJun 30, 2010
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/276/ (A-)
I read their justification, but I think most people (and beer lovers) think it's one of the best pales around. IMO, it should be there instead of Sam Adams.
conceptracrJun 30, 2010
I love their Torpedo IPA.
jonmlmJun 30, 2010
sly fox ftw.
whizaJun 30, 2010
dugg for only rating American beers on independence day
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
Wolaver’s Organic Pale Ale. dugg.
therealricoJun 30, 2010
Never been been a big fan of the Wolaver's their beer has just always been to hoppy for my liking, kinda goes for all of Otter Creek Brewery.
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
for sure, it's a matter of personal taste. I love their beers because of that hoppiness.
therealricoJun 30, 2010
Fun fact, I grew up 10 minutes away from the factory
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
that is fun!
tava0002Jun 30, 2010
Terrible list.
therealricoJun 30, 2010
Terrible comment
tava0002Jul 2, 2010
If you were familiar with beer you would know there are much better American Pale Ales.
therealricoJul 2, 2010
I am familiar with good beer, and I didn't say terrible comment because I disagreed with your viewpoint. I said it because you brought nothing to the table, why was it a bad list? What do you think should be on the list? I mean what was the point of commenting?
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
Here come the beer snobs.......gimme a f**king cheap ass lager any day of the week.
manicleekJun 30, 2010
I didn't realise not wanting to pour s**t down your throat made you a snob
therealricoJun 30, 2010
I know you didn't say Bud, Miller Light, or Coors, but watch Beer Wars, and it will give you a newfound appreciation for american microbrews
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
BLATZ BEER, BABY!
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
"I know you didn't say Bud, Miller Light, or Coors..."
He did say, "cheap ass lager..."
And is that a cheap-ass lager, or a cheap ass-lager?
therealricoJun 30, 2010
Right but I was giving him the benefit of the doubt that maybe he was drinking Molson, or Labatt, or some other cheap ass lager, hell even a Mexican beer. I realize it was probably one of those though.
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
Molson is part of Coors
Labatt is Anheuser-Busch InBev.
You'll find that almost all the more available commercial lagers out there are owned by one of the big three, even some of the smaller labels.
Anheuser-Busch even owns 50% of Modelo
macromorganJun 30, 2010
Speaking of Beer Wars, do they still sell that Moonshot stuff that the lady was trying to sell in that documentary? Wouldn't mind locating some...
therealricoJun 30, 2010
Leviathan433- s**t, i need to rewatch beer wars, didn't realize those Canadian companies were owned by Coors, or Inbev!
Macromorgan- I don't think it ever took off. I have a buddy who used to work for Magic Hat, and now works for Harpoon who knew her personally and said she was falling on rough times. She put a lot of money into that beer, and it didn't seem to take off, and to make matters worse she got breast cancer. Really sad story, too bad she left Sam Adams when the company was so young.
supercouilleJun 30, 2010
My birth day is 4th july! :)
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
Well aren't you just a Yankee Doodle Dandy.
supercouilleJun 30, 2010
Wikipedia says George M. Cohan is born 3rd july...
Had too look up what was Yankee Doodle Dandy, lol. I'm Canadian.
freshyillJun 30, 2010
This is a solid list. I actually just killed a six-pack of the Flying Dog.
But – and here comes the beer snob – I think most people who have acquired the taste for hops will pick an IPA over most of these.
Give me a Dogfish Head 60 or 90 Minute IPA or a Bell's Two Hearted Ale.
Dale's Pale Ale is probably the most IPA-like of any of the beers on this list, and it is a really solid beer. And don't let the fact that Phoenix and Dale's only come in cans put you off. The cans are actually better for the beer. If you don't like drinking from a can, pour it in to a glass and shut up.
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
I agree and disagree -
Hoppy beers are certainly an acquired taste. Pale ales are a great beer for people who don't want to be overwhelmed by hops, and make a great intro for people who are primarily light lager drinkers. IMO, there are just way too damned many IPAs out there. America has gone hop crazy.
I'd much rather a pale ale than an IPA under most circumstances.
freshyillJun 30, 2010
You're right about going for something with a lower ABV if I'm going for a whole day of drinking. Actually, I'll drink some real crap on days like that and just occasionally have something better to keep my sanity.
My wife perfectly fits the description you provided. A few years ago, she wouldn't go near anything with any serious hops, but she had some good ESBs and less hoppy pale ales, and she's sort of unconsciously worked her way up to the occasional IPA. She enjoyed the Flying Dog that I just had, which was 35 IBUs, if I remember correctly. I still won't pour her anything over 50 or 60, but she's gotten more adventurous with what she'll taste.
And for what it's worth, as much as I love IPAs, I agree that the market is flooded with them right now.
theslatsJun 30, 2010
I have a taste for IPAs for sure, however, if I plan to spend a whole day drinking, a milder lower ABV is my preference.
theungodJun 30, 2010
You want to try some hoppy ass beer? Try Stones "Ruination." It almost hurts your mouth. I find it much hoppier than even 90 minute Dogfish Head.
freshyillJun 30, 2010
Ruination is a solid beer. Try their Oaked Arrogant Basterd, which is also great. Actually, Stone doesn't make a bad beer.
pabstyloudmouthJun 30, 2010
I will just stick to my Pabst Blue Ribbon..tastes fine to me.
javandiverJun 30, 2010
Hipster d-bag. If you actually like beer and cheap you would go with High Life.
pabstyloudmouthJun 30, 2010
I am not a hipster, I am a redneck. It was hillbilly brew long before hipsters, what ever the f**k that is.
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
Hey, I'm a homebrewer and even I still drink PBR.
drewbaJun 30, 2010
Why?
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
Sometimes you just want a beer that you don't have to fuss over; that you don't even need to remotely consider and will just kinda fade into the backdrop.
And if I am going to go for a macro-style lager, I am going Pabst, or possibly Gansett.
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
I'm a big fan of the Flying Dog brews.
therealricoJun 30, 2010
I already stated this in one comment, but not everyone will see it because the guy I replied to will get buried. But if you are a fan of micro brews and craft breweries the documentary Beer Wars is a must see. You will never want a beer from the big three every again.
Last I checked it was available for instant viewing on netflix, but that was a couple of months ago.
yournamehere1Jun 30, 2010
Steelhead Extra Pale Ale.
gndoabJun 30, 2010
mmm...kalbi for fourth of july.
Just got back from Seoul, and that sounds delicious!
thedudediggsJun 30, 2010
Summit EPA, one of the best Pale Ales out there.
http://www.summitbrewing.com/index.php
arcmanJun 30, 2010
IPA's are of course pretty hoppy beers, but pale ales are typically pretty hoppy themselves. I very much prefer a malty brown ale, stout, or hefeweisse.
And just fyi, saying you prefer a pale ale to a IPA is a bit nonsensical. IPA's are pale ales.
drewbaJun 30, 2010
I'm amazing Three Floyds Alpha King didn't make that list (maybe because it would have crushed everything else). Though, I'm happy that Two Brothers Bitter End was on it because they're in my home town and it's genuinely good beer by good people.
theslatsJun 30, 2010
1) number 11 on the list. Buy local and support you community brewer.
2) Long Trail might be tasty but if they are right and it has clove that may kill it as a good holiday session. Clove numbs the pallet which means tasting less and less of the beer the more of it you drink.
opiticaJun 30, 2010
how can you guys drink IPAs like dogfish head in summer? It's way too thick and rich to quench my thirst on a hot afternoon. Then again, f**k arizona.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
Nah, man IPAs are specifically for summertime! The intense hops are characterized as "bright, piney, and citrusy." And the body is generally light and crisp as well...
In fact, "thick and rich" is what I'd use to describe Stouts, Dubbels, and Barleywines - all drinks that are excellent in winter :D
boozedrinkerJun 30, 2010
IPAs, I hate to say, really aren't the best for quenching a thirst because they are so hoppy.
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
sly fox. helllllls jea!
burbankmarcJun 30, 2010
Widmer Bros Drifter
That's probably my favorite beer.
heliumflashJun 30, 2010
I've heard good stuff about Widmer. Too bad it isn't available east of the Rockies. I'd like to try it
burbankmarcJul 1, 2010
I live on the coast in Virginia and I get it all the time. Go to a store that sells more variety of beers. Wine and beer, and Farm Fresh are the stores I go to around here.
wolfmannJun 30, 2010
Anybody know where to get some Frueh Koelsch (or really any koelsch) here in the states? Been looking for about 15 years...
I could use a koelsch-cola about now...
socialstacyJun 30, 2010
mmmm beer. But why wasn't blue moon on the list?
Closed AccountJun 30, 2010
Because Blue Moon ( http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/306/1212 ) is a Witbier
And this list was reviewing Pale Ales: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/97
therealricoJun 30, 2010
And blue moon is coors light and is crap!