Pale Fire
Pressure Drop Brewing

Pale FirePale Fire
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From:
Pressure Drop Brewing
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
American Pale Ale
Ranked #918
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
85
Ranked #28,612
Avg:
3.75 | pDev: 9.6%
Ratings:
29 | reviews: 11
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 08, 2025
Added:
Oct 18, 2013
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  9
Pale Fire has been with us from the start. Over the years it has cemented itself as a classic pale ale. There’s no Pressure Drop without Pale Fire.
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Photo of DraftMonger
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark

3.79/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 4.25
Copenhagen 18/6 2019. 44 cl can from Kihoskh, Sdr. Boulevard, Kbh V. Some sort of abstract landscape on the can. Pressure Drop's motto seems to be "Brewed in London since 2013". Seems to be a kind of short time to brag about.

Pours almost luminescent, pale yellow with a big white head. Settles as thin, patchy layer of foam unable to cover the surface of the beer. Moderate lacing.

Aroma is medium intense, sweetly fruity and with a light citric bitterness. Sweet peach and Melon. Pear and Pineapple. Light notes of lemon and citrus.

Light carbonation. Soft, thin, oily lightly tingling texture.

Flavor is fairly sweet followed by a medium strong bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter and citric. Lingers for a bit. Finish is quite dry.

Light, easy to drink with a nice bitter finish. But you have to be fast - it only keeps for 4 months.
Oct 08, 2025
Photo of EmperorBevis
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England

2.68/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Canned in a big old tallboy crafty craft can and purchased from Morrisons supermarket in Chorlton on the way back from the beer and cider festival there
Pours a slightly hazy oatmeal coloured body with frothy white head
Aroma is melon and hop burn
Flavour is earthy and fruity
Jul 18, 2025
 
Rated: 2.93 by stephenlee93 from England

Jun 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3.8 by Ushouldbeworkinh from England

Aug 05, 2022
Photo of Spike
Reviewed by Spike from England

3.42/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
440ml can. A dry and chalky APA from London. Hazy yellow/orange with a smooth cream head, yeasty aroma and plentiful grapefruit & peach flavours packed into a low ABV, light bodied, easy-drinking brew. Not particularly memorable on a winter night indoors but set up for a warm summer, post-covid afternoon when we can see friends again.
Jan 10, 2021
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
NEIPA, NEIPA, NEIPA. And balanced, to boot.
Looks like one, tropical Smells greet me and never leave. Tastes are true, a well-integrated ale that does not get bitter. Sits fine in my mouth with the medley of malts and fruits getting mixed up with just enough bubbles.

I went on their website and I'd like to visit them, but they are only open on Saturday afternoon. (I'm noticing more London crafters have very limited times for their taprooms. I offer a WAG that this pattern is because a City ordinance protects the established houses... but that is only a WAG from a cynic.) At any rate, I'd like to visit and try their wit... just not this time in London.

Their site indicates they are totally committed to their craft and having fun and, for that and general well-being, I wish them well. Big OA hugs until we meet again.
Jun 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by kdown from California

Sep 15, 2018
 
Rated: 3.9 by Giangio from Italy

Jul 16, 2018
 
Rated: 3.85 by Georgiabeer from Georgia

Jul 11, 2018
Photo of DJ-Hophead
Reviewed by DJ-Hophead from England

4.38/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Tap @ Lost and Grounded, Bristol - Pours cloudy golden with a medium white head. Nice lacing. Medium carbonation. Aroma - citrus - orange/mandarin. pale malt overtones. Taste - Very similar to the aroma, citrus forefront - orange/manadarin, light malt feel in the middle, crisp dry lingering bitter finish. Quality easy drinking APA.
Jun 11, 2017
Photo of jazzyjeff13
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England

3.81/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A 330ml bottle with a BB of June 2017 (bottled Feb 2017). Acquired quite recently from a webshop.

A: Poured into a tulip. Bottle conditioned. A hazy golden-amber hue with fine suspended sediment and low carbonation. Yields a large head of creamy white foam that lasts for a few minutes before subsiding to a patchy surface layer. Slight lacing.

S: Aroma of bright, fruity hops with hints of tropical fruit, tangy citrus, peel, mild melon, earthy yeast and pale malt. Rather nice.

T: Tastes of aromatic hops with notes of grapefruit, citrus, mild tropical fruit, hints of stone fruit, earthy yeast and subtle pale malt. Dry, with a crisp hoppy bitterness upon swallowing.

M: Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry, with soft carbonation and some light hop oil action. Decent body. Aftertaste of bitter aromatic hops, citrus and earthy yeast.

O: A quality pale ale stuffed with hops. Looks alright, despite the lack of carbonation. The aroma and flavour are distinctly hoppy and fruity, underpinned by yeast and subtle malt. Body is OK. Goes down all too easily - worth sampling.
May 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.28 by rodlavers from Maryland

Jun 17, 2016
Photo of vinicole
Reviewed by vinicole from England

3.56/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Medium amber colour. Frothy head - large bubbles.
Grapefruit nose with other tropical fruit.
Initial sweetness dispelled by quite a big hit of bitter. More fruit.
Light to moderate feel.
May 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.96 by stephenlee from England

Apr 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3.54 by Taboada from Spain

Apr 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.6 by Tdenham from England

Feb 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.6 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Feb 25, 2016
Photo of Act25
Reviewed by Act25 from New Jersey

3.99/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pale Fire now becomes the best session IPA ever. Try 24.

A - Poured a light golden hazed body sporting a dense white head lasting thick and foamy and then faded to a light covering. Mild, milky carbonation. Lasting, sticky lacing.

S - Bright maltiness mixed with a dose of citrus and pepper hops, pine, tart fruits (grapefruit, lemons, green apples), floral, grassy, faint honey sweetness, light breadiness, sea salt... A complex and ample approach

T Follows smell - grassy and citrus hop bitterness, light pine, tart fruits (grapefruits, green apples), light sweet biscuits, peppery, some salty notes, flower shop... complexity in a light package.

F - Body good, offering smooth with a little bite... finishes refreshing...

O - Best session IPA?
Feb 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.6 by Bpayne88 from England

Dec 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by chickenm from Canada (BC)

Nov 08, 2015