Basic Decency
Venn Brewing Co.
- From:
- Venn Brewing Co.
- Minnesota, United States
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
- ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- +4 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.04 | pDev: 5.2%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 21, 2026
- Added:
- Jun 05, 2023
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
We get it. These days, pale ales seem, uh, pretty basic. But in many ways, they helped kickstart the craft beer craze. Our pale ale is about as straightforward as it gets. At a friendly 5.0%, it's poundable-pint after pine, should you wish-tropical, citrusy, fruity, and unquestionably tasty.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina
4.03/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Got at the GreenBayBA tasting last July, probably from LesDewitt4beer. 16 ounce can into willi becher glass, canned on 6/23/2025. Online mentions this is gluten reduced. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy medium golden yellow color with a 2-3 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with amazing retention, that reduces to a large cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing on the glass, and a large amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, mango, melon, passion fruit, papaya, berries, citrus peel, peppercorn, pine, white bread, and herbal/floral/grassy hop earthiness. Taste follows with red grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, peach, pear, pineapple, mango, melon, passion fruit, papaya, berries, citrus peel/zest, peppercorn, pine, white bread, and herbal/floral/grassy hop earthiness. Light-medium pine/herbal/woody bitterness on the finish. Medium-high carbonation, light-medium body, and crisp/clean/refreshing finish. Balanced grainy malt and sticky hop mouthfeel. Nearly bone dry finish with light lingering hop resin drying. No hop astringency. Not sure if there was referementation in the can from Clarity Ferm or something, but otherwise this is a great showcase of Citra hops for a light bodied pale ale. Hops are still vibrant and fairly dank.
Feb 09, 2026
Reviewed by Eastonhavenhopyard from Minnesota
4.49/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Having recently finished a six pack of top rated Zombie Dust, and being a frequent drinker of Modist’s False Pattern (which I really like), I wasn’t sure what to expect when I paid $9.00 for a four pack of 16 oz Basic Decency cans.
Seconds after cracking open the first can, I was very pleasantly surprised to be drinking a beautifully well-balanced and delectable American Pale Ale. There’s nothing extraordinary about this beer. It has a classic grapefruit and floral fragrance with a hint of pine, and a very satisfying flavor.
Basic Decency is a solid, easy drinking, but robust, APA that wholeheartedly lives up to its name (and exceeds expectations). I’m looking forward to visiting Venn’s tap room (Venn means friend in Norwegian - nice) to sample some of their other brews.
Dec 07, 2024Seconds after cracking open the first can, I was very pleasantly surprised to be drinking a beautifully well-balanced and delectable American Pale Ale. There’s nothing extraordinary about this beer. It has a classic grapefruit and floral fragrance with a hint of pine, and a very satisfying flavor.
Basic Decency is a solid, easy drinking, but robust, APA that wholeheartedly lives up to its name (and exceeds expectations). I’m looking forward to visiting Venn’s tap room (Venn means friend in Norwegian - nice) to sample some of their other brews.
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota
4.01/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16 oz can filled 4/15/24 into a nonic pint glass.
L: SRM 3 Pours bright yellow gold caramel color with a thin soapy white head that recedes to skin, light steady carbonation, light soapy lacing with light banding.
S: Melon, light fruit funk. Quite simple.
T: Light easy tastes of lemon, grapefruit, melon, and mellow citrus zest.
F: Soft, smooth, wet feel that is session-like. It has a smooth, soft medium-length lightly drying finish.
O: Fruity, light malts, gentle bitterness. Good balance with no element taking center stage. Quite pleasant drinking. It is very good in its style.
Jun 17, 2024L: SRM 3 Pours bright yellow gold caramel color with a thin soapy white head that recedes to skin, light steady carbonation, light soapy lacing with light banding.
S: Melon, light fruit funk. Quite simple.
T: Light easy tastes of lemon, grapefruit, melon, and mellow citrus zest.
F: Soft, smooth, wet feel that is session-like. It has a smooth, soft medium-length lightly drying finish.
O: Fruity, light malts, gentle bitterness. Good balance with no element taking center stage. Quite pleasant drinking. It is very good in its style.
Reviewed by chum_husk from Minnesota
3.9/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
16oz can, bought a 4-pack for the Fourth
Cracking open the can I get blasted with lemon-lime hop goodness. Citrus forward for sure. Sweet malt in there too. Very filled with flavor, but I was looking for something *more* basic
Jul 04, 2023Cracking open the can I get blasted with lemon-lime hop goodness. Citrus forward for sure. Sweet malt in there too. Very filled with flavor, but I was looking for something *more* basic
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
3.94/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz can. Label has fill date stamp as '4.21.23'.
Mostly cloudy, pale gold colored body. Two fingers of white head that sticks around. Leaves behind rings of lacing.
Aroma has a toasted malt base with the hops expressing citrus and tropical fruit.
Taste is at first a citrus sweetness (orange, kumquat, and nectarine), and then transitions to a pineapple flavor with a bit of pine and bitterness.
Medium mouth feel, soft texture. Slight tongue burn. Excellent carbonation.
Laid back and mellow, but full of flavors.
Jun 05, 2023Mostly cloudy, pale gold colored body. Two fingers of white head that sticks around. Leaves behind rings of lacing.
Aroma has a toasted malt base with the hops expressing citrus and tropical fruit.
Taste is at first a citrus sweetness (orange, kumquat, and nectarine), and then transitions to a pineapple flavor with a bit of pine and bitterness.
Medium mouth feel, soft texture. Slight tongue burn. Excellent carbonation.
Laid back and mellow, but full of flavors.
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