"Real" American Pale Ale Advice

They're not "turds", they're simply more representative of what an American Pale Ale is. Perhaps you simply enjoy IPAs (and hoppier beer in general) more?

The two beers you referenced are barely within the BJCP guidelines for an American Pale Ale. The other two (Daisy Cutter and Invasion do fall right within the ranges though).

IBUs: 30 - 50
ABV: 4.5 - 6.2%

Zombie Dust - 50 IBUs at 6.2%
Pseudo Sue - 50 IBUs at 5.8%

Zombie Dust was mentioned by @Ranbot and @TongoRad because they're simply more IPA than pale ale.

Zombie Dust actually fits more appropriately within the American IPA ranges for IBUs and ABVs listed below.

IBUs: 40 - 70
ABV: 5.5 - 7.5%

Some of the great suggestions in this thread are more along the lines of what they're speaking to, and the BJCP actually lists some of them as good examples. See below.

"Ballast Point Grunion Pale Ale, Firestone Walker Pale 31, Great Lakes Burning River, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Stone Pale Ale, Tröegs Pale Ale"

 

Yup... See also Dale's Pale Ale and Alpha King as examples of popular APAs that are really closer to IPAs.

 

Well Dale's at 65 IBUs and 6.5% ABV and Alpha King at 68 IBUs and 6.66% ABV aren't even close to being within the ranges. I've heard rumors over the years (I've yet to see a source directly from the brewery on this though) that Dale's Pale Ale is really an IPA recipe, they called it a pale ale simply because it rhymes, and sounds better.

In addition to this, some beers may fall within the guidelines, but will use a healthy amount of dry hopping to increase perceived hop character, without spiking IBUs and/or ABV.

However, even though there are no hard numbers to abide by, the BJCP does call out excessive dry hopping as an unwanted characteristic in this style.

"Dry hopping (if used) may add grassy notes, although this character should not be excessive."

 

Ballast Point Grunion

 

I hear you, but they are all still pale ales... and brewed in America... kinda just question the whole strict categorization thing - things evolve over time - and you're right I do like hoppier beers. But love Daisy Cutter, which is well balanced with malt.

 

Thanks for the shout out on a good one, but Troegs has retired their original pale. We do have a great replacement though. It is called Solid Sender. You may want to give it a try.

 

Oh cool. Idk that it was retired. ive seen solid sender ill have to check it. The pale ale was a great beer especially for warm weather. Cheers.

 

Founder's Pale Ale is pretty normal for the style. Hop presence but not like an IPA.

 

Probably a regional but when I visited my son stationed in Norfolk, VA I happened upon O'Conner Brewing Co. Norfolk Canyon Pale Ale. Might be local for you depending where in VA you are. If you can find it Yards Brewing Co. Philadelphia Pale Ale may be what you are looking for.

 

Lagunitas Born Yesterday Pale Ale is amazing
Neshaminy Creek JAWN

 

NoDa Jam Session--I think it is actually the best thing they make and overlooked by many due to Hop Drop.

A super solid pale ale --the "session" name is misleading.

 

as someone who doesn't go much for pale ales, daisy cutter is one of my favorite beers ever. basically every pale ale i have bought in a store since trying daisy cutter was only bought because i realized what i could be missing out on by never buying certain styles of beer that i generally don't like as much.

 

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale got me into beer. It was also the first APA, and is still one of the best. 100% whole cone Cascade hops, and every bottle is bottle conditioned. If you drink it fresh, it is the standard for West-Coast style APAs. Obviously when you get into things like Zombie Dust or PsuedoSue, which are more highly regarded these days (likely due to whale status), the style comes into question a little, but still. SN Pale stands with the best of em.

 

Carton Boat Beer is a very good American Pale Ale.

 

What about, in just the US "craft era" alone, New Albion Ale, Debakker Pale Ale and Boulder Pale Ale? All pre-dated SNPA's release. And, of course, there were probably hundreds of US-brewed ales labeled "pale ale" before the craft era.

There's no doubt that Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is the preeminent APA, and its popularity no doubt added the "American" prefix to create the style, but there were many that came before it. Note, too, that this website's definition of APA does not specify that APA's be brewed only with modern American hops:

 

This is a nice Pale. Great Tropical Hop aroma but nicely balanced between malts and hops without going into IPA territory.

 

PsuedoSue
Lights On

Taste like true APAs.

 

Pale 31 is the one that immediately comes to mind that matches the profile range you are describing.